7:43 PM … One thing you can see really clearly tonight is the extreme reticence the networks have about calling or even loosely predicting the winners and losers in states. That’s a very good thing. But you can feel the cold hand of 2004 hanging over the predictors this time.
7:50 PM … Initial exits out of North Carolina and Ohio, computed on the same basis as those below.
North Carolina: Obama 51%, McCain 48%
Ohio: Obama 53%, McCain 45%
Remember, they’re exit polls. As my grandpa might have said, that and two bits will get you a cup of coffee.
7:55 PM … Telling moment. Ohio GOP Ken Blackwell telling MSNBC that Obama is doing so well because he’s “adopted the language of the Reagan coalition.”
8:01 PM … MSNBC just called PA for Obama. But as far as we can tell they’re the only ones so far. If that turns out true, it’s a huge setback for McCain. And we don’t “call” states until at least two networks do.
8:03 PM … PA Exits: Obama 57%, McCain 42%
8:04 PM … ABC calls PA for Obama.
