Will the Redskins and Bengals Predict US Election Results?

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Last night's win by the Pittsburgh Steelers over the Washington Redskins could prove to be a good sign for US presidential candidate Barack Obama. For years, sports fans have used the "Redskins Rule" to predict who will win the US presidency.

According to legend, if the Washington Redskins win their last home game prior to the election, then the incumbent party wins the presidency again. If the Redskins lose their last home game before election day, then the challenger wins the US election. The rule of thumb has held up during the last 17 elections.

Last night, the Steelers beat the Redskins 23-6, a good omen for Obama, who, according to polls, is leading the presidential race.

Political buffs shouldn't just look at the Redskins, however. Another stat says that the Cincinnati Bengals are nearly as good a predictor of election results. In 9 of the last 10 elections, when the Bengals win their last game before the election, the Deomcratic candidate ends up in the White House. This could be another good omen for Obama. This past Sunday, the struggling Bengals won their first game of the season, narrowly defeating the Jacksonville Jaguars 21-19.

Other sports are providing postivie signals for Obama supporters. Several British newspapers have noted that in the last 40 years a Democratic candidate has won the presidency in years when a Brit has won Formula One world title. In 1976, Jimmy Carter won the White House after James Hunt came out on top in the Formula One season. In 1992, F1 driver Nigel Mansell won it all the same year that Bill Clinton defeated George H.W. Bush. British driver was named F1 champ in 1996, the year that Clinton was re-elected.

Last weekend, Brit Lewis Hamilton won the F1 title, yet another good sign for Barack Obama.