New York Times blogger willing to bet $2,000 Obama wins election

Nate Silver, chief writer for The New York Times's FiveThirtyEight blog, wants Joe Scarborough, the co-host of NBC's "Morning Joe," to join him in putting money on the election.

Since Silver is convinced polls show Obama will win in November and Scarborough believes the race is too close to predict, Silver on Thursday offered a $1,000 wager. Either way, the money would go to the American Red Cross, he tweeted.

But Scarborough isn't about to take the gamble. He tweeted in response that a better idea would be donating $1,000 immediately to the Red Cross. When Silver then attempted to raise the bet to $2,000, Scarborough again said he's ready and willing to match Silver's donation to the Red Cross if he'll donate immediately.

Scarborough, though a former Republican congressman, might not want to bet on Mitt Romney since he has not always been on the side of the GOP nominee this year.

David Axelrod, who on "Morning Joe" earlier this week promised to shave off his trademark mustache if Obama loses any one of three states — Minnesota, Michigan or Pennsylvania — indicated he's offended the two didn't put something more personal on the table. 

"All they bet was MONEY????" he tweeted.

.@joenbc: If you think it's a toss-up, let's bet. If Obama wins, you donate $1,000 to the American Red Cross. If Romney wins, I do. Deal?

— Nate Silver (@fivethirtyeight) November 1, 2012

@fivethirtyeight Why don't we both agree to donate $1,000 to the Red Cross right now? Americans need our help now. #HelpOurNeighbors

— Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) November 1, 2012

.@joenbc: Better idea: Let's bet $2,000./ MT @fivethirtyeight Why don't we both agree to donate $1,000 to the Red Cross right now?

— Nate Silver (@fivethirtyeight) November 1, 2012

@fivethirtyeight Since you have $2,000 to bet, let's instead donate $2,000 each to hurricane victims now. Americans need our help. #Sandy

— Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) November 1, 2012

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