Live 2008 Presidential election thread - McCain v Obama

[Alpha1]

This maybe a stupid question but why is Ohio so important?. Is it because its a Republican stronghold?

 

[DaveW]

Latest BBC map:

Obama 175
McCain 61

 

[SunKing]

btw, one other interesting thing to watch is just how close Texas is.

Obama has no chance of winning the state but if he could get within 5% it would be remarkable.

Still looks like going red but Obama is only behind by 3%.

 

[Clay Davis]

This maybe a stupid question but why is Ohio so important?. Is it because its a Republican stronghold?

It's marginal and reasonably large. It can determine an election.

 

[DaveW]

This maybe a stupid question but why is Ohio so important?. Is it because its a Republican stronghold?

It's gone with the winner at every election from 1964 onward.

 

[DaveW]

BBC call Georgia, two hours after the polls have closed:

Obama 175
McCain 76

 

[Dixie Flatline]

Florida still tightening. Less than 200,000 votes in it.

I'm having a staple of American cuisine for lunch - a hamburger with the lot for lunch!

 

[DaveW]

McCain's just hanging in there.

No call on Colorado or New Mexico yet.

Assume Fox is wrong about Ohio and there's still a plausible path to victory for McCain.

 

[Alpha1]

So if Ohio goes to Obama then it's a good sign for him/us?

 

[BlueFan4]

So if Ohio goes to Obama then it's a good sign for him/us?

You could pretty much call it if Ohio went to Obama

 

[DaveW]

So if Ohio goes to Obama then it's a good sign for him/us?

Then it's pretty much over, yeah.

Remember that there's a guaranteed 76 electoral votes for Obama in the western time zone.

 

[Alpha1]

Then it's pretty much over, yeah.

Remember that there's a guaranteed 76 electoral votes for Obama in the western time zone.

Yeah I know so we should know by about 2.30 our time?

 

[Dixie Flatline]

Arizona called for McCain. 175-76 according to MSNBC.

Obama is having a massive rally in Chicago, with up to 500,000 people expected. McCain is having an invite-only event in Phoenix. Tends to illustrate the difference between the two candidates.

 

[SunKing]

Interesting that Missouri has gone to the winner every time since 1904 but now looks good for McBush.

 

[Midnight Vultures]

Obama now only 35k behind in Indiana

 

[Refried Noodle]

25,000 behind in Virginia. Coming up fast.

 

[Juddism]

pulled back big time in Virginia, only 9000 votes in it now.

 

[SunKing]

50/49 in Virginia very tight

 

[morgoth]

How can they call states based on a couple of thousand votes (at most?).

 

[Clay Davis]

How can they call states based on a couple of thousand votes (at most?).

I think they use exit polls and previous voting trends.

 

[DaveW]

North Dakota - most overrated (non-)battleground ever?

Discuss.

 

[Clay Davis]

North Dakota - most overrated (non-)battleground ever?

Discuss.

Pretty much. Pissweak number of electoral votes.

 

[waspy]

How can they call states based on a couple of thousand votes (at most?).

Exit polls.

But only when it's a big margin, due to the inherent dodginess in exit polling.

 

[DaveW]

Yeah I know so we should know by about 2.30 our time?

We're still a good couple of hours away.

On the next hour we get Iowa and Nevada.

The hour after that we get the Left Coast and Hawaii.

 

[Alpha1]

From what I can see and read it seems that Obama has a strong lead now?. Can he still loose it from here?/