Prognosticators, Get Out Your Crystal -- whatever!
I was going through the list of closing times for the polls in the different states, and I'm confronted by a couple of questions:
First, what time do you think that the election will be called - Obama break 270 electoral votes?
Second, do you think it will be BEFORE CA closes?
First, what time do you think that the election will be called - Obama break 270 electoral votes?
Second, do you think it will be BEFORE CA closes?
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Symbolically the election will be over at 7 oclock, when Obama is announced as the winner of Indiana, pretty much guranteeing Obama is on his way to a landslide. I have calculated this and factually he should be announced the winner at 8:42, well before CA closes.
November 1, 2008 11:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think your 8:42 time is about right. Results from both VA and FL, where polls close at 7:00 EST, should be sufficient by then to call the states; and if Obama wins either or both the election should be over.
November 2, 2008 8:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think the race is over with poll closings at 9:00 pm eastern. However, given the slow counting and likely tight races in Missouri and (possibly) Pennsylvania,they'll be able to drag the call till right after California closes.
For all of that, the race functionally ends at 7:00 when Virginia closes.
November 2, 2008 8:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
The outcome will be obvious if Obama keeps Pennsylvania and carries Virginia. What will be fun is watching everyone on TV trying not to say the obvious for several hours in order to justify all the coverage. If you're a newsperson, it would be kind of a letdown to be able to go home by 9:30 election night.
November 2, 2008 9:06 AM | Reply | Permalink