U.S. Election Night 2008

[Túrin Turambar]

PA is certain for Obama, Mississippi and Alabama (!) are too close to call. South Carolina has been called for McCain.

[vison]

And that vile Elizabeth Dole is going to get beat.

Yay!!! for the godless.

[Crucifer]

I'm confused by the CNN maps. Michigan is blue, but only 4% of the precincts are reporting, and the result is McCain: 53%, Obama: 45%. Surely, if anything, this is a loss for Obama and Michigan should be red.

[Túrin Turambar]

I'm confused by the CNN maps. Michigan is blue, but only 4% of the precincts are reporting, and the result is McCain: 53%, Obama: 45%. Surely, if anything, this is a loss for Obama and Michigan should be red.

The call is based on exit polls. They're unreliable, but if they're decisive then the networks will usually be able to call a state on them.

OK, so my Georgia call was a dud. I'm surprised that SD, LA and TX haven't been called yet, though, even though I expected all to go for McCain.

MO and VA are probably the real worry for Obama at the moment - without them he can only scrape a narrow victory. Still, we've heard very little from their urban areas.

[Holbytla]

MO and VA are probably the real worry for Obama at the moment - without them he can only scrape a narrow victory. Still, we've heard very little from their urban areas.

Disagree. I think he is going to lose both but still win big. PA, OH and maybe FLA are going to put him way over the top.

[Dave_LF]

I think it's important for Obama to win a southern state like Virginia. It would go a long way toward increasing his legitimacy.

[Crucifer]

I agree with Dave.

VA seems to be quite close atm.

[Dave_LF]

I just posted (in the wrong thread) that Fox has called Ohio for Obama. It's over.

[Inanna]

Currently, according to CNN, Obama is projected to win 174 votes.

Give him California, Oregon, Washington and Hawaii (which he WILL get), and you get him at 251.

Fox has given him New Mexico - 256
MSNBC and Fox have given him Ohio - 276.

Done. He wins.

[Crucifer]

CNN hasn't given him OH yet, but he's 200,000 votes ahead. That seems pretty solid to me.

It really does look like America is going blue.

ETA: As I post this, CNN has given him OH.

[nerdanel]

For all of us lefties who endured the 2004 election, the night thus far has been sweet, sweet catharsis. Right now, I'm mainly focused on Florida, Arizona, and California and the marriage battle - doesn't look like Obama needs too much help at this point.

[Túrin Turambar]

NM and IA are also looking like certain Obama gains. Montana and Nevada are too close to call.

[Impenitent]

There's also the Senate and Congress - the Republicans have lost ALL their representatives in New England. It's a king tide.

[Crucifer]

Well, the democrats have the senate, as far as I can tell. As for congress, they're way ahead.

It's interesting to note that despite the democratic tidal wave sweeping across the country, the difference between the two presidential candidates is only 900,000 votes, a tiny percentage of the whole!

[River]

I just posted (in the wrong thread) that Fox has called Ohio for Obama. It's over.

That's what I said when CNN called it.

[Túrin Turambar]

Also, anti-abortion initiatives seem to have been defeated in South Dakota and Colorado. Prop 8 in California is probably the last big contest of the evening.

[River]

Oh good. Amendment 48 was insane.

[Holbytla]

I am going to guess that shortly after 11 EST, the networks will call the race for Obama. Somewhere around 11:30 or so McCain will give his concession speech and hopefully by midnight Obama will speak.

[Dave_LF]

Aren't there several other gay marriage ban initiatives out there?

[Holbytla]

Aren't there several other gay marriage ban initiatives out there?

Yes Florida and Arizona. Arizona looks likely not to pass(meaning there will not be a ban), but Florida is iffy.