No big info here, I am sure many, if not most or all, of you out there are aware of this:
If no candidate receives a majority of electoral votes, the House of Representatives elects the president from the 3 presidential candidates who received the most electoral votes. Each State receiving one vote. The Senate would elect the vice president from the 2 vice presidential candidates with the most electoral votes. Each Senator would cast one vote for Vice President.
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The possibility of a tied is rather slim. But, suppose sumething happens over the next 12 days that causes Nadar and/or Bednariak to pick up a few states, and neither Kerry nor Bush get 270? Again, slim chance. Bush as Pres and Edwards as VP?
I think the biggest danger of a mixed office like that would be assassination. It sounds horrible, but most of the time a president picks a VP who is more “extreme” than himself. In a way, this provides security, as opponents wouldn’t want a “worse” version of the president. But if they’re mixed, as your example, the left would have every incentive to remove the president, knowing their guy would be next in line.
Ok, so that’s really cynical, but there you have it.