Open election night thread

Comment away on the election results, the media coverage of the results, and the blog coverage of the media coverage of the results. One thing I’ll note is the contrast between experts saying that the exit polls should be discounted, but that it could also be an early night because of so many key states ...

By , a professor of international politics at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and co-host of the Space the Nation podcast.

Comment away on the election results, the media coverage of the results, and the blog coverage of the media coverage of the results. One thing I'll note is the contrast between experts saying that the exit polls should be discounted, but that it could also be an early night because of so many key states closing their polls so early.  UPDDATE, 9:15 PM:  CNN calls Georgia for McCain, which means that my prediction won't be right on the nose.  As of 9:15, the Electoral College breakdown is an exact replay of 2004. UPDATE, 9:25 PM:  And a few minutes after I type that, I discover Fox and MSNBC call Ohio for Obama.  Given what we know about everywhere else, that's the ballgame.  UPDATE, 9:51 PM:  MSNBC's First Read has three sources confirming that Obama has offered Rahm Emanuel the chief of staff position.  Politico's Ben Smith reports on one upside of an Emanuel pick:  "leaks." UPDATE, 10:55 PM:  Is it me or is Fox News doing the best job of quickly and accurately calling states?  They've beaten CNN on New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Mexico, and Virginia.  UPDATE, 10:59 PM:  Obama should have it in the next minute. UPDATE, 11:00 PM:  That's President-elect Barack Hussein Obama to you. 

Comment away on the election results, the media coverage of the results, and the blog coverage of the media coverage of the results. One thing I’ll note is the contrast between experts saying that the exit polls should be discounted, but that it could also be an early night because of so many key states closing their polls so early.  UPDDATE, 9:15 PM:  CNN calls Georgia for McCain, which means that my prediction won’t be right on the nose.  As of 9:15, the Electoral College breakdown is an exact replay of 2004. UPDATE, 9:25 PM:  And a few minutes after I type that, I discover Fox and MSNBC call Ohio for Obama.  Given what we know about everywhere else, that’s the ballgame.  UPDATE, 9:51 PM:  MSNBC’s First Read has three sources confirming that Obama has offered Rahm Emanuel the chief of staff position.  Politico’s Ben Smith reports on one upside of an Emanuel pick:  “leaks.” UPDATE, 10:55 PM:  Is it me or is Fox News doing the best job of quickly and accurately calling states?  They’ve beaten CNN on New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Mexico, and Virginia.  UPDATE, 10:59 PM:  Obama should have it in the next minute. UPDATE, 11:00 PM:  That’s President-elect Barack Hussein Obama to you. 

Daniel W. Drezner is a professor of international politics at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and co-host of the Space the Nation podcast. Twitter: @dandrezner

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