Update #12: 10:13 PM CST:
The feast is done….now we go for the sweet dessert. Florida is now being called for Obama, and the final tally from Virginia is in, Obama wins by 4%.
Indiana is a nail biter to the end…but seems to be leaning Obama as well.
Franken is thus far leading Coleman in MN’s Senate race, but too early to call.
Most of the more right-wing initiatives (the anti-abortion propositions in SD and MI) have been going down in flames…no word yet, though, on Proposition 8 (the anti-gay marriage proposal) in CA as of yet.
Johnny Mac just finished his concession speech to his peeps in Arizona, with Caribou Eva at his side. Tough crowd he’s speaking to.
Oh…and both Larry Hayes (of the “liberals hate real Americans” smack) and Marilyn Musgrave (of the “cut-and-run” nonsense) went down in crushing defeats tonight. No word yet, though on Michele Bachmann.
Update #11: 10:00 PM CST:
The deal is officially done.
CA, OR, and WA has just closed their polls, and all three have been called for Obama. Game, set, match, Presidency. All the networks (led by KO over at MSNBC) have now made the call nationally for Obama.
400 years in the making. WOW.
MSNBC is now showing the crowd celebrating at Grant Park in Chicago. Without comment. Probably the quietest KO’s been since the campaign began.
Pardon me while I shed my own tears…BRB.
Update #10: 9:18 PM CST:
And right on cue, here come the Blue reinforcements to save the day!!! Obama just pulled ahead of McCain in VA. And pulling further away, too.
Update #9: 9:06 PM CST:
Whole chock-a-block of states now calling in: MA, MN, MI, WI, NJ, and NY all called for Obama; ND, WY, OK, KS, AR, LA (too bad), and AL for McCain. IN, FL, VA and GA (despite Fox and CNN’s call for McCain), still too close to call.
Update #8: 8:56 PM CST:
Gotta love those electoral geeks and their subtlety.
Short and sweet header just up at FiveThirtyEight.com, which has been the go-to source for electioneering and poll analysis:
Obama To Become Next President
No body…just that header. Kinda speaks for itself, though.
More than likely, the 9 PM closing states will make it official….and Colorado or Florida will get the honors of ushering in the Obama era.
One other update: there are now no more GOP Congressmen in New England; Christopher Shays (CT-04) just conceded his race to Dem Tim Hines.
Update #7 8:38 PM CST:
Question: What state is high in the middle, round at both ends, and may have just delivered the knockout punch to McCain’s Presidential hopes??
Answer: The Great State of Ohio, who just got called for Obama.
Ahhh…this just in…so sorry, Ohio, but you just got beat in the final knockout blow contest….New Mexico has just been called for Obama. That means that either IN, CO, NC, or FL will seal the deal for BHO. Start the bus, Caribou Eva.
Update #6: 8:26 PM CST:
The race is beginning to close a bit in VA…now McCain’s lead is down to less than 75,000 votes with 51% reporting, and the big Dem-dominated urban areas are only now beginning to trickle in. It may be a close shave, but Obama probably will survive with the skin of his teeth. Also..absentee and early ballots not counted yet, either.
Also…GA now officially called for McCain. And…Tom Udall called winner of NM Senate race…fourth flip for Dems. Unfortunately, McConnell now called winner in KY. Unless Martin rallies up in GA, looks like 60-vote Dem Senate is out of reach.
Update #5: 7:45 PM CST:
OK and TN called for McCain.
Some interesting and a bit frightening news from VA: McCain is leading by around 5% with 41% of the vote counted..but the Democratic-dominated districts have still not yet been counted. Maybe a hidden Bradley Effect, or Repubs rallying their troops at the very end?? We’ll see…
Update #4: 7:30 PM CST:
Well…the left shoe has just dropped for McSame: ABC, CBS, CNN, Fixed Noise, and MSNBC just called Pennsylvania for Obama; CNN and CBS hasn’t joined yet. If this holds, then Virginia OR Indiana OR Colorado + New Mexico seals the deal.
Three US Senate seats now flip to the Dems: Hagan beats Dole in NC; Sheehan beats Sunnunu in NH, and Mark Warner beats Gilmore like a drum in VA. Unfortunately, it’s looking like McConnell will survive in KY.
Update #3: 7:16 PM CST:
The state rush begins. ME, NH, DE, MA, CT, MD, DC, and Obama’s home state of IL all called for Obama; SC called for McCain.
Still too close or too early to call for GA, NC, FL, VA, and IN.
Obama still barely leading in IN, but with only 33% of the vote counted…..and the big Obama counties only now beginning to count their ballots.
There’s some serious gripping going on at the Daily Kos boards because VA’s early voting is favoring McCain…but that’s mostly due to the first counties reporting in being rural, GOP dominated counties. No time to panic, yet.
Update #2: 6:45 PM CST:
Vermont now called for Obama…big surprise…NOT.
Update: 6:30 PM CST:
First state to be officially called by the Associated Press: Kentucky for McCain. No call yet on their Senate race (McConnell vs. Lunsford).
First Indiana results look pretty good for Obama: he’s more than surpassed Kerry’s totals in some of the key battleground counties. Only 1% of the vote counted, however…but much too early to call. If no call is made at 7 PM (Central time), when the counties in northwest Indiana where the base of Obama’s vote closes their ballots, then it’s a really BAD sign for McCain nationwide.
Also….Florida’s reports are trickling in, and it’s even worse for McCain: early voting shows that Obama has basically an 8 to 5 advantage among early voters…..which translates to a nearly 30% lead. If present voting trends follow, then that would translate statewide into a 10% victory…and the first of the one-two punch that knocks McCain out. (Pennsylvania is expected to be the second blow.)
And, as expected, numerous snafus and problems with ballots and voting nationwide…but no real hint of outright fraud…yet.
ORIGINAL POST: 11-4-08 @ 6:09 PM CST
Well, Clones, I just did my duty and voted…and I sincerely hope that you have done the same…or will be doing so before the polls close.
I’ll be following all the results from my secret perch (OK, OK…my bedroom), with MSNBC, Fivethirtyeight.com. Electoral-Vote.com, and a few other online sources at the waiting.
Buckle up for safety….it’s gonna be a ride.
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