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The Redskins Rule was first promoted by Steve Hirdt, executive vice president of the [[Elias Sports Bureau]], in 2000<ref name='washtimes'/>; as a matter of Washington folklore it was already established by the time of the 1992 election.
The Redskins Rule was first promoted by Steve Hirdt, executive vice president of the [[Elias Sports Bureau]], in 2000<ref name='washtimes'/>; as a matter of Washington folklore it was already established by the time of the 1992 election.


In 2004, the Redskins lost their last home game before the presidential election, indicating the [[incumbent]] should have lost; however, [[George W. Bush]] (the incumbent) went on to defeat [[John Kerry]]. Steve Hirdt, credited with the discovery of the rule, then modified it to refer not to the incumbent party in the [[White House]] but to the party that last won the popular vote. In the election in 2000, Al Gore won the popular vote, and thereby the revised Redskin Rule has been upheld.<ref name='washtimes'>{{cite web|url=http://washingtontimes.com/news/2008/nov/03/redskins-rule-ideal-for-monday-night/|date=2008-11-04|work=|title=Redskins Rule ideal for 'Monday Night'|publisher=Washington Times}}</ref>
In 2004, the Redskins lost their last home game before the presidential election, indicating the [[incumbent]] should have lost; however, [[George W. Bush]] (the incumbent) went on to defeat [[John Kerry]]. Steve Hirdt, credited with the discovery of the rule, then modified it to refer not to the incumbent party in the [[White House]] but to the party that last won the popular vote. In the election in 2000, Al Gore won the popular vote, and thereby the revised Redskin Rule has been upheld.<ref name='washtimes'>{{cite web|url=http://washingtontimes.com/news/2008/nov/03/redskins-rule-ideal-for-monday-night/|date=2008-11-04|work=|title=Redskins Rule ideal for 'Monday Night'|publisher=Washington Times}}</ref> However, the revised Redskin Rule does not work for the 2000 elections then. In 1996, Clinton defeated Dole AND won the popular vote. Gore won the popular vote in 2000. Since the Redskins lost in 2000, according to the Revised Redskins rule, Gore should have lost the popular vote, (and Bush should have won the popular vote).

On November 3, 2008, the Redskins lost to the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]], thereby predicting a win for [[Illinois]] [[Senator]] [[Barack Obama]] over [[Arizona]] Senator [[John McCain]] (as George W. Bush won the popular vote in 2004).<ref name='bbc'>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/american_football/7708040.stm|date=2008-11-04|work=BBC Sport|title=Redskins loss points to Obama win|publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation}}</ref>
On November 3, 2008, the Redskins lost to the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]], thereby predicting a win for [[Illinois]] [[Senator]] [[Barack Obama]] over [[Arizona]] Senator [[John McCain]] (as George W. Bush won the popular vote in 2004).<ref name='bbc'>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/american_football/7708040.stm|date=2008-11-04|work=BBC Sport|title=Redskins loss points to Obama win|publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation}}</ref>


On November 4, 2012, the Redskins lost against the [[Carolina Panthers]]. It was the last home game for the Redskins before the [[2012 Presidential Election]], which will take place on November 6.
On November 4, 2012, the Redskins lost against the [[Carolina Panthers]], which would infer a win for [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] challenger [[Mitt Romney]] over [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] incumbent [[Barack Obama]] in the upcoming election. It was the last home game for the Redskins before the [[2012 Presidential Election]], which will take place on November 6.


== Results ==
== Results ==
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|'''{{red|lose}}'''
|'''{{red|lose}}'''
|'''{{green|wins}}'''
|'''{{green|wins}}'''
|'''yes*'''
|'''no'''
|-bgcolor="#ffbbbb"
|-bgcolor="#ffbbbb"
|2000
|2000

Revision as of 22:04, 4 November 2012

The Redskins Rule is a trend involving NFL football and United States presidential elections. Briefly stated, there is a high correlation between the outcome of the last Washington Redskins home football game prior to the U.S. Presidential Election and the outcome of the election: when the Redskins win, the incumbent party wins the electoral vote for the White House; when the Redskins lose, the non-incumbent party wins. This coincidence has been noted by many sports and political commentators and has held true since 1940.[1][2]

History

The Redskins moved to Washington in 1937. Since then, there have been 18 presidential elections. In 17 of those, the following rule applied:

If the Redskins win their last home game before the election, the party that won the previous election wins the next election. If the Redskins lose, the challenging party's candidate wins.

The Redskins Rule was first promoted by Steve Hirdt, executive vice president of the Elias Sports Bureau, in 2000[2]; as a matter of Washington folklore it was already established by the time of the 1992 election.

In 2004, the Redskins lost their last home game before the presidential election, indicating the incumbent should have lost; however, George W. Bush (the incumbent) went on to defeat John Kerry. Steve Hirdt, credited with the discovery of the rule, then modified it to refer not to the incumbent party in the White House but to the party that last won the popular vote. In the election in 2000, Al Gore won the popular vote, and thereby the revised Redskin Rule has been upheld.[2] However, the revised Redskin Rule does not work for the 2000 elections then. In 1996, Clinton defeated Dole AND won the popular vote. Gore won the popular vote in 2000. Since the Redskins lost in 2000, according to the Revised Redskins rule, Gore should have lost the popular vote, (and Bush should have won the popular vote).

On November 3, 2008, the Redskins lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers, thereby predicting a win for Illinois Senator Barack Obama over Arizona Senator John McCain (as George W. Bush won the popular vote in 2004).[1]

On November 4, 2012, the Redskins lost against the Carolina Panthers, which would infer a win for Republican challenger Mitt Romney over Democratic incumbent Barack Obama in the upcoming election. It was the last home game for the Redskins before the 2012 Presidential Election, which will take place on November 6.

Results

Year Presidential Election
Result 		Redskins
(Score) 		Opponent
(Score) 		Redskins
Win or Lose? 		Incumbent
Wins or Loses*? 		Rule
upheld?
2012 TBD Redskins 13 Carolina Panthers 21 lose TBD TBD
2008 Obama defeats McCain Redskins 6 Pittsburgh Steelers 23 lose loses yes
2004 Bush defeats Kerry Redskins 14 Green Bay Packers 28 lose wins no
2000 Bush defeats Gore Redskins 21 Tennessee Titans 27 lose loses yes
1996 Clinton defeats Dole Redskins 31 Indianapolis Colts 16 win wins yes
1992 Clinton defeats Bush Redskins 7 New York Giants 24 lose loses yes
1988 Bush defeats Dukakis Redskins 27 New Orleans Saints 24 win wins yes
1984 Reagan defeats Mondale Redskins 27 Atlanta Falcons 14 win wins yes
1980 Reagan defeats Carter Redskins 14 Minnesota Vikings 39 lose loses yes
1976 Carter defeats Ford Redskins 7 Dallas Cowboys 20 lose loses yes
1972 Nixon defeats McGovern Redskins 24 Dallas Cowboys 20 win wins yes
1968 Nixon defeats Humphrey Redskins 10 New York Giants 13 lose loses yes
1964 Johnson defeats Goldwater Redskins 27 Chicago Bears 20 win wins yes
1960 Kennedy defeats Nixon Redskins 10 Cleveland Browns 31 lose loses yes
1956 Eisenhower defeats Stevenson Redskins 20 Cleveland Browns 9 win wins yes
1952 Eisenhower defeats Stevenson Redskins 23 Pittsburgh Steelers 24 lose loses yes
1948 Truman defeats Dewey Redskins 59 Boston Yanks 21 win wins yes
1944 Roosevelt defeats Dewey Redskins 14 Cleveland Rams 10 win wins yes
1940 Roosevelt defeats Willkie Redskins 37 Pittsburgh Steelers 10 win wins yes

References

  1. ^ a b "Redskins loss points to Obama win". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 2008-11-04.
  2. ^ a b c "Redskins Rule ideal for 'Monday Night'". Washington Times. 2008-11-04.
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