Election Night 2008: On pins and needles

By Lor Sligar
Published: Tuesday, November 4, 2008 - 8:59pm

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To start with, a little about me
I'm probably most readily classified as a socialist or communist. I don't really know the difference. But in an idyllic world, everything would be shared and free and jobs would be on a rotating basis, free health care, no wars, no weapons, no class system at all. Not evil communism. Happy love communism.

My support of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is a fallback, since I don't see the point in supporting a third party, and I like a lot of the Democratic social views.

Despite his runner-up status, I'm so supportive of Obama in this election. If he loses I'll proably cry …

I've been texting my friend, a moderate Republican but definite supporter of John McCain, back and forth about the election. It feels more like we're watching a soccer tournament, cheering for opposing teams in the final game, rather than watching the fate of our nation be decided.

But enough with the dramatics, now for election coverage …

7:50 p.m.
Anyway, I'm watching the live election results on CBS.com. And I must say … crap. A little while ago McCain had 45 Electoral College votes to Obama's 102, and Obama was ahead 50 percent to 49 percent in the popular vote.

But in the last few minutes, things have changed. McCain has gone up to 54 electoral votes, and Obama is staying at 102. Also, the popular vote has changed to 50 percent and 49 percent, but now in McCain's favor. Uh-oh …

CBS is predicting Obama will take Pennsylvania. However, McCain seems to be ahead in Indiana, which is troubling.

8:08 p.m.
Score! The Electorial College stands at 174 to 100, Obama. Popular vote has also fallen to 49 percent for McCain, 50 percent for Obama. Maybe all my worrying has been for nothing …

9:32 p.m.
Sorry for the delay! Play practice!

So Obama is pulling ahead. I guess we all saw that coming. But knock on wood! I don't want to jinx anything. But currently, Obama has 206 electoral votes to McCain's 138. The popular vote, since I last checked, has remained in Obama's favor, but now is at 51 percent for Obama and only 48 percent for McCain.

Even if somehow neither reaches 270 and they end up with a tie, the Senate is in Obama's favor with 54 seats to McCain's 38. The number needed for a majority is only 51. And if it then proceeds to the House of Representatives, Obama also holds the majority there (180 to 124).

So things are looking up.

9:38 p.m.
So I just glanced back at the board. Electorally, Obama still has 206, but McCain is going up and is currently at 141. Hmm. At least the popular votes look the same …

10:13 p.m.
AND OBAMA SCORES THE FINAL GOAL IN OVERTIME!!

A few minutes before I left play practice I heard 282 to something, Obama. The final score up on CBS.com is 383 to 145, in Obama's favor. The popular vote was still amazingly close, 51 percent to 48 percent — pulling ahead at the end to 40,333,325 for Obama and 37,861,350 for McCain. In the end, it could be called a landslide as far as the Electoral College goes, but the going got pretty nervous for a while.

State breakdown at 10:30 p.m.
Here is how the states have gone so far:

MCCAIN (best read in a Southern accent)

OBAMA (best read while jumping up and down)

Neither, according to CBS.com

Closing thoughts
Well, way to go, Barack. I feel safer and more secure knowing that we have someone new to be in control. My entire mature life has known W. Bush and Cheney, and nothing else. I'm so happy and relieved to get them out of office (even if it's not quite yet).

Everyone assumed the election was going to Obama. Even though it did end up there, I got a little nervous along the way. I'm not saying that McCain and Palin, as Republicans, necessarily wouldn't have been able to do a good job: I'm saying that I feel better that it's a completely different person, a completely different party, so that we can have fresh action and ideas on all our problems.

Because, let's face it, until we have a panda bear for president after the nuclear decimation of the world and the surviving civilization doesn't know what class distinctions and war are, I'm almost 100 percent for Obama and his policies. It's going to be a breath of fresh air.

Lor Sligar's blog

Comments

November 4, 2008 - 11:16pm — Anonymous (not verified)

PRESIDENT OBAMA.

November 5, 2008 - 5:37pm — Katie Cox (not verified)

According to MSNBC, the

According to MSNBC, the results are
Obama- 349
McCain- 173
North Carolina was split 50/50, so neither won it

November 5, 2008 - 7:51pm — Isaac Chambers (ichamber)

Katie– First, you're

Katie–

First, you're forgetting about Missouri, which is also very close. Second, neither Missouri nor North Carolina are split exactly 50/50 and therefore one candidate or the other candidate will win each of the states. The complication is that because of the close margin of the vote, non of the news organizations can make a projection until more data comes to light or the vote has been certified. In the case of Missouri and North Carolina, it's more likely to be the latter as 100% of the precincts are reporting. If no recount is warranted, Obama will likely win North Carolina and McCain will likely win Missouri. Either way, it doesn't effect the outcome of the race. Currently the four races to worry about are the four senate election races still undetermined. One is headed for a runoff, one is on the verge of possibly electing a convicted fellow, the other has the two lead candidates separated by less than 500 votes and shrinking, and the fourth just flipped slightly for the democrat as the heavily democrat portland area vote comes in.

November 5, 2008 - 8:27pm — Daniel Borup (not verified)

I hope the democrats don't

I hope the democrats don't win all four of these. Like the party or not, we must remember that this is a country founded on checks and balances, and too much power for any one group is something we have to watch out for. However, the republicans have screwed things up, it's definitely time for democrats to have their chances to screw things up too!