Even if Obama wins in a landslide, if McCain receives around 47% of the popular vote, that says a lot about our electorate. And, none of it good.

Indeed, I think one of the odd things about this cycle has been the proclamation that fear and hate politics aren't working. They're still working, just not as well as they have in the past. If McCain-Palin--who would seem to project a managerial style that would encounter difficulties running Wasila--can get more than one third of the vote, then there is somthing still seriously wrong.

-- omooex

Obama should be crushing McCain, but he's not. Some of that might just be that Americans are ridiculously partisan and there are a lot of Republicans who would rather starve to death in a cardboard box than vote for a Democrat.

It's interesting - Kay Hagen now has a 6 point lead over Liddy Dole. She was trailing before Dole put out that despicable "Godless" ad. So, clearly, voters don't like that type of campaigning. On the other hand, Sadly, No! just put up a post with the comments from Freeperville about Obama's grandmother, which are beyond disgusting (some suggesting that she chose to die today to get him a sympathy vote). I guess there are just a lot of ugly people around.

I can't ever imagine voting Republican myself, but that doesn't mean I always vote Democratic, either. There are other parties. Has your mom thought about Bob Barr, for example?

On a related note, my dad has voted for Nader as long as he's been running. He's never supported either major party. But, he's voting for Obama this time. He doesn't even like Obama, but understands the stakes this time around. He's holding his nose.

So, tell me: why should I bother? Thanks in advance.

-- zenwick

My vote for President in California was totally irrelevant. Obama's up by something like 22 points here. But, my main concern with voting was to vote against Prop 4 (parental notification for abortion) and Prop 8 (anti gay marriage). I threw a fit when the volunteers tried to make me vote provisionally (they eventually figured out that my name was on a supplemental list they forgot to look at). I need those votes to count.

State races are important, too, as are any local measures, city council members, etc. THAT is why you should vote.

But overall, I am going to have some patience with a few centrist Cabinet picks and initiatives.

To real progressives/liberals/leftists (whatever you want to call us), "Center" to the Beltway establishment means "pretty damn far to the right." Who are these centrists of which you speak?

On the other hand, I know that Obama is "pretty damn far to the right," himself, despite Laura Ingraham's delusional claims to the contrary. So, what do I expect, I guess?

I discovered that the scanner for our precinct has been broken since 7am! Was it never tested? Why hasn't been replaced by now?!

My scanner in Contra Costa county was broken, as was the one in the precinct my father is running in Sacramento county. It seems like an epidemic. Strange... We and they didn't have to file provisional ballots, though. I'm not sure why you did. Maybe it's different machinery.

Obama is going to take away the white people's money and give it to African-Americans with a new welfare program, and to make sure it happens, whites are being cheated and intimidated out of their vote.

Via Andrew Sullivan, apparently Sarah Palin has discussed that she is the victim of racial discrimination: http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/11/we-live-it.html

Us poor, oppressed whites. One really has to feel sorry for us. (If I rolled my eyes any harder, they'd pop out of my head.)

Do you mind if I ask what community/municipality in CoCo County? As it happens, I'm working on a GOTV campaign in Richmond right now, and I live in Bay Point. I voted this morning, but had to file a provisional ballot because, apparently, I wasn't properly registered. I hope it actually gets counted, although I'm not optimistic.

-- IngSoc

I was in Walnut Creek. They tried to make me vote provisionally, but I threw a fit, and they suddenly remembered they had a supplemental list of names (I registered near the deadline), and I was on it. They were really nice about it, but it sounds like provisional ballots are being used all over the place in the wrong way. I hope this is being fixed.

I'm noticing that the other cable news stations aren't biting on the Black Panther story that's apparently seized the bleary-eyed cocoon-dwellers at Fox News. Let commence the increased marginalization of the insane radicalism that was once called "mainstream."

Sorry, to quote a terrible song from the 80s, ain't nothin gonna break my stride today.

-- DCLaw1

Also, CNN debunked the Black Panther's story pretty much right away. Only Fox would continue to spew lies. (They know their idiot listeners - one of whom has been spreading the lies here - will believe whatever they say.)

Instead, they are giving exit poll results. Right now, they are talking about White Men in Virginia, 39% for Obama and 58% for McCain, or some such.

-- timbuktom

That's like saying water is wet.

Looks like some precincts are reporting, per Yahoo's "Political Dashboard" tool: http://news.yahoo.com/election/2008/dashboard

McCain ahead in total popular vote with precincts reporting in New Hampshire, Maine, Indiana and Kentucky. Blowout for McCain in Kentucky, tied in IN, Obama blowout in ME and NH. But, only about 80,000 votes in, total, 18,000 in KY.

Not good for McCain since Gary always reports late, I guess.

-- bamage

Yep. Gary's polls are open another 5 minutes (7 p.m. EST), so we won't know for a little bit. I wonder when the networks will call, though...

Major tightening in KY all of a sudden. 9% of precincts reporting - McCain 51%, Obama 48%.