How did small states contribute to the election outcome in 2000?

In the 2000 presidential election, small states played a crucial role in shaping the outcome, particularly in favor of George W. Bush. Small states generally have a minimum of three electoral votes due to the constitutional provision that guarantees each state at least one representative in the House, plus two senators. This means that even states with smaller populations still possess a relatively significant number of electoral votes compared to their population size.

Bush's campaign was particularly successful in these small states, which collectively contributed a substantial number of electoral votes to his total. The significance lies in the Electoral College system, where winning a state and its electoral votes, regardless of the margin of victory, can heavily influence the overall outcome. Small states can shift the election results as they can be won by candidates with a smaller percentage of the popular vote. Thus, by securing victories in these smaller states, Bush was able to amass enough electoral votes to effectively win the presidency, despite losing the nationwide popular vote to Al Gore.

This dynamic illustrates how the structure of the Electoral College gives small states an outsized influence in presidential elections, particularly in close contests like that of 2000.