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6:42:  A couple other races that I’ll be watching:

1.  Michael Steele/Ben Cardin--this is going to be an interesting race.  I think is is much more indicative of the national race as a whole...with the Dem candidate being ahead but the GOP candidate closing hard. 

2.  Lieberman/Lamont--For obvious reasons.  Thus will show the relative strength of the nutroots...if it has depth, if you will.  This is a real barometer of the opposition to the Iraq War.

I’ll hit other races as the night progresses...and some issues in Ohio:

--Issue 2--ACORN is trying to mandate an increase of the minimum wage for Ohio

--Issue 3--It makes limited gambling...slot machines in Ohio

--Issue 4--It is an amendment to the Ohio Constitution, nullifying all local smoking bans. 

--Issue 5--This is a ban on smoking in almost every building and business in Ohio.  Yep...it makes no sense to have these two on the same ballot, but that’s the breaks.  And, it’s Ohio. 

I’ll take suggestions on other races to monitor.  I’m about ready to go...the polls close here in 5 minutes or so.

6:59--Captain’s Quarters has a good liveblog set up as well.  I’ll be hitting them up for national infom, as well as from some Secretary of State sites. 

7:01--I figure the first things to pop up will be the already-counted absentee ballots.  Ohio started counting them yesterday.  also, looks like Hugh Hewitt took a look at the exit polls, and they are a lot like the ones set up to us in the afternoon of the 2004 Presidential election....skewed 3-6 points towards the Democrats.  Take a look.

7:09--I think I ought to keep an eye on Michigan as well....this will be a good test of Rove’s GOTV program. 

7:15--Virginia closed their polls.  Results are very early, with Allen holding a very early lead...60% to 39%, with just over 3,691 votes counted.  Means nothing yet. 

7:20:  Nothing from Maryland, yet.  Ohio is still numberless as of now.

7:29:  With 2% in, Allen is ahead of Webb in Virginia by 1,309 votes.  Still, nothing to shout to the heavens.  However, FOX is reporting that Richard Luger in Indiana is going to win.  That, and I have a chance of seeing the sun rise tomorrow morning.  Yawn. 

7:34:  Maybe the only time you’ll see this....Katherine Harris in Florida is leading in early results...51% to 47%.  Don’t get comfortable with that lead, Kathy. 

7:37:  Interesting Virginia race...from Fox News:

George Allen (i) Republican 46,208 (57%)
Jim Webb Democrat 34,141 (42%)

With a hair over 2% in.  Oh...man...that quick, and now it’s like this:

J H Webb Jr Democratic 73,351 51.96%
G F Allen Republican 66,194 46.89%

Now with 3.1% reporting. 

7:40 I got a request for Missouri Amendment 2, the stem-cell measure.  As of right now, there are no results.  There is a chance that the polls aren’t closed, yet.  I ought to keep tabs on that state as well, because that might just be a better bellweather than Ohio.

7:45:  Maryland polls close at 8:00 Virginia totals are as follows, with 9.1% reporting:

J H Webb Jr Democratic 85,562 51.33%
G F Allen Republican 79,205 47.52%

Allen has to win 52% of the remainder of the vote to have a chance.  It’s dependent on where the votes have or haven’t been counted. 

7:47:  An update on Ohio...from the US District Court via the OhioSecretary of State:

“The United States District Court has issued an order requiring the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections to extend the hours of voting to 9 p.m. E.S.T at polling places designated in the court order. As a result of the court’s order, ALL 88 county Boards of Elections have been directed not to report any election results to the public or the Ohio Secretary of State’s office until 9 p.m.; therefore, the Ohio Secretary of State’s office Web site will not report results until 9 p.m.”

OK....thanks to all the people that didn’t like paper ballots.  This is the reason Ohio is delayed.

7:50--Virginia Update:

J H Webb Jr Democratic 145,953 50.73%
G F Allen Republican 138,312 48.08%

This is with 14.45% reporting in.  Allen needs 53% of the remainder in order to win. 

7:54--Need my first beer.  A lot of places will close the polls at 8:00 PM, so I’ll see you in a few. 

7:58:  Virginia:

J H Webb Jr Democratic 190,645 49.87%
G F Allen Republican 187,125 48.95%

A little ground made up...that last batch saw Allen make up 4,000 votes on Webb.  4,000 votes out of 96,000 is a pretty big swing.  OK...beer time.  Back in five.

8:05:  Florida has become, well, more like we expected:

Bill Nelson (i) Democrat 196,388 (55%)
Katherine Harris Republican 153,368 (43%)

Yeah...that’s about what I expected.  It’ll get a little worse. 

8:05:  Another Virginia Update:

J H Webb Jr Democratic 315,689 49.54%
G F Allen Republican 313,736 49.23%

Decidedly close, with a quarter of precincts in.  Anyone’s call at this point.

8:07:  Most Decidedly Obvious Headline So Far this Evening, from Fox:

“ Kennedy (D-Mass.), Lott (R-Miss.), Snowe (R-Maine), Nelson (D-Fla.) Re-Elected to Senate”

Add to that Robert Byrd, for his 9th friggin term.  If there is one reason I would have for disliking the Democrats, he is it.  What a hack.  And his dog Billy.

8:12-- lookie here....you won’t see this every day:

J H Webb Jr Democratic 392,854 49.39%
G F Allen Republican 392,816 49.39%

Matching percentages.  Dear God!  Call Al Gore! 

8:14--Someone send me a list of all the KELO-related issues that the states are voting on....just put them in the comments section, and I’ll look them up It looks as if those will mostly pass.....

8:15--Missouri numbers starting to trickle in to their SOS:

Talent, Jim REP 284 47.0%
McCaskill, Claire DEM 304 50.3%

Told you it was early.  Issue 2 is losing by 30 votes out of 578 cast. 

8:18--Virginia Update:

G F Allen Republican 475,839 50.34%
J H Webb Jr Democratic 457,693 48.42%

This is with 43% of the precincts counted.  What it means is that Webb has to make up this 2% with only a hair more than half the vote remaining.  In other words, he has to win by at least a 52%-48% to have a chance to win.  Not undoable by any stretch.  A very interesting race, especially since the RCP average was Webb by 1.5%

Missouri is still less than 1% counted.  I’m watching them.

8:24-- Nothing from Connecticut, Maryland, or Michigan yet.  My beer tasts really, really good, though. 

8:29--Virginia is more than 50% counted, and it looks like their turnout was close to 50%.  Pretty good turnout.  Here’s the complete breakdown as of right now:

G F Allen Republican 583,153 50.85%
J H Webb Jr Democratic 549,673 47.93%
G G Parker Independent Green 12,825 1.12%
Write Ins 1,141 0.10%

Three percent behind at this stage of the game means that Webb still has to win over 53% of the vote to win.  Again, not impossible, but well outside the RCP prediction.  That is a 6% swing from where he is at right now.

Missouri numbers:

Talent, Jim REP 983 49.3%
McCaskill, Claire DEM 969 48.6%

And for Issue 2: 

Yes 1,049 54.0%
No 893 46.0%

With 5 of over 3,700 precincts reporting.  Don’t sweat that one just yet. 

Pennsylvania is starting to produce returns....this is a long shot for Rick Santorum, and it’s starting out rough:

Bob Casey Democrat 126 (58%)
Rick Santorum (i) Republican 90 (42%)

Obviously very, very early. 

Ed Rendell (i) Democrat 145 (65%)
Lynn Swann Republican 77 (35%)

Just for giggles.....go Swanny!!

8:39-- First numbers for Connecticut:

Ned Lamont Democrat 290 (59%)
Joe Lieberman (i) CT for Lieberman 148 (30%)
Alan Schlesinger Republican 49 (10%)

May be a little early on this race. 

8:41-- In a move that generally pisses me right the hell off, Fox news has already called the Pennsylvania Senate race for Casey.  After putting up numbers for a grand total of 216 friggin’ voters, they say Santorum is lost.  Grr...irritating. 

8:42-- Virginia Update, with 58% counted:

G F Allen Republican 629,330 50.20%
J H Webb Jr Democratic 609,220 48.59%

My sister in Saratoga Springs says ‘Hello’, and blames me for Ohio.  KC, hit the comments and tell everyone you’re there.

8:48-- Connecticut SOS site is a big piece of crap.  It’s junk.....and Fox is not giving me a lot of info.  They must have counted the faculty at a junior college first for these numbers:

Ned Lamont Democrat 290 (59%)
Joe Lieberman (i) CT for Lieberman 148 (30%)

Nice.  NEXT!?  How about Missouri:

Talent, Jim REP 2,150 48.9%
McCaskill, Claire DEM 1,909 48.6%

Close, with .5% of precincts counted.

New Jersey was also called by FOX...let’s take a look at this race:

Thomas Kean, Jr. Republican 92,211 (51%)
Bob Menendez Democrat 86,098 (48%)

Who dod they call it for?  Let’s just say it wasn’t Kean.  Again...WTF??

8:54:  MIssouri Stem Cell update:

Yes 4,907 45.5%
No 5,872 54.5%

With less than 1% reporting. 

Virginia, you say? 

G F Allen Republican 679,127 50.33%
J H Webb Jr Democratic 653,942 48.46%

A 2% lead with 60% counted means Webb MUST win 55% of the remaining votes to win. 

HAH!!  According to my computer, it isn’t even time to stop voting, and Ohio has gone to Sherrod Brown.  The Secretary of State has NO RESULTS POSTED AT THIS VERY SECOND, and Fox just called the election.  Again, everyone, W--T--F!!?

9:00--Connecticut, at 1% counted:

Ned Lamont Democrat 2,858 (44%)
Joe Lieberman (i) CT for Lieberman 2,804 (43%)

Better, and more sensical.  Missouri?

Talent, Jim REP 7,224 53.8%
McCaskill, Claire DEM 5,690 42.4%

1% reporting, and Issue 2:

Yes 6,153 45.9%
No 7,261 54.1%

Virginia Senate:

G F Allen Republican 762,276 50.54%
J H Webb Jr Democratic 727,744 48.25%

Ohio numbers are very slowly coming in:

Sherrod Brown Democrat 5,162 (57%)
Mike DeWine (i) Republican 3,972 (43%)

Out of 6 million or so likely voters.  Here’s the Governor’s race:

Ted Strickland Democrat 6,004 (66%)
J. Kenneth Blackwell Republican 2,782 (31%)

Yeah...that’s about right.  I predict 58%-40% for the Ohio Governor. 

9:08--Any requests, let me know.  Michigan Senate numbers:

Debbie Stabenow Democrat 14,575 (56%)
Michael Bouchard Republican 11,037 (42%)

Michigan Governor:

Jennifer Granholm Democrat 18,597 (55%)
Dick DeVos Republican 14,562 (43%)

Both with 1% reporting.  Virginia is closing in on 73% counted:

G F Allen Republican 805,944 50.43%
J H Webb Jr Democratic 772,957 48.37%

Webb must win 56% of the remainder of the vote to have a half of a chance. 

On to Missouri:

Talent, Jim REP 17,415 52.1%
McCaskill, Claire DEM 14,813 44.2%

And Issue 2:

Yes 15,736 48.6%
No 16,669 51.4%

9:15--Maryland has chimed in!

Michael Steele 427 67%
Ben Cardin 188 30%

Kinda early, but here they come. 

9:16--Connecticut numbers:

Joe Lieberman (i) CT for Lieberman 5,439 (48%)
Ned Lamont Democrat 4,677 (41%)
Alan Schlesinger Republican 1,097 (10%)

With 2% reporting. 

Here comes Webb.  The latest:

G F Allen Republican 858,105 49.68%
J H Webb Jr Democratic 848,445 49.12%

The last 127,649 votes saw Webb capture 75,488, or over 59%.  We’re at near 80% counted. 

9:23--Ohio’s SOS site is not reporting anything.  Blackwell’s probably pissed.  Here’s why:

Ted Strickland Democrat 67,877 (61%)
J. Kenneth Blackwell Republican 39,893 (36%)

Thanks, BOB TAFT!!  The Senate seat? 

Sherrod Brown Democrat 65,908 (55%)
Mike DeWine Republican 54,404 (45%)

We can count that as a loss in the Senate for the GOP.  Missouri Update, with 4.6% counted:

Issue 2 first, for a change of pace:

Yes 41,814 47.5%
No 46,162 52.5%

Now, the Senate race:

Talent, Jim REP 45,337 51.5%
McCaskill, Claire DEM 39,614 45.0%

Virginia is the most exciting so far:

G F Allen Republican 901,775 49.63%
J H Webb Jr Democratic 893,535 49.17%

With 81% reporting.  This differential means that Webb has to win by at least a 51%-49% for the remaindr of the night in order to catch and pass Allen.  It’s gonna be close. 

Maryland, with 1% counted:

Michael Steele 4,977 55%
Ben Cardin 3,915 43%

Not much to write home about. 

9:32--A first in-depth Ohio update.  First, the issues:

State Issue 2---Raise the minimum raise--sponsored by ACORN
Yes 85,530 54.55%
No 71,275 45.45%

State Issue 3--permit slot machines at racetracks
No 99,019 60.91%
Yes 63,540 39.09%

State Issue 4--Constitutional Amendment to allow smoking in limited areas (overthrows prior local bans)
No 101,687 62.68%
Yes 60,533 37.32%

State Issue 5--Almost-total ban on public smoking (NOT Const. Amendment)
Yes 87,134 53.60%
No 75,416 46.40%

And For Senate:

Brown, Sherrod Democratic 86,955 53.95%
DeWine, Mike Republican 74,182 46.03%

All with 5.25% counted.

Virginia Update:

G F Allen Republican 948,615 49.62%
J H Webb Jr Democratic 940,177 49.18%

.44% difference with 84.53% counted.  TOO CLOSE!  As for Maryland?

Michael Steele Republican 21,126 (52%)
Ben Cardin Democrat 18,406 (46%)

FOX is calling this for Cardin....but I’m going to make my own observations on this one.  Based on what I said and linked to earlier, I think the exit polling was skewed.  Maybe hopeful....maybe not.  we’ll see. 

9:43:  As of now, 2 Senate seats have switched hands.  I haven’t really looked at any House elections yet, but let’s look at the races in my home state of Ohio:

OH-15---Pryce against Kilroy:

Pryce, Deborah Republican 2,511 61.42%
Kilroy, Mary Jo Democratic 1,577 38.58%

Very low precinct count there.  in OH-18 (Ney’s old seat):

Space, Zack Democratic 22,391 57.44%
Padgett, Joy Republican 16,588 42.56%

A substantial Democratic lead.  On to Missouri:

Talent, Jim REP 106,034 52.9%
McCaskill, Claire DEM 87,923 43.8%

With 9% counted.  NIce, but not yet substantial.  Issue 2:

Yes 94,422 47.2%
No 105,670 52.8%

RoadKnight might have a good day tomorrow. 

9:50-- Update on Virginia:

G F Allen Republican 966,232 49.43%
J H Webb Jr Democratic 964,899 49.37%

1,333 votes seperate the two.  It’s all dependent on the last 13.33% that haven’t been counted yet. 

Michigan Senate:

Debbie Stabenow (i) Democrat 121,566 (54%)
Michael Bouchard Republican 99,017 (44%)

Michigan Governor:

Jennifer Granholm (i) Democrat 118,987 (53%)
Dick DeVos Republican 103,365 (46%)

DeVos might have a shot, but unless the west and north parts of Michigan are highly under-represented in these early totals, Bouchard is toast.

Maryland:

Michael Steele Republican 35,779 (52%)
Ben Cardin Democrat 31,876 (46%)

With 7% counted in Maryland.  In Connecticut:

Joe Lieberman (i) CT for Lieberman 57,324 (47%)
Ned Lamont Democrat 52,900 (43%)
Alan Schlesinger Republican 11,814 (10%)

Not quite over, but Lamont is in deep, deep trouble.  Virginia:

G F Allen Republican 1,025,262 50.05%
J H Webb Jr Democratic 998,701 48.75%

Now, it isn’t impossible, but this is bad for Webb.  He has to make up 1.3% with 10% of the votes left to be counted.  He has to beat Allen by more than 13% in these final counts, or 57%-43%.  It’s coming down to the wire. 

10:03--Ohio results, with 26.65% counted:

Senate:
Brown, Sherrod Democratic 574,727 54.64%
DeWine, Mike Republican 476,896 45.34%

DeWine has to win 52% of all the remaining votes to win. 

Governor:
Strickland, Ted / Fisher, Lee Democratic 624,595 59.41%
Blackwell, J. Kenneth / Raga, Thomas A. Republican 396,618 37.72%

What did I say, 58%-40%?  Issues:

State Issue 2--minimum wage increase sponsored by ACORN
Yes 572,903 56.08%
No 448,607 43.92%

State Issue 3--Slot machines at racetracks
No 633,810 59.93%
Yes 423,783 40.07%


State Issue 4--overturn local smoking bans
No 681,170 64.43%
Yes 375,983 35.57%


State Issue 5--statewide smoking ban
Yes 616,796 58.15%
No 443,913 41.85%

10:09--Virginia Update:

G F Allen Republican 1,045,714 49.83%
J H Webb Jr Democratic 1,027,573 48.97%

.86% out of 91% separate the two.  Webb garnered 58% of the last cohort of votes.  Where are the remaining votes?  Democratic strongholds (58% Democratic voters in Virginia is a pretty sure stronghold) or Republican strongholds?  I’m watching this one closely. 

10:16--Another race that people think might end up being a Dem pick-up is the Senate race in Montana.  I’ll keep an eye out for updates, as the polls just closed out there.  Also, a House toss-up race in Indiana (IN-9) looks interesting:

Baron Hill Democrat 88,224 (48%)
Mike Sodrel Republican 86,133 (47%)

This is with 81% of the precincts counted.  I’ll watch this one.  In Texas (TX-22):

Nick Lampson Democrat 15,030 (53%)
Shelley Sekula Gibbs (WI) Republican 11,799 (42%)

This is Delay’s old seat.  Close, considering.  And only 11% counted.  In Ohio (OH-15):

Kilroy, Mary Jo Democratic 57,195 51.33%
Pryce, Deborah Republican 54,223 48.67%

This would be a loss for the GOP, and another Bob Taft victim. 

10:26--Got a request for JD Hayworth, and no info as of yet.  Maryland Update:

Ben Cardin 110,041 54%
Michael Steele 91,395 45%

These numbers are with 17% reporting.  In Virginia:

G F Allen Republican 1,063,772 49.83%
J H Webb Jr Democratic 1,045,345 48.97%

93.21% of the votes have been counted in Virginia. 

Missouri?  Let’s see, with 23% reporting:

Talent, Jim REP 261,407 53.8%
McCaskill, Claire DEM 206,145 42.4%

With 11% to make up, McCaskill must win the remaining vote by at least 4% Issue 2:

Yes 219,952 45.5%
No 263,628 54.5%

Same numbers on Issue 2. 

10:34:  Remember Mark Foley?  Well, the Democrats might not win his seat.  To the Sunshine State we go, and a look at FL-16:

Tim Mahoney Democrat 89,188 (49%)
Mark Foley (Negron) Republican 88,087 (48%)

That would be kind of funny, don’t you think?  Maryland (27% counted):

Ben Cardin 177,595 50%
Michael Steele 169,984 48%

Steele is still in reach.  Any requests, let me know. 

10:39--Virginia is coming to the wire:

G F Allen Republican 1,074,414 49.67%
J H Webb Jr Democratic 1,062,469 49.12%

The differential means that Webb still has to beat Allen by 2.5% for the remainder of the count. 

Another look at a tight race in Ohio, OH-15:

Pryce, Deborah Republican 63,718 50.63%
Kilroy, Mary Jo Democratic 62,121 49.37%

OK....this is still close, but Pryce may be at a disadvantage, as Kilroy’s strength will be in the Democratic-leaning precincts of Franklin County (Columbus).  51 of 86 precincts that are outside of Franklin County have been counted, but 661 of 834 have been counted IN the county.  In other words, there are roughly 6 times as many precincts in Franklin County that need counted than need counted out of Franklin County. 

10:47--Indiana 9 will probably go to the Democrats:

Baron Hill Democrat 97,710 (49%)
Mike Sodrel Republican 93,544 (47%)
Eric Schansberg Libertarian 8,924 (4%)

88% counted in IN-9.  Virginia, with 95% counted:

G F Allen Republican 1,090,771 49.65%
J H Webb Jr Democratic 1,079,487 49.14%

One half of one percent with 5% remaining is like making up 10 points.  If 95% of the votes have been counted, then 114,000 votes remain.  Webb must win 12,000 more votes than Allen....or, to be exact, 63,000 of the remaining votes. 

10:57:  Maryland Update:

Michael Steele 225,146 49%
Ben Cardin 224,899 49%

I’m sorry, I thought that Cardin had won already.  OH-15

Pryce, Deborah Republican 91,142 50.05%
Kilroy, Mary Jo Democratic 90,973 49.95%

Pryce might have weathered the storm.  There are more rural districts remaining to count than urban.  Still really, really close, but Pryce might have just survived at this point. 

11:00--Ohio Senate:

Brown, Sherrod Democratic 1,027,352 54.43%
DeWine, Mike Republican 859,383 45.53%

DeWine is officially toast.  Missouri’s Issue 2 (Stem Cells)

Yes 389,752 47.2%
No 435,936 52.8%

Looks pretty positive for foes of Issue 2.  The Senate race:

Talent, Jim REP 427,792 51.6%
McCaskill, Claire DEM 371,786 44.8%

This is with 40% of the votes counted in Missouri.  This lead might be pretty safe at this point, but there might be heavily Democratic precincts in St. Louis that might not have been counted yet.  I’ll be more sure at 75% counted. 

11:10--No news frm Arizona 5, Hayworth’s district.  I’ll keep looking.  Maryland:

Michael Steele 310,372 51%
Ben Cardin 289,746 47%

Cardin doesn’t know he’s won, yet.  Virginia:

G F Allen Republican 1,100,751 49.68%
J H Webb Jr Democratic 1,088,293 49.12%

Webb must win 50,000 of the remaining 86,500 votes, or 57.57% of those votes.  It moves towards unlikely. 

11:20--The Pryce-Kilroy breakdown, urban (Franklin County) and rural:

Totals:
Pryce, Deborah Republican 92,435 50.23%
Kilroy, Mary Jo Democratic 91,565 49.76%
Buckel, Bill -WI 19 0.01%
Total Votes 184,019

Franklin County
Precincts Reporting:  803 Of 834 - 96.28%
Kilroy, Mary Jo 84,470 51.63%
Pryce, Deborah 79,136 48.37%
Buckel, Bill -WI 0

Madison County
Precincts Reporting:  10 Of 44 - 22.73%
Pryce, Deborah 2,511 61.42%
Kilroy, Mary Jo 1,577 38.58%
Buckel, Bill -WI 0

Union Precincts Reporting:  45 Of 45 - 100%
Pryce, Deborah 10,788 66.16%
Kilroy, Mary Jo 5,518 33.84%

11:27--Virginia Senate. 97.26% counted:

G F Allen Republican 1,112,169 49.55%
J H Webb Jr Democratic 1,105,270 49.24%

So, so close....Missouri Senate:

Talent, Jim REP 524,905 51.3%
McCaskill, Claire DEM 462,832 45.2%

This is close to 50% reported, so McCaskill needs to beat Talent by 12% (56-44) in this next 50%, Issue 2, with 50% counted:

Yes 482,298 47.3%
No 537,359 52.7%

Maryland Senate:

Michael Steele 348,232 50%
Ben Cardin 331,924 48%

Still close, and the question of heavily-Democratic Baltimore is bothering me.  But, Look!  AZ-5:

Harry Mitchell Democrat 44,523 (52%)
J.D. Hayworth Republican 38,283 (45%)

This is with 79% counted.  Hayworth needs to win 65% of the remaining vote in order to pull this one out.  Sorry, nottocrazy. 

11:36--Connecticut goes for Lieberman:

Joe Lieberman (i) CT for Lieberman 294,566 (49%)
Ned Lamont Democrat 241,971 (40%)
Alan Schlesinger Republican 59,540 (10%)

I went over to Instapundit, and he has linked to The Volokh Conspiracy.  Their pundit is saying that Webb will catch Allen in Virginia.  The numbers as they stand:

G F Allen Republican 1,113,013 49.50%
J H Webb Jr Democratic 1,108,291 49.29%

He has to win 52% of the remaining votes in order to make it to what they are saying at Volokh. 

Now...a look at Tennessee.....Corker Vs. Ford:

Bob Corker Republican 821,553 (51%)
Harold Ford Democrat 763,300 (48%)

This is a race that I basically wrote off...Ford peaked 2 weeks early, and Corker managed to get away from a slow start.  These numbers are with 86% of the precincts counted, so Ford would have to win the rest of the votes 59% to 41% in order to win. 

Ohio Governor:

Strickland, Ted / Fisher, Lee Democratic 1,430,504 59.04%
Blackwell, J. Kenneth / Raga, Thomas A. Republican 923,981 38.13%

Yep.  I’m that good.  I was saying 58%-40% two weeks ago.  Damn....

11:52--Montana Update (w/6% of precincts reporting):

Jon Tester Democrat 22,554 (52%)
Conrad Burns Republican 19,695 (46%)

Not much to say about the Big Sky yet.  Virginia update:

G F Allen Republican 1,114,969 49.47%
J H Webb Jr Democratic 1,111,806 49.33%

With 97.67% reporting.  Webb still has to pull in 52% of the remaining votes to win.  No matter what happens from here on out in this race, there will be a recount. 

Maryland Senate (with 65% counted)

Ben Cardin 494,527 52%
Michael Steele 433,530 46%

Steele has to win by 12% (56-44) to catch Cardin at this point.  This was a bunch of Baltimore precincts...had to be. 

Looks like John Kyl is returning to the Senate from Arizona:

Jon Kyl (i) Republican 400,149 (52%)
Jim Pederson Democrat 349,461 (45%)

That’s with 76% reporting, so that is relatively safe.  In AZ-5:

Harry Mitchell Democrat 52,663 (52%)
J.D. Hayworth (i) Republican 44,701 (44%)

That’s with 95% counted.  Mitchel takes that seat from the GOP.  In Virginia:

G F Allen Republican 1,139,550 49.43%
J H Webb Jr Democratic 1,137,793 49.36%

There are 20,747 votes remaining to be cast, with 99.1% of all votes counted.  Webb must win 1,757 more than Allen, or 8.47% more.  That is 54-46 or better, and it is going to be damned close. 

12:06 AM:  A couple more entries.....and this will probably be my last post.

Missouri’s Senate race, with 60% counted:

Talent, Jim REP 639,563 50.8%
McCaskill, Claire DEM 574,222 45.6%

McCaskill has to win the remainder of the votes by 7.6% in order to catch Talent. 

Missouri Issue 2--Stem Cell proposal:

Yes 601,337 48.0%
No 651,733 52.0%

Maryland Senate:

Ben Cardin 546,682 52%
Michael Steele 480,180 46%

With 70% reporting, Steele is in some sort of trouble.  BUT, Michelle Malkin and Hot Air reports that the Steele Campaign says there are over 200,000 absentee ballots.  I was right...Baltimore hadn’t been counted yet.  That pushed it towards Cardin. 

Virginia:

G F Allen Republican 1,141,753 49.44%
J H Webb Jr Democratic 1,139,885 49.36%

The difference is 1,868...a small gain for Allen. 

Ohio--OH-15

Pryce, Deborah Republican 100,560 50.92%
Kilroy, Mary Jo Democratic 96,930 49.08%

Looks like a Pryce win. 

The Ohio Issues (with 78% reporting):

State Issue 2
Yes 1,613,872 55.92%
No 1,272,247 44.08%



State Issue 3
No 1,720,203 57.50%
Yes 1,271,284 42.50%

State Issue 4
No 1,921,527 64.23%
Yes 1,070,142 35.77%

State Issue 5
Yes 1,739,799 58.02%
No 1,258,838 41.98%

OK...well, most everyone thinks that the GOP lost the House and kept the Senate....I guessed earlier this month that the Republicans would do just that...lose 16 seats in the People’s House and 2-4 in the Senate.  Looks like I was right. 

Gridlock?  Cool.  Less government to ruin my day.  I’ll write more about what it all means in the coming days...for now, I’m signing off.  Thanks for reading. 

Less...