As you read this, you already

know the outcome of the 2000 elections.

As I write it, though, I have

no clue. Such is the nature of newspaper deadlines.

Over the years, I've made a

habit of using this time warp as a sort of political game of chicken.

Instead of making my predictions a month ahead of time so you'll have

forgotten them by the time the final vote is tallied, I do it in such

a way that if I bomb completely, you know it.

This year, your guess is as

good as mine when it comes to the top spot, but I'll take my best shot

at it. A week ago I was ready to predict that George W. Bush would barely

take the popular vote but lose in the Electoral College. Now I'm leaning

toward a heavier than expected margin for Bush in the popular vote...

enough to win the electoral votes he needs.

The electoral votes will be

close, though, and a percentage swing in this state or that could throw

it the other way.

Some of my conservative friends

think all the prognosticators are wrong and it's going to be a solid victory

for Bush all the way, maybe even a landslide. I'm willing to admit a slight

possibility of that. If the opposite happens and Gore takes it easily,

I will be completely surprised.

For County Commission in Fayette,

it's VanLandingham.

I like Mrs. Barnes and I think

she has run an intelligent race, but it's hard to overcome a Republican

majority as strong as the one in Fayette County.

Superior Court clerk Bud Ballard's

race is another matter. Ballard is a Democrat, but he has held the office

for a billion years or so, and has done a good job and made a lot of friends.

As my colleague down the hall pointed out last week, it's not exactly

a partisan type job and probably should be decided in a nonpartisan election.

But Ms. Studdard has used a

smart strategy in putting "Republican" in a big red banner on

all her signs and campaign materials. Will there be enough straight ticket

voters to bring about a surprise?

I doubt it.

For school board, Republican

Marion Key is the winner. William Bryan assured himself a place on the

November ballot by running unopposed as a Democrat, but the downside of

that strategy is that now he's got that "D" stuck next to his

name in the only county in the known universe to vote down a penny tax

for schools.

State Rep. Greg Hecht will

keep his seat. Bryan Hilton's main issue has been restoration of more

control to local governments and, although I agree with the basic sentiment,

it's not that much of a hot button issue with the average voter.

And Hecht has identified himself

credibly enough as a tax cutter and a law-and-order type that he might

even take Fayette County. If he doesn't, the votes in Clayton, south Fulton

and Douglas will carry him through.

The race to be our local congressional

representative is the easiest race to call. I'll be surprised if incumbent

Mac Collins gets less than 70 percent.

Gail Notti has made no attempt

to campaign in Fayette, as far as I can tell. And I read the papers in

other counties and don't see much there either. There are a few signs

out, and that's about all.

I've interviewed dozens of

write-in candidates over the years, and I have to say that Chris Borcik,

who is asking for your write-in vote for Collins' seat, impresses me more

than most. But writing in a name requires a lot of extra thought on the

part of the voter, and you've got to make a big impact to get people to

do that.

If he keeps up his grass roots

efforts and his word-of-mouth campaign over a few years, who knows...

some day, maybe...

Well, there you have it. Now

you're either rolling on the floor laughing at how dumb I am, or you're

thinking I must be psychic.

In either case, enjoy.