The Final US Election Thread

[Sasaki Kojiro]

Nice one GH

The dixville notch results are in:

Obama: 17
McCain: 10

[Banquo's Ghost]

I'll add my thanks to CA for a thorough and detailed opening post. Excellent work!

Things look quite extraordinary from potential turn-out point of view. Some commentators I've seen are predicting a possible 85% turn-out - with a more likely figure being 65%. This is just wonderful - people inspired to vote, willing to stand in long queues for hours to exercise their franchise.

After all my fears of voter apathy in Western democracies, it looks like the United States are going to prove me wrong again!

EDIT: According to the Beeb, Dixville Notch, New Hampshire went 15-6 to Obama. It was Hart's Location that went 17-10.

[Lord Winter]

Do you have any stats about the oregon senate race?

[TinCow]

Well, there's one obvious reason for the high voter turnout. Free food alert:

Free Scoop on Election Day at Ben and Jerry's
Come to participating scoop shops on November 4th from 5-8pm, and you'll get a free scoop of ice cream.

Free Doughnuts on Election Day at Krispy Kreme
Krispy Kreme will be giving out free star-shaped doughnuts with red, white, and blue sprinkles to anyone coming in with an "I Voted" sticker. "While voters may not always agree on the best candidate, voters can agree on one thing: Celebrating one of America's most coveted constitutional rights can be oh-so sweet," the company said in an announcement of the giveaway.

Free Coffee on Election Day at Starbucks
Voters who cast their ballots this Election Day could score more than a sense of civic pride. Starbucks Corp. is offering a free tall-size brewed coffee Tuesday to voters across the nation. All they need is a proof of voting or, in some cases, their own honest word.

Chick-fil-A
Go into one of their locally-owned franchises today (and perhaps tomorrow) and get a free chicken sandwich. I’m not sure just how many of their stores are planning the giveaway, but in some you show your sticker and in some you bring in one of your Presidential yard signs in exchange for a sandwich (intended to help clean up the inevitable trash left over on November 5) and in some you just show up. Check your local franchise.

[edit]More freebies.

[Banquo's Ghost]

I'm sure someone mentioned this in the earlier thread, but apparently, every election since 1937 when the Washington Redskins won the home game before the election, the incumbent party stayed in power. If they lost, so did the incumbent.

Steelers 23 - Redskins 6.

Just sayin'.

[tibilicus]

Good luck today America in exercising your right to vote.

To be honest due to the media here in the UK we're really kept in the dark over the elections, I personally find the news coverage of it dumbed down and not really presenting any facts.

We've been told of an Obama win but just talking to a McCain supporter the mood seems really good in the republican camp.

The world shall be watching these results with much held breath indeed.

[LittleGrizzly]

Banquo i thought that one went wrong in the '04 election, infact didn't most of the conicidences in elections point to a kerry win in '04 ?

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Tbil:

Yes, most of the undecideds are breaking towards McCain today, which has McCain teamers hopeful. The problem for the GOP is that McCain needs 2/3s+ among the undecideds to win enough states and must steal at least one state that's leaning Obama as of this weekend (a TALL order, though not impossible). Obama, to win, has only to hold what is already leaning towards him in the polls Or upset McCain in one mid-size state like NC or AZ.


LINE REPORT (please note, inherently anecdotal data)

Polling line was longer than I have seen it. Ever. Any election in VA or the one I voted in TX.

Compared to the line I experienced at the same time of day for the last Congressional election, I would estimate interest is AT LEAST a full order of magnitude greater. VA will set a record for total votes and total percentage of those eligible actually voting. They'll probably have to go back to 1792 to find an election that turned out a higher percentage of eligible Virginians.

More under 25 year of age types by far than I am used to seeing were in line, somewhat more persons of African descent. Both of these anecdotal points -- especially coming from VA 1st where I live -- suggest Obama will win the VA vote handily and that Warner will defeat Gilmour for the Senate slot being vacated by Warner by an even greater margin. Whittman probably retains his HoR seat -- the VA 1st is quite conservative.

This district will show wins for a McCain and Whittman for the GOP and Warner for the Dems (narrowly). But the GOP margins will, I am estimating, be much lower than in other years. Commonwealth-wide, that bodes poorly for the GOP.