The Cusp

I'm watching the US presidential elections on a Risk like map of the United States. Ron Paul seems sure to win until there his a hiccup in one state and Ron Paul loses in that state. This creates a panicked reactionary effect that spreads out from that state, infecting the other states like a virus spreading to a cell. What was a sure victory becomes a massive loss as people vote not on the best candidate, but vote in response to how everyone else is voting.