The lines are long and they are blue, blue blue......
Comments
you should have voted early if you could...
In Chicago, there was voting downtown and it was open on Sundays.... walked in,filled out a form, waited less than 5 min, and walked out 5 minutes later.
Don't know what Oprah was complaining about, I think she used the same machines I used, and there were multiple times where you could have reviewed your vote.
Posted by: sanfermin on November 4, 2008 at 9:07 AM
I voted at 8AM in Massachusetts, and the turnout was far higher than anything I'd ever seen, in 30+ years of voting in this town. The volume was so heavy that the town had to open auxilliary parking lots to accomodate the traffic.
Posted by: Tidetracker on November 4, 2008 at 9:08 AM | PERMALINK
As a Washington State voter, I sent in my ballot by mail last Friday. But as anecdotal evidence, I can say that there are a lot more Obama signs and bumper stickers here in red, red Eastern WA than there are McCain signs. Washington is going blue anyway, but I can't help but hope that the Obama support translates into getting rid of Doc Hastings too, while we're at it. It didn't look likely in the last poll I saw, but a man can dream.
Posted by: kris on November 4, 2008 at 9:09 AM | PERMALINK
Huge line at the school at 6:12am here in Tucson. (I voted early, was dropping off daughter for XC practice.) Other parent said he had never seen anything like it.
Posted by: John McCain: Worse than Bush on November 4, 2008 at 9:10 AM | PERMALINK
I hope the line is twenty miles long, and it takes you three days to cast your vote. I hope you lose eight pounds while you're waiting, and you deliver a baby, and you only have to do CPR on fellow voters twice.
Because if all those things happen, you'll stick it out, but McCain's voters will throw in the towel, and then we'll have the kind of blowout win that the history books will never stop talking about.
Although on second thought, if Obama wins by 1 that would still be true. So...okay, I hope the lines aren't too long....
Posted by: The Phantom on November 4, 2008 at 9:10 AM | PERMALINK
Local AM conservo-rant station (Yeah, I know, but you have to keep an eye on the other guys) had a call-in this morning, give your views and observations of the polls, etc. Guy calls in complaining about someone in full Obama garb outside a polling place passing out buttons and exhorting people to vote Obama. Studio host goes off, saying someone should call the police and have the guy hauled off to jail. Criminal behavior, deplorable, string the guy up type BS. They're not called wingnuts without reason.
Posted by: steve duncan on November 4, 2008 at 9:12 AM | PERMALINK
My friends, good morning! It's a beautiful day in Chicago!
Posted by: shortstop on November 4, 2008 at 9:13 AM | PERMALINK
Obama's final rally in Virginia.
In front of over 90,000.
Eight minutes of brilliance and humor:
youtube.com
Posted by: koreyel on November 4, 2008 at 9:13 AM | PERMALINK
Voted at 6:15 this morning in Hoboken. Lines were much longer than 2004, and people seemed jazzed.
No matter how long the lines are, folks, wait it out. This is too important.
Posted by: TR on November 4, 2008 at 9:13 AM | PERMALINK
tidetracker,
I live in Milford, Ma. and the crowd was quite large @ 7:00 am !! What town do you live in?
Posted by: DRINKSFORALL on November 4, 2008 at 9:14 AM | PERMALINK
It was a short wait for me, so to speak. I got there 15 minutes before it opened and I got in line right at the 75' barrier. I was done in an hour and on my way home. The line when I left was right about at the same place as when I got in it.
I was surprised by the number of people that didn't have their current address on their drivers license. I must have heard the poor poll worker giving out the same set of instructions and apologies six times or so. Some had the alternate documents they needed to vote a regular ballot, some had to vote a provisional.
Posted by: Polonius19 on November 4, 2008 at 9:14 AM | PERMALINK
I voted in a new location this year, but the demographics and population where I live now are similar to where I lived before, and it is the same state. That said, I stood in line to vote for the first time in my life today. Every other time I've voted it has been in and out. Today, I got in line just before 6:30am. Forty-five minutes later I finally got the chance to Barack the Vote! Praying for victory!!!
Posted by: Justin on November 4, 2008 at 9:14 AM | PERMALINK
In McLean, VA at 5:30am with a long line. Once the poll opened, the line did move well with good organization. I completed my voting in half an hour.While standing in line, a rep of each party came by to ask if sample ballots were needed. Within my earshot, I heard 12 for the Dems and one for the Reps.
After casting my vote, I held my head in my hands and exhaled thinking: with my vote I have helped start our Nation anew.
Posted by: Robert Bryan on November 4, 2008 at 9:15 AM | PERMALINK
Im Dutch, so I haven't voted at all :) But I sure wish I could, because as Steve says: the historic significance of this election is enormous. At least I know that all you fine people didn't let us down, those around the world who are anxiously watching on.
Posted by: Jeroen on November 4, 2008 at 9:15 AM | PERMALINK
Studio host goes off, saying someone should call the police and have the guy hauled off to jail.
If the guy was more than 200 yards from the polling place, it's perfectly legal.
Posted by: on November 4, 2008 at 9:15 AM | PERMALINK
I'll be off to vote at around 2:00 pm pacific time - this time I'll be accompanied by my youngest daughter in her first ever vote. Both of us are looking forward to change we can believe in! My eldest daughter, now she's more of a Bob Barr fan. At least there are no McCain/Bush fans under my roof.
Here's a stab at a good bumper sticker:
Duck it's Dick! -Kevo
Posted by: kevo on November 4, 2008 at 9:17 AM | PERMALINK
I'm another Washington state voter who voted early. This election is historic, and I've been immersed in it, going to rallies, and donating money for the first time ever.
However, what has been most moving is a random connection I've made with a woman from Iowa. She's bought the Rove-ian baloney hook, line, and sinker and yet we've managed to engage in friendly email. It's hard to explain, but it makes me feel like there's a chance to bridge the blue/red gap.
Posted by: jeffreyleonard on November 4, 2008 at 9:17 AM | PERMALINK
I'm a Florida voter living in Singapore, so my ballot's long ago mailed. But I got a cool email from the Obama campaign this morning. It reminded me to vote, gave me the address and hours of my polling place, and provided me with a list of five neighbors (with addresses and phone numbers) to call or visit today. Amazing.... After clicking "post," I'm heading to my phone to call my neighbors from the other side of the globe. How I wish I was there to vote in person on this historic day!
Posted by: cheryl_vT on November 4, 2008 at 9:18 AM | PERMALINK
I voted early in Florida -- and it took four hours.
The public schools are having a "teacher planning day," which is the school board's way of giving the teachers and school staff the day off to vote rather than work out a cumbersome schedule of giving them the mandated time off to vote.
According to friends who voted this morning, the lines are long but moving quickly.
Posted by: Mustang Bobby on November 4, 2008 at 9:21 AM | PERMALINK
Voted in NYC at 7:30 am. I've voted at this same location for the past 10+ years and nothing compares to the turnout this morning. The line was 3-5 deep and a city block long. Most years it takes 3 minutes to vote. Today it took 35 minutes, which was swift considering the amount of folks in line. Everyone was in good spirits - lots and lots of Obama supporters as one would expect in NYC.
Posted by: dsm on November 4, 2008 at 9:21 AM | PERMALINK
Good morning from Pennsylvania, where we've been absolutely blitzed with McCain/Wright ads (Too Radical! Too Risky!) for the past few days. Long line at my local place -- strangely enough, there were about 70 people waiting in the A-L line and a maximum of two or three in the M-Z line. Frustrating. Anyhow, people were mostly quiet but content. Free coffee always helps.
My father, in northeastern Pennsylvania for the past 50 years, said he's never seen longer lines. Regardless of the victor, it really is a historic election in terms of turnout.
Gobama!
Posted by: Run Up The Score on November 4, 2008 at 9:21 AM | PERMALINK
I planned on voting on my way to the second day of a two day retreat at Harvard Medical School + discovered an hour-long wait at 7:45 am in Boston's South End - so I'm planning on returning at lunch time to vote [the lunches at the retreat yesterday were lousy]. Never seen a line that long before!
Posted by: genome on November 4, 2008 at 9:23 AM | PERMALINK
Just proudly cast my vote for Barack Obama in Monkton, VT.
Posted by: Vermonter on November 4, 2008 at 9:23 AM | PERMALINK
Voted at 0730 in Alexandria, VA, after a one hour wait. Have never seen such a long line of happy people. Young, old, all races, all walks of life. It's morning again in America.
Posted by: J on November 4, 2008 at 9:23 AM | PERMALINK
First time in 17 years we had a line. Got to the elementary school at 7am when the polls opened, the parking lot was full and the line was out the door. This is in Edgewater, MD. It only took 30 minutes but I think it is a good sign to have a line in a solid blue state where a lot of people don't vote because they feel the outcome has already been decided.
Posted by: yamevoy on November 4, 2008 at 9:24 AM | PERMALINK
I was at my polling station at 5:45 this morning and 20 people were ahead of me, but more importantly, within 15 minutes the line was already out of the school door. We were not allowed in until 6:10 and even then most of the booths were not ready. Waaah! However, I was finished by 6:40 and heading to work and the line was endless. I have been voting at this particular school for the past 10 years and have never seen a line like this before especially that early. Hopefully it's a GOOD start.
Posted by: marsha ellis on November 4, 2008 at 9:25 AM | PERMALINK
Another Washington State voter...except I wanted to live the excitement of Nov 4th at my polling place. It opens in 40 minutes. Even by going in as early as possible today, my boss knows not to expect me in on time.
Today is going to be a great day!
Posted by: jcricket on November 4, 2008 at 9:25 AM | PERMALINK
Listening to Joe in the Moring about voting then my mind flew open again.
Joe Scar bough saying he was a Democrat before. Very funny, before what? Before everyone found out he paraded around as a Democrat but really was Republican. Here, the Liebermann effect, or better the McCain effect full throttle in public discourse in the Great Santini mode, jet fueled with Bush and Company dynamics of feel good corruption like “Joe the Plumber”, having no accountability, no responsibility, definitively avoiding assurance, insurance, or license, that is necessary in any free market contractual privity.
What in the hell am I talking about? Here, we have some Journalist that are privy or understand the contextual concepts of privity, and actually legally wind around sedition knowingly and openly dancing between third person languages that has a way to appear magically by statistics. Yet, all the while ignoring the obvious Joe the plumber, and Joe Scar bough are similar. But, here, Joe Scar bough licensed and contracted more than we know is learning the IMUS lesson. When driven to that wall, use a form of quantum twist saying, oh, that corruption was all an unintended consequence. When in reality Republicans of this nature just wanted to take your tax dollar legally with out any forfeit. Any money going back the citizenry is less that could go back to the Republican Jekyll Island economy.
But, most important of all the lack of real honest discussion of the sedition that is wide open. And perhaps we all are guiltily; do to the building hate by the media. I found a web site that captured moment of wild speculation that our Congress or Representatives are loaded or biased in a Seditious way, openly with far too, much disrespect for the Constitution. Here, Bush and Company paved the way for this culture. It needs to stop, that’s why the Republican’s need to be balanced out of the politics.
Advertisement and open talk is leading to a Constitutional Convention for the local states and our national federal Constitution. Here, this document is the greatest experiment ever is not just a piece of paper it is literally a living document now argued about at the time of conception to the death of the individual. But are we ready for it, can this be discussed rationally and openly. For me, not at this time.
Alarmingly here is a passage from the website: Some kind of U.S. Supreme Court stuff, but a whole lot of things to consider. But what jumps out at me is this good government stuff, against the government stuff, the government is the problem, the government needs to be smarter? Of course it does and in one part that is great words by men abused is Madison:
quoting Madison’s comment that in a republican government “the censorial power is in the people over the Government, and not in the Government over the people,” is that “[t]he right of free public discussion of the stewardship of public officials was thus, in Madison’s view, a fundamental principle of the American form of government.”
supreme.justia.com
Also.
Seditious Speech and Seditious Libel.—Opposition to government through speech alone has been subject to punishment throughout much of history under laws proscribing “seditious” utterances. In this country, the Sedition Act of 1798 made criminal, inter alia, malicious writings which defamed, brought into contempt or disrepute, or excited the hatred of the people against the Government, the President, or the Congress, or which stirred people to sedition.
America we need to think about this stuff more, for mainstream media is not doing it and is not the palace to do it.[ know palace, or sooth is not misspelled] For as sooth as they appear CNN, FOX, MSNBC are corrupt and show only core deception’s that promote the Jekyll Island economics that is a failed system definitely not for the citizenry.
Posted by: Megalomania on November 4, 2008 at 9:26 AM | PERMALINK
In suburban Pittsburgh, PA (Green Tree) I was 25th in line as I arrived at 6:55 AM, 5 minutes before polls opened. That's at least 3 times as long as I've ever seen before at that point.
Posted by: KevinMc on November 4, 2008 at 9:27 AM | PERMALINK
Just returned from voting. Wow, did that feel good. Obama/Biden '08!
Posted by: tiredofgreed on November 4, 2008 at 9:28 AM | PERMALINK
Steve - The lines weren't too long around 8:05, so you should be in good shape. Took the whole family to the polls. We wanted our daughters to be part of this historic day. Watching the results from Dixville Notch and Hart, NH last night made me feel proud of road trips to N.H. So many great people are part of this day. But what amplifies the greatness of the day, was the blogging communties, and the bloggers that create them. I only know them by their tag lines, but I have come to view many of these commentors as essential parts of my political dialogue. You have made that possible. All of your neigbors/fans can't thank you enough for your tireless and insightful work this campaign. Truly remarkable. From Carbetbagger to the Washington Monthly, you bring a pithy and concise voice to the debate. If Obama wins, you will have had a huge part in the process. Thank you!
Posted by: Scott F. on November 4, 2008 at 9:29 AM | PERMALINK
Voted early in Florida several days ago. Was a man standing at the outside door informing people that they had to have a photo id to vote, which is incorrect. In lieu of a photo id, in Florida you can provide any signed id and fill out a provisional ballot, which will be counted if no problems are discovered.
The guy attempted to turned away two people a few places ahead of me, an old man and a young man. The old man left. The young man insisted on going inside, where I observered him doing the provisional ballot.
I told the ladies inside the polling place what was going on outside. One of them seemed concerned, but nobody did anything. I went back and told the guy he was telling a lie, just to shake him up a bit.
My research indicates that Georgia and Florida are the only current states that ask for photo ids. Are there others?
Posted by: little ole jim on November 4, 2008 at 9:29 AM | PERMALINK
Just voted in Collinsville, IL. Short lines, but I got there early, could be longer later. Is a beautiful morning for such a historic occasion. The could be the best day I've had in eight long dark years.
Posted by: Talphon on November 4, 2008 at 9:29 AM | PERMALINK
Did you take a moment while voting to appreciate the historic significance of this race?
Eugene Robinson sure did
Posted by: Marko on November 4, 2008 at 9:31 AM | PERMALINK
I voted in a suburb just north of Milwaukee this morning. Only waited about 35 minutes in line; including the 10 minutes I was there before the polls opened at 7. The warmest election day I can remember.
Anyone else have trouble sleeping last night? This is the most significant election in my lifetime, except perhaps 2000 when we (s)elected GW who won with -490,000 votes. I am hoping and praying that we will turn the corner on that travesty that has continued on for eight years.
A special thanks to all of you that are working so hard for Obama/Biden. You are the true patriots!!
Keep working until the polls close to GOTV!
Peace to all.
Posted by: BrianInMKE on November 4, 2008 at 9:33 AM | PERMALINK
I went to vote at my usual time, which is right at 7:00 when the polls open in Madison, WI. I've never had more than a handful of people in line in front of me. Today when I arrived at 6:55, the line snaked all the way around the perimiter of a large gymnasium (my polling place is a local elementary school...), out the door, down two hallways, and into the second gymnasium where the voting booths and registration tables were. Even though it took around 45 minutes to make it through the line, everyone seemed to be in good spirits.
It was incredible, and very moving, to see all those people out to vote in this historic election.
Posted by: MIchael Patrick on November 4, 2008 at 9:34 AM | PERMALINK
Hey, let's check out the stuff on Steve's desk.
Posted by: Foozle on November 4, 2008 at 9:35 AM | PERMALINK
Chcago, Lakeview neighborhood.
Got there at 6am. Long line. It moved pretty quickly, but pandamonium once inside. they had alot more voting booths than normal, but there was no guidence or control of the crowd. People were in wrong lines and had to go stand in another long line after they had gotten up to the check in table. They need to come up with a plan to deal with the crowds and guide people through before the after work crunch time comes.
Posted by: Saint Zak on November 4, 2008 at 9:37 AM | PERMALINK
Voted in Charleston, SC. I got there at 5:55AM (polls open at 7AM) and was about #15 in line. The ladies (4 black ladies) at the front of the line said they arrived at 5AM. By the time the polls opened there must have been 200 people in line. Drove by the polling place at 9AM and there was still a line ~100 people (out the door down the sidewalk and partway down the front walk). Many more than I have ever seen before. Exciting!
Posted by: Paul on November 4, 2008 at 9:38 AM | PERMALINK
How backward are we in Oregon for not being able to be part of all of that long line comraderie. Vote by mail, nation.
However, I do liken the historical significance of this election to those three days at Gettysburg. As that great battle was the turning point for the heart and soul of this nation, may this election become the turning point towards hope and change.
I feel akin to those who waited by the telegraph stations of small northern towns in that long ago July. "Any word from the front; any word from Gettysburg, yet?"
Posted by: berttheclock on November 4, 2008 at 9:39 AM | PERMALINK
Blue skies with wisps of cloud; bright sunshine---and a polling station that's a whole 10-minute walk from the front door. In and out in about the same time as it took for an oil-change week before last.
Posted by: Steve W. on November 4, 2008 at 9:39 AM | PERMALINK
My grandfather was born in September of 1900. By October of 1900 he had developed an immovable hatred of black people that he carried to his grave 93 years later. As a child I tried to have conversations with him about this, but he was illiterate and stubborn. He tried very hard to make me feel the way he did. But, I just couldn't.
Today in Roanoke, Va, population 100,000, our black precincts are seeing overwhelming turnout. As of 8:00 lines were 300 deep. I'm heading to my polling station now. There will be no line there.
When I select Barack Obama it will be for several reasons:
1] I'm a democrat
2] George W Bush has nearly destroyed my country
3] My grandfather, as much as I loved him, was wrong
No doubt my granddad would see today as the end of the world -- a situation he would never be able to fathom. But I've been given a chance to take part in history. My ten-year-old daughter will be by my side. I will not vote for the black guy because he's black. I will vote for the right guy because he represents the best of what America has to offer -- and our best hope out of this mess we're in.
Today may be the end of my granddad's world. For all of us, I hope so.
When I vote in our
Posted by: chrenson on November 4, 2008 at 9:40 AM | PERMALINK
I live in Milford, Ma. and the crowd was quite large @ 7:00 am !!
I live in Amesbury (north shore)and the line was pretty long for 7:15 a.m. Only took 40 minutes!
GOBAMA!
Posted by: Rick on November 4, 2008 at 9:41 AM | PERMALINK
I had to share this incredibly analysis from American history professor Dr. Michael Phillips, author of "White Metropolis."
Obama Will Win and Win Big
I wear my political heart on my sleeve. I naively cling to a faith in
people power, and trust that political and social movements (abolitionism,
the women's suffrage campaign, the anti-Vietnam War crusade, etc.) can
transform society or, at the very least, nudge public policy in a profoundly
different and saner direction.
Furthermore, I know that elections matter and that the world we live in
today would be profoundly different if all of Al Gore's votes had been
properly counted in Florida in 2000. I know that most Americans remember the
Florida debacle and they have viewed the last eight years under George W.
Bush with horror and anger and deeply desire change.
Because of my emotional investment in my political beliefs, over the years I
have been an exceedingly poor electoral prophet. I so wanted to bring down
the curtain on the Bush administration that this time four years ago I spent
Election Day speculating on John Kerry's first year in the White House.
This year is profoundly different. Outside of wish fulfillment, there are
solid mathematical, political and social reasons why Obama will not only
win, but claim a solid mandate. Here are the reasons:
1. Statistical probabilities and group dynamics favor Obama. Mathematicians
discovered a while back that if they place a jar in front of a group of test
subjects and asked them to guess the number of pennies or marbles in the
container, that the average of all the guesses would fall remarkably close
to an accurate estimate.
This presidential race has seen the rise of the internet presidential
prediction markets where participants trade candidate "futures." Except for
a lightening-quick two-week period during and after the Republican National
Convention, these presidential election betting pools have overwhelmingly
favored Obama. The RealClearPolitics website "Intrade Market Odds" as of
4:32 p.m. CST, Monday, November 3, set Obama's odds of winning at 90.5
percent. Mathematical probability suggests that the possibility of that
many people being that wrong about the election results is virtually
impossible.
2. Once again, it's the economy stupid. Economic issues always trump
cultural issues. In 1992, the Democrats nominated Bill Clinton, a governor
of a small Southern state widely believed to have been a serial adulterer
who had opposed the Vietnam War and who was accused of lying to dodge the
draft. The Republicans nominated an incumbent president with limited
political skills who nevertheless had commanded an impressive global
coalition in a lightening quick victory in Iraq that resulted in fewer than
200 American deaths.
Nevertheless, the country slid into a recession by the 1992 election (one
much less severe than the current economic meltdown destroying savings
accounts and 401Ks from coast to coast.) Americans looked at their bottom
lines, overcame their cultural prejudices, and opted for the skirt-chasing,
dope-smoking, draft-dodging unknown redneck governor rather than the more
familiar, more socially conservative, more experienced sitting President.
The economic crisis today is far more frightening. Obama (unlike Clinton) is
a steady, claiming presence with national political experience. In contrast
to Clinton, Obama has not allowed his campaign to wallow in melodrama and
has focused the electorate on issues, not personalities.
As late as this year's GOP convention, conservative voters suspicion of
Obama's race and uncomfortable with Obama's alleged relationships with
Jeremiah Wright, Bill Ayers and other aging radicals sought an excuse to
vote for McCain. McCain lost those nervous voters, first when he selected
Sarah Palin as his running mate, and secondly with his erratic behavior as
American banks tumbled in October. Palin completely negated any argument
Team McCain had that they possessed the experience needed to deal
simultaneously with two wars, the mortgage crisis and a looming global
recession. Palin has only appealed to a dwindling GOP base, and has
alienated key swing voters.
Then McCain lost his mantle as the cool, knowledgeable economic
commander-in-chief with his erratic behavior during the bank bailout debate.
First, he supposedly suspended his campaign so he could deal with the
crisis. Then during this "suspension" McCain spent most of his time with
network interviews and fundraisers. When he finally assumed "command" of
the crisis in Washington, he offered nothing positive during Congressional
negotiations with the White House (negotiations that fell apart.) After
pledging to focus on the economic crisis until the issue was resolved,
McCain limped back to his campaign with nothing to show for his efforts.
He was debating Obama only two days after the campaign suspension for no
better reason than appearing as a grumpy, sour old man before millions. By
contrast, Obama appeared like a cool customer. Obama's performance as a
prospective commander-in-chief trumped his race, his association with 1960s
radicals or any other supposed baggage. Obama's calm has appealed just as
Franklin Roosevelt's confidence proved irresistibly attractive to voters
during the Great Depression in 1932. That year, northern states that had
voted Republican since the Civil War were able to take a leap and jumped on
the Democratic bandwagon. A similar dynamic exists this year and supposedly
reluctant white voters will back Obama in large enough numbers to carry him
to victory.
3. Personality, charisma and eloquence matter. Throughout this year, my
Democratic friends have had nightmare flashbacks to Jimmy Carter's, Walter
Mondale's, Michael Dukakis's, Al Gore's and John Kerry's campaigns. I voted
for those Democratic failures, I placed hope in those losers and I was
seriously disappointed by them. And Obama is no Jimmy Carter/Walter
Mondale/Michael Dukakis/Al Gore/John Kerry. Obama is not an animated
corpse. He enjoys not just the gift of poetic flair, but an easy smile and
an authenticity that places him miles ahead of his Democratic Party
predecessors.
4. The Republicans are so 2004. It's not just that the economy, terrorism,
the quagmire in Iraq and the real possibility of failure in Afghanistan have
reduced social issues like gay marriage and abortion to footnotes. The GOP,
in one sense, is a victim of their past of successes, and in another sense
of their hyperbole. Gay marriage has been banned so often in so many ways
that it remains a relevant issue only in bicoastal outposts like
Massachusetts, Vermont and California. In spite of gay marriages and civil
unions in those three states, the skies have not torn asunder, the seas have
not turned red, and dogs are not cohabiting with cats. The republic has
survived in spite of the mythical insidious gay agenda.
In face of the Bush administration's mountain of failures and the multiple
scary threats looming on the country's horizon, social issues carry salience
only for the 30 percent or so of voters who have remained loyal to the
current administration no matter how badly it has performed. Obama could
never win those voters anyway and, fortunately for the Democratic nominee,
that bloc is not large enough to carry an election.
5. The election night clock favors Obama. Tomorrow's election will be over
by 7:30 p.m. EST. One of the earliest states to close polls will be
Indiana, a traditional Republican stronghold where polls in most of the
state close by 6 p.m. Eastern. The results will be too close to call and the
networks will have to wait another hour anyway because Gary, a heavily
Democratic and black part of the state, is in the Central Time Zone. Polls
will not close there until 7 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
McCain will not be able to claim normally reliably red Indiana in his column
and by then he will have lost New Hampshire (where Bush won in 2004.)
Obama will have taken away Virginia away from the red column (results are
reported very quickly there) and even if McCain pulls off a miracle and
takes Pennsylvania away from the Democrats, the network will not be able to
call it for McCain for several hours.
More likely is that Obama will have a five-point or more spread in
Pennsylvania from the start. McCain bet the election on Pennsylvania and if
it becomes likely that this gamble failed, the GOP nominee has no chance of
winning the election. The question at this point becomes how McCain and the
networks react.
Look out for the "Jimmy Carter echo." In his 1980 debacle against Ronald
Reagan, Carter conceded defeat an hour after polls closed on the East Coast.
Depressed, Democrats stopped showing up at the polls in the Central Time
Zone and numerous progressive Democratic Senators, such as George McGovern,
Frank Church and Birch Bayh lost as the election moved toward the heartland
and beyond.
A similar effect could happen in two different ways tomorrow night. Cable
and broadcast networks will bend over backwards to not call the election too
early. However, they will not be able to conceal reality. If McCain is
consistently behind by five or more points in Pennsylvania, and as Obama
racks up wins across New England and New York by large margins and holds
narrower margins in Virginia and North Carolina, followed by a series of big
victories in the upper Midwest, even the most cautious network will have to
admit the impossibility of a McCain victory.
The on-air conversation will turn from who will win to how big Obama's
margin will be and whether the Democrats will win 60-plus seats in the
Senate. At that point, marginal Republicans and GOP-leaning independents
west of the Mississippi will conclude it's not worth their time to vote for
a losing ticket and the Democrats will surge towards winning 60 or 61 Senate
seats.
The other possibility is that the crazy, angry side of John McCain's
personality will win over his calmer, better nature. By 7:30 Eastern,
McCain will be seething. He will be blaming his loss on Sarah Palin and on
the GOP hacks he will blame for talking him out of naming Joe Lieberman or
Tom Ridge as his running mate. As the prospects of a truly humiliating
defeat looms large, McCain might decide to make a last-minute bid to salvage
his reputation as a straight shooter. A consummate narcissist (don't take my
partisan word for it, check out this devastating "Rolling Stone" profile, the Arizona Senator might at the same time surrender to his
dark side.
See if McCain by about 8:30 p.m. EST decides to acknowledge reality and
makes a charming and self-effacing speech congratulating Obama for his
victory. This concession speech will be hailed as a return to the "Straight
Talk Express," but it will also give McCain a chance to stick a knife in the
side of a Republican Party that rejected him in 2000 and forced him too far
to the right this year. He's going to be the GOP equivalent of Jimmy Carter
for a couple of decades anyway, and will have lost his last chance at the
White House. He might decide that if he's going to be a goat he might as
well flame out in epic fashion. If the election results are tipped off by
either news anchors or by McCain himself, expect devastating consequences
for GOP turnout across the country.
So here's my prediction. Obama wins big, getting between 54-55 percent of
the popular vote and carrying and winning in the Electoral College 350-185.
(McCain will carry the following states: South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama,
Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, Kentucky, West Virginia, Indiana,
Missouri, Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North
Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Utah, Arizona and Alaska. Obama will carry
the other 27 states (including Pennsylvania, Ohio, Florida, Virginia, North
Carolina, Colorado and New Mexico) as well as the District of Columbia.
The early collapse of McCain's chances will carry down-ballot Democratic
candidates, including Minnesota Senate nominee Al Franken, and the Democrats
will end up with a minimum of 59 seats and a maximum of 61.
I wouldn't bet the farm on it. Remember that I am an historian, not a
psychic. But that's how it looks to me on Election Eve. And unlike
professional pundits such as Dick Morris of Farce News, I will stand by my
predictions.
Posted by: LW on November 4, 2008 at 9:42 AM | PERMALINK
I just voted in a predominantly white, ex-urban, overwhelmingly Republican district. My polling place has never had a long wait time or even lines that I have ever seen. They double the number of voting machines here. One county over there are lines that began to form an hour before the polls opened. Maybe they could have used some of the voting machines at my local elementary school.
Posted by: Dr. U on November 4, 2008 at 9:42 AM | PERMALINK
I live in Washington, DC. Dropped my daughter off at school, and the polling place there had a line 2 blocks long. Went to my polling place at a different school and the line was non-existent. Demographics for the two voting districts are similar, though the one served by my daughter's school is a tad whiter, a tad wealthier, and a fair bit younger. I'm sure if that explains the difference, though.
Posted by: Everett on November 4, 2008 at 9:44 AM | PERMALINK
Hi Everyone--getting ready to go vote, and will report back. We feel so grateful our voting locale is walking distance from our home.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I'm thinking today of what Jonathan Alter or Howard Fineman ( can't recall--but they are two of my favorite news analysts)said yesterday to Chris Mathews on MSNBC re: the Historic Nature of this election:
"Don't forget that under the first sixteen presidents of the U.S., African Americans like Obama were very much still considered property". (And naturally, we know they didn't exactly have a picnic after 1865 either!).
Pretty Amazing, Huh?
Posted by: it's not only Not right, it also Ain't right on November 4, 2008 at 9:44 AM | PERMALINK
little ole jim: My research indicates that Georgia and Florida are the only current states that ask for photo ids. Are there others?
Indiana does. We spent the weekend knocking on doors in Indianapolis and that was part of our message.
Foozle: Hey, let's check out the stuff on Steve's desk.
This stapler's better than mine. I'm taking it.
Saint Zak: Chcago, Lakeview neighborhood.
Hey, we're neighbors. I didn't know that.
Posted by: shortstop on November 4, 2008 at 9:45 AM | PERMALINK
I voted early a week ago. I am so excited to go home tonight and watch the election results roll in. It is not until now that I began to feel emotional about this election. I have been so focused on getting someone other than Bush into the white house that it is only now that I take a moment to reflect how exciting and momentous this campaign has been.
GOBAMA!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Erin on November 4, 2008 at 9:45 AM | PERMALINK
I voted in Roosevelt Island (manhattan's mini-me) this am just after 6 - I was no. 8 in the line. two small skirmishes, one between 2 poll workers, one between the line and the woman who tried to cut in and take our places!(nobody let her, of course) I took all of about 15 minutes. I expect it will be a nerve-wracking day for poll workers. Hope Gore's 2004 loss was not a lasting coup d'etat, I hope that we can coup it right back (recoup) this time!
Posted by: Chesterfield on November 4, 2008 at 9:47 AM | PERMALINK
BTW, I heard yesterday Starbucks (that elite place with horrible quotes on their cups) is giving out free Tall Coffees to anyone who voted! Not sure if it's true--but that's what the front ad to the NYT website said, anyway...
Posted by: He's been palling around with terrorists on November 4, 2008 at 9:48 AM | PERMALINK
My mother-in-law is visiting from Brazil, and she reminded me today that all of Brazil is watching to see if Americans will elect Obama (according to her, much of the world remains skeptical about whether we would elect a black man to be our president).
In fact, the entire world is watching us today. When we cast our ballots, most of us are thinking primarily of ourselves and our loved ones, but we're impacting the rest of the world in ways that most of us don't even fathom. I hope folks keep that in mind as well.
Posted by: CJ on November 4, 2008 at 9:52 AM | PERMALINK
Have friends in town, so took them on a night tour of the DC monuments. At the Lincoln Memorial I noticed many (appearing to be more than usual) people stopping not just to see the Lincoln part of the Memorial, but also specifically seeking out the dedication carved into the steps to commemorate MLK's I have a Dream speech. Whites, Blacks, Hispanics, foreigners. Thought that was interesting in light of today's events.
Posted by: bubba on November 4, 2008 at 9:53 AM | PERMALINK
I've got to give thanks to all the volunteers at my polling station, 223, in HTX. I missed the 7am rush and was in and out in 5 min. When a worker thanked me and bid me a good day, I crossed my fingers, mumbled something about being excited, and grinned like an idiot. For a straight party voter like myself, it was over all too soon.
I hope I get to luxuriate in that vote for the next eight years.
Posted by: cha on November 4, 2008 at 9:54 AM | PERMALINK
Reporting from VA, ZIP 236** areas (SE). No long line for me or other issues in midtown Newport News. We ink in circles on sheets, which are fed into a reader. (Heh, there's a write in space and circle, but since they'd get no Electors, what does it do?)
However, disturbing reports already in about machines (Diebold!) failing and backup paper balloting required in some regions, which curiously happen to be black sections of town. Also, a woman voting in Grissom Library reported that when she fed her sheet into such a machine, it sucked in but the *counter* didn't turn over. She told an election official, that means the vote wasn't counted. The official claimed, yes it was because the machine took in the sheet! (wrong) The local Obama campaign has reported this.
Also, flags half mast at library I voted, who died or what else? I can't imagine they'd do it for Obama's grandma, but if so a nice gesture.
Posted by: Neil B on November 4, 2008 at 9:54 AM | PERMALINK
Voted early this morning. I got there about 30 minutes ahead of the polls opening. Lots of excitement and electricity. Interestingly, we were advised by the Precinct Judge that cell phones, bluetooth devices, radios, cameras etc. were all forbidden within 100 feet of the polling place which I found kind of odd. During the primaries, everyone had some kind of device and I took a lot of pictures because, just like today, its kind of historical since we were going to participate in the caucus afterwards. We also ran into a voting machine problem (imagine that) and one whole precinct wasnt in the machine so all of those people were pulled out of line and asked to wait until it could be fixed. There were some very irate people that were complaining that since they werent able to vote yet, nobody should be allowed to vote. I spoke up and explained in front of everyone that it was a mechanical issue (precinct issue) and it had nothing to do with who got there first or who had been waiting longer. I hope they get the problem fixed and those folks get to vote. I voted for Obama.
Posted by: Steve in Converse on November 4, 2008 at 9:55 AM | PERMALINK
New York City, Upper West Side (hard core Democratic): In the ten years I have been voting at my polling place -- an elementary school cafeteria -- the line has never broached the cafeteria doors. This morning, the line went out the doors, down the hall, out the school, down the block, around the corner and down an entire city block. Fortunately, it moved well, only taking about half an hour to vote. A neighbor of mine who volunteers at the polls said she'd never seen anything remotely like it. Looks like a record.
Posted by: SteveC on November 4, 2008 at 9:55 AM | PERMALINK
I am permanent absentee voter in California. I chose this course after being unexpectedly taken off the rolls in L.A. one year.
I mailed in my ballot more than a week ago and, the most important part, checked to make sure they got it.
Good luck to everyone voting today.
Posted by: George on November 4, 2008 at 9:55 AM | PERMALINK
I live near the borders of both VA and PA. Last night a Republican PAC aired the Jeramiah Wright ad three times during Countdown with Keith Olbermann, and then twice more during Rachel Maddow. Good luck with that, guys.
Posted by: Danp on November 4, 2008 at 9:56 AM | PERMALINK
I was number 72 at around 6:55 a.m. The mood was sober and quiet.
Usually I would be number 15 or 20.
The woman who does the voting booth looked at the panel before she pushed the button for the next vote to be processed, every time. There's one machine and it's touch screen.
I'm holding my breath until the results are in.
I voted for Obama and democratic candidates.
Posted by: Maude on November 4, 2008 at 9:57 AM | PERMALINK
My research indicates that Georgia and Florida are the only current states that ask for photo ids. Are there others?
Posted by: little ole jim on November 4, 2008 at 9:29 AM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
They are asking for them in Indiana. Also having voters cast provisional ballots if the address on the ID doesn't match registration records.
Posted by: steve duncan on November 4, 2008 at 10:00 AM | PERMALINK
ss: you crossed the state line to canvass? You go girl.
Posted by: little ole jim on November 4, 2008 at 10:01 AM | PERMALINK
I live in a small city in the south of New Mexico. They were checking each voter's I.D., which they don't have to do, but since the line was short no one objected.
Now I'm off to work in Las Cruces as an election-day volunteer for Common Cause. Most likely, I will probably be answering basic questions for confused voters, telling people about the information hotline, and handing out a sheet listing the voters' rights in english and spanish. If I see intimidation or if the polling place is not following the laws properly, I report the observation and the County Clerk gets a call.
Posted by: Algernon on November 4, 2008 at 10:02 AM | PERMALINK
Can I say how cool it is that my polling place is a school built on the site of Frederick Douglass' farm?
It was the longest line I've seen since I've been voting here. Saw lots of my neighbors, and everyone was happy and excited. Talked to another neighbor who was there when they opened at 6, and said it was crowded. We are in a blue, blue district, and turnout is heavy.
I'm off to work as a runner, shuttling legal documents pertaining to disputed voter eligibility between polling places and the court house.
Posted by: Jean Arf on November 4, 2008 at 10:02 AM | PERMALINK
I live in Alabama and I just voted. We use an optical scanning system (you fill in bubbles on a paper ballot and then run it through a scanner to vote) and I really don't understand why this isn't the standard everywhere. There were probably 300-350 people at the polling place when I got there, divided into 10 lines by first letter of last name. There were 8 scanners. We were in and out of there in less than 30 minutes. I scanned my ballot at 8:00 and was voter #289 on that machine, so I assume that in about an hour my polling pace had processed more than 2000 voters. Pretty darned efficient and there's a paper trail to boot.
Posted by: orogeny on November 4, 2008 at 10:03 AM | PERMALINK
I was in line just before the doors opened at 7:00 and had a 15 minute wait, my first in six years in my Fargo district. I unexpectedly teared up a bit when selecting Obama on the ballot and thought the map would look so much better with a blue ND...
Posted by: DJ on November 4, 2008 at 10:05 AM | PERMALINK
State of Georgia, city of Marietta voter. My wife voted early last week and waited in line for 3hrs. I tried to vote early but could not find a place to park and the lines were unreal. I just voted and it took 10 minutes.
Posted by: Mark Denney on November 4, 2008 at 10:06 AM | PERMALINK
I forgot to mention - in VA there's a law forbidding wearing campaign buttons/clothes etc. into the polls. A big-bellied fellow went to my precinct room wearing a Ron Paul tee. They insisted he take it off or turn it inside out (what most people do.) He said, I'll show them, and took off the shirt and then voted bare-chested. They let him do that, at least! I talked to him later, wish I had a pic of him voting like that!
BTW there were three city policemen hanging around right outside the doors, I wonder why they think they need that much "protection" from voters or challengers around there.
Posted by: Neil B on November 4, 2008 at 10:06 AM | PERMALINK
You wait IN line not ON line.
Rage.
Posted by: MNPundit on November 4, 2008 at 10:07 AM | PERMALINK
The S&P 500 is up 1.8% so far. In fact it's rallied quite a bit from its lows the last week or so. I guess Larry Kudlow & co. will just have to concede that the markets are signalling optimism at the prospect of a huge Democratic sweep of the presidency & congress.
Posted by: Basilisc on November 4, 2008 at 10:07 AM | PERMALINK
I voted in Indianapolis on Saturday, October 25. Even then the line extended out the front door of the City-County building, but the process was ultra smooth and efficient and everyone seemed excited about it.
This morning at my workplace in northeast Ohio, I was told by two people that they were at the polls at 6:30 am and found 30 people ahead of them. One, who said she first voted at 18 shortly after they lowered the voting age (so that'd be back in the '70s), said she'd never seen such a turnout that early.
I am looking forward to a landslide. I'll have the champagne waiting!
Posted by: Gregory on November 4, 2008 at 10:07 AM | PERMALINK
My research indicates that Georgia and Florida are the only current states that ask for photo ids. Are there others?
Indiana, which has, if memory serves me right, one of the more restrictive voter ID laws, which was recently upheld by the Supreme Court despite no evidence being presented of actual voter fraud.
It's a beautiful fall day here in northeast Ohio -- clear and cool. A beautiful day to throw Republican politicians out!
Posted by: Gregory on November 4, 2008 at 10:16 AM | PERMALINK
I voted in Winooski, VT, early this AM, and was surprised that some people were confused about the poll opening times.
I talked with a bunch of people who had heard on TV that the polls in VT opened at 5 or 6, but the vast majority of polling places -- including mine -- don't open until 7 or later.
A couple people, including one new voter, were unable to vote because of the confusion.
I blogged about it here.
Posted by: Cathy Resmer on November 4, 2008 at 10:17 AM | PERMALINK
shortstop wrote: This stapler's better than mine. I'm taking it.
You took the red one, didn't you?
Posted by: Gregory on November 4, 2008 at 10:18 AM | PERMALINK
Michigan voter, Lansing area. Took 1.5 hours from the time I joined the line at 7:10 am to walking out at 8:40. I was voter 143. I have never seen a line this long and I am a regular voter. Michigan does not have early voting or I would have gone before today. I am heartened, however, by the turnout.
Posted by: Val on November 4, 2008 at 10:26 AM | PERMALINK
No, you wait ON line. If you've ever listened to George Carlin, you know this. The guy on line in front of you is always less of an asshole than the guy way at the head of it.
Posted by: rebw on November 4, 2008 at 10:26 AM | PERMALINK
Voted this morning in Oak Park, Illinois (which is pretty much guaranteed to go Obama short of the entire town burning down), and waited 45 minutes. I've never waited more than 10-15 minutes before. It was amazing.
Posted by: True on November 4, 2008 at 10:28 AM | PERMALINK
I just got back from voting in Northern Westchester NY. No line but I was last to sign in on the signature sheet with my name on it. I think I was # 111.
This is my 3rd year voting here. I made sure I registered to turn NY-19 blue with John Hall in 2006.
I am wistful for the buzz that's probably going on in my old Queens neighborhood.
My 82 year old father is having minor surgery today, so we got him and my 81 year old mom absentee ballots at the last minute. They are in Nassau County.
They are both from Ireland and I will be forever grateful that they embraced and celebrated people from other cultures.
Posted by: mo on November 4, 2008 at 10:29 AM | PERMALINK
Oops.
My name was "Nicholas" in the register book. I was able to vote because my signature matched the one on my Driver's License.
I had checked the state database on Saturday, discovered the error and had my local board of elections make the correction. But it was too late to have the register updated.
So, I joined the roughly 3% of voters in my state who are required to show ID.
Question: How does Nicholson become Nicholas?
The fun part about my situation was the folks monitoring the election were immediately on their toes and showed themselves to be competent and thorough. Believe me those folks earned their pay today!!!!
On another note..... We were told that the new computerized machine took 20 minutes to record our vote....so folks were using the old standby. (for me it took all of 15 seconds!)
Go figure.
Posted by: Tom Nicholson on November 4, 2008 at 10:29 AM | PERMALINK
Voted in Suburban Philly, was in and out in 30 minutes....no issues. The lines were very long, but the folks were organazed and kept things moving.
Posted by: fred on November 4, 2008 at 10:29 AM | PERMALINK
Greensboro, NC - in our heavy Democratic neighborhood, one third voted early. The line was still twice as long as normal when the doors opened. For the first time ever we had observers at the polling place watching for voting fraud. The newspaper is predicting record turnout of 83% voting.
Posted by: Homer on November 4, 2008 at 10:36 AM | PERMALINK
Voted this morning in south Tempe, Arizona (in metro Phoenix). Got in line at 6:20am (polls opened at 6am) and line already stretched out the door and down the sidewalk. I reached the table with the ballots at 8am. The 2004 election required a similar wait.
The 90 minute wait passed pretty quickly as I was standing in a group of ASU students. We talked about issues, local food, and school. One student had an Obama rap on her phone that generated a lot of smiles all around.
Posted by: Astrogeek on November 4, 2008 at 10:37 AM | PERMALINK
Reporting in Chicago?
The weather is beautiful today, a perfect evening is expected for a celebration rally.
I had voted early (in the 'burbs), but the three co-workers who did not vote early reported long lines, waits of 1-2 hours when getting there around 6 AM when the polls opened. Amazing!
A couple other co-workers are attending the rally tonight.
This is going to be a wonderful day!
Posted by: avi on November 4, 2008 at 10:38 AM | PERMALINK
I voted early in Ohio (Cuyahoga Cty.) this past Friday, just after they opened for the morning. My fiancee and I waited about an hour total.
By yesterday (Monday), a volunteer friend of mine got a call from someone waiting in line that the wait was five hours, and people were chanting "yes, we can!" the entire time, asking each other if they need anything, bringing food and water, even parking cars on the street (the line was out the door and down the street!) and putting on music.
Yes, we can.
Posted by: Eadie on November 4, 2008 at 10:40 AM | PERMALINK
I live on the Upper East Side of Manhattan ... the line was over an hour long this morning ... but everyone was happy to be waiting. The poll workers all said they had never seen such a turn-out ... in the cab on my way to work, I saw line after line at schools throughout Manhattan, on the West Side and East Side, that stretched several city blocks ...
All very exciting
Posted by: naz on November 4, 2008 at 10:41 AM | PERMALINK
you people are making me cry.
now that you all have voted, are you making GOTV phone calls using Obama's online GOTV platform?
obama needs people to call people before 3 pm to get them out there to VOTE!
i made 80 calls last night and another 25 this morning from my little desk, wearing my bathrobe.
now i'm putting on my clothes and i am going to vote myself.
thank you, peeps. you are all my heroes.
Posted by: karen marie on November 4, 2008 at 10:42 AM | PERMALINK
I voted this morning in Evanston, IL. Waited maybe 5-7 minutes for a machine.
Just so I could take a moment to consider the historical significance, I took my 4 year old son with me. He helped me push the button to vote for Sen. Obama. He was disappointed that Obama wasn't there, he thought we were going to go tell him and Sen. McCain which one of them we were voting for.
He also got a little freaked out for a minute. His Mom had warned him not to tell anybody else who he was voting for while we were at the polls. But he couldn't resist, as I was finishing up voting for the 360,000 judges in Cook County, he busted out his favorite line of the last two weeks: "I'm Barack Obama and I approve this message" (you have to hear it with a 4 year old's lisp...outstanding). He realized what he had done and said "oh no, what happens now?" because he thought our vote wasn't going to count. I told him nobody heard him so he just shouldn't say it again (don't want some undercaffeinated election judge to have a preschooler arrested for electioneering).
In all, we were there about 15 minutes. The ballot collector gave both of us an "I Voted" sticker, and I've never seen him more proud to show off a sticker at preschool, not even when we bought the puffy Curious George ones...
Posted by: Don on November 4, 2008 at 10:42 AM | PERMALINK
Northern suburb of Baltimore, Maryland. Maryland has no early voting (but it was on the ballot as an amendment to the state constitution). Polls opened at seven, I got there about six-fifty. I was probably #130 in line. They were prepared for larger crowds, had made some changes to the check-in process to move things along. I was finished voting and out the door at 7:20. Husband was there about 30 minutes later, in and out in 15 minutes.
Posted by: cyrki on November 4, 2008 at 10:43 AM | PERMALINK
In case anyone missed it yesterday, Barack's grandmother's absentee ballot will be counted. Hawaii is one of the states that does not discard the votes of people who have voted but pass away before election day.
That's a heartwarming turn in an otherwise sad story.
Posted by: doubtful on November 4, 2008 at 10:45 AM | PERMALINK
From Ohio's "Fighting 14th" - compared to 2004, (1) the lines went outside of the church and (2) volunteers for the Democratic candidate for prez were handing out bottled water (and the downticket name-cards) for those in line.
We may just see OH-14 turn blue this year. Fingers crossed.
Posted by: Ohioan on November 4, 2008 at 10:46 AM | PERMALINK
Interesting: I took a call at my mother's house (yeah, pajama-clad nerd that I am) yesterday or so, from "The Obama Campaign." He asked for ""Angela B___" but her name is Anna. He said his point was to call "Angela B___" and to tell her to vote at Warwick Community Center (IIRC, but not the correct place), but mummy's precinct goes to a library. I told him to check his facts more carefully. Hmmm...
Posted by: Neil B on November 4, 2008 at 10:47 AM | PERMALINK
I voted at a grocery store on my lunch hour back on the 2nd day of early voting in Austin, TX. (This would have been Oct 21, I believe.) There were about 20 voting booths which were all filled but a line of only about 3 people waiting to vote, so the wait wasn't long at all. There were no apparent problems at that polling place, but at another one not far away there was a report of someone posing as a poll worker trying to get Obama supporters to cast their ballot in such a way as to invalidate their vote. (He was telling people to vote the Democratic straight ticket and then vote for Obama in addition to that, which throws out the entire ballot.) Once people caught onto his scam, he hightailed it for a vehicle festooned with various Repugnant Party bumper stickers and roared away. I haven't heard anything since on whether this person has been apprehanded for this felonious behavior. It's amazing that, even in a state which McCain is sure to win, some nutcases are still trying to steal votes for the Repubs. So if you're voting today, enjoy the experience but stay alert for Repub hanky-panky! |
