Redskins loss could be good omen for Romney

The Washington Redskins loss on Sunday could be a good omen for Mitt Romney.

The Redskins 21-13 loss at the hands of the lowly 2-6 Carolina Panthers on Sunday gives Romney the advantage in a near-perfect predictor of presidential races tied to Skins’ home games.

The so-called “Redskins rule” is pretty simple: If the Redskins win their last home game before the election, the party that won the previous presidential election will win again on Election Day.

If the Redskins lose, then the other party is victorious. Romney would be the victor on Tuesday if the “Redskins rule” proves true in 2012.

The rule has been accurate in 17 of the last 18 presidential elections, since the Redskins began playing in Washington. The rule was broken however, when Washington lost its last home game in 2004 but President George W. Bush went on to win the election anyway.

Steve Hirdt, executive vice-president of Elias Sports Bureau, said that a slightly altered version of the rule still held true because Al Gore won the popular vote in 2000.

Now it’s up to Romney to uphold the “Redskins rule” with a victory — although he could lose in the Electoral College and win the popular vote and still keep the modified streak alive.

---