Rolling Guide to Election Rumours

The day is finally here. And what you want to know is what is happening. Is there any news from the polling stations? What are the camps saying about how it is going? Any gen on exit polls?

Alice and I will be ensuring that Comment Central gives you the earliest feel on how this election is going. We will be bringing you all the rumours as America goes to the polls. We'll update our rolling guide until we get a result.

Tom Whipple will also be blogging live from Denver where he's out with the Obama campaign.

Scroll down for the latest updates.

Comments

[gail]

hope Barack obsms wins

[David H]

Why are there so few polling stations that enormous queues are forming? Is someone trying to stop people voting? America needs to get its democratic voting system sorted out.

Most of the world wants Obama to win. The US is in such a mess he can hardly fail to improve things.

But imagine horror of horrors. McCain wins after nail biting recounts, suffers a heart attack in the excitement and Sarah Palin is President.

[Marek]

2pm - well, what's going on or are you and Alice still "at lunch".

[Patrick]

Last night, I took the pleasure of watching one of my favorite little bands play live just north of my hometown of Richmond, VA. After the opening song, the lead guitarist commented, "..it's very nice to be with you on such an important night; and we've all got our fingers crossed so far, they're practically clapping."
Rest assured, Mr. Townshend. "Change" is imminent. And now I'm off to 'pull the lever.

[John Smith]

Well, here's an interesting perspective. (Click on John Smith to view). I would suggest that there are two certainties: change and a record turn-out!

[RESTORE THE Posse Comitatus Act of 1878]

RESTORE THE Posse Comitatus Act of 1878

Which bans the military from participating in police-type activity on U.S. soil.

END THESE ROBO-COPS!! THAT BUSH BROUGHT IN!

[Chris]

This isnt being turned off till its over. Awesome feature.

[Journalistgirl]

Yes, seconded. We MUST restore Posse Comitatus; we must remove all vestiges of the totalitarian state instituted by Dick Cheney and his puppet, George W. Bush. I, for one, demand our democracy be returned to us immediately. And I think Barack Obama is the man who can do it, and WILL do it. Then we can all sing Free At Last, no matter what our complexion is.

[Svenja]

We are two German students studying for our MA exams. But we can't focus today because we are keeping track of the election process. It's such an exiting moment in history! Don't fail us! Get Obama to the top! We are with you!
Cheers, Svenja and Daniela

[Bo Wagner]

I spent only one hour waiting in line here in Marietta, Georgia. We do have polling stations spread throughout our area and it was very smooth, though I cannot speak for some of the other parts of the country. Cities will probably have more issues than in Suburbia. The reason for the long lines is the obvious high turnout for this historic election. We also had several items to consider besides the Presidency.

You may harp all you like about "W" (I'm no longer a fan) and his policies but today's election will most likely be one of the more important events in our history--if Obama wins, the Democrats will have complete control of the White House AND Congress. Hopefully they will not be as foolish and drunk on power as the Republicans were. Unfortunately, after listening to Pelosi, Reid, et al since they took control (and have done nothing substantive, by the way), that will not be the case and Europe will finally see the death of a once-great country.

[Phil]

Took Obama 20 mins to vote. Election may therefore last weeks. Could be complete chaos if everyone takes so long. Crazy organisation. Ae the queues designed to DETER voters??? Or have the booths fallen prey to the credit crunch?

[Roy]

what time is the election at in america/uk time?

hope obama wins

[Idris O]

I hope obama will win this election.

[ash]

Wish Obama........he will be a history for US...

[Lauren]

When are the results announced? I'm in England and don't want to be watching the telly all day!

[Idris O]

vote wise. vote obama. vote for peace in the world. vote for success economy.

[victor]

Does it make any difference in who wins ?

[Rajnish]

Thousands of miles from the shores of the USA..im glued to the BBC and hoping for the best for Barack Obama who will by God's Amazing Grace open a new chapter. good luck to Barack & Co from Mauritius.

[Jake]

"RESTORE THE Posse Comitatus Act of 1878" Ahm - they have done this...

It's the amended Insurrection Act of 1807 you want to watch out for!

[G. Hall]

Just voted in Chicago, in Hyde Park.
Twenty-three contests federal and state, excluding judicial retention,
FOURTEEN UNOPPOSED. The only thing healthy in Illinois politics is the machine.

[Nardos]

USA are going to vote black presedent. Hear in UK we dont even address fearlly discrimnation issue at work, in the public place like police,...When we British are going to reach where America is today?

[Robert Piersa]

Here's the skinny on our messed up polling system. The process is determined and implemented by each individual state. The result is that each state has different registration rules, voting hours, and method of completing the ballot. And YES, some states have historically established rules that where designed to create obstacles for voting for certain segments of the population. Generally, Democrats benefit from a larger turnout, the opposite for Republicans.

[Kenneth Wheatley]

I think I'm the only person that wants McCain to win.

[Prudence Eely Bond McGuire]

JUST IMAGINE THIS - OBAMA WINS, DROPS DEAD AND JOE BIDEN BECOMES PRESIDENT?

[John O'Farrell]

Have you any sane people posting here or just the usual bunch of partisan nuts?

[John Hall]

RESTORE THE Posse Comitatus Act of 1878
This person is obviously mental. You better thank God you have people willing to defend people like you who probably have done nothing for the country but complain. God Bless America

[Charlie]

Big up gordan brown

[George]

"Why are there so few polling stations that enormous queues are forming?"

Because it is much easier for the Republicans to rig the election that way.

[Chris Cunningham]

COME ON AMERICA, DO SOMETHING SMART!

Only If the USA elects Mr. Obama, will the USA begin to reverse the damage done to that nation's reputation. Do the right thing and convince the rest of the world that not all americans are right-wing backward idiots, only a few of them.

Think about it - vote McCain and a sudden loud noise one day could result in President Palin!

[Will Neal]

I couldnt agree more with David H's comments...if Obama fails to win, and McCain doesnt last a full term, its going to be a pretty terrifying period in world history.

[Mat]

Whoever wins, the N.W.O wins, stand by for Obama led global government.

[Ollie Owolabi]

There are two reasons why I am fired up about an Obama presidency. Quite often in this particular campaign, there has been talk about the rhetoric and the substance – in the case of Obama, I like them both.

I will pile the rhetoric in the same box as I would my reason for supporting Obama because he is black. Rhetoric, just like supporting him because he is black would be widely and instantaneously dismissed as shallow.

I disagree.

I have read a lot of literature about this election, and I have followed numerous elections all over the globe, and I can tell you that I have never been more captivated by the phenomenon that is, - Obama.

In a time of economic uncertainty and talks of a ‘once in a lifetime’ depression, the world needs a candidate that embodies hope and the promise of a brighter future. In comes his unrivalled oratory on the political scene, and please be assured that there is nothing false about hope.

We must continue to dream. Too often I have said that vision, with hard work and passion will always take us to higher ground. I disagree with the notion that Obama’s rhetoric is shallow especially because this is a time when people need to be inspired, a time when people need to believe that their best days are ahead of them, and Obama has delivered.

Moving on to my more controversial reason for supporting the son of a Kenyan, you will need to understand the pains and struggles of the civil rights movement in America. This is of course is a very personal thing for me, and I find it difficult to narrate without foolishly sounding like a challenger.

This said, I think Obama’s success is a great stride for the civil rights movement. In a country where everyone is indoctrinated to believe that the sky is the limit, finally that may just be true. Fathers will say to their sons or daughters, and with genuine belief, ‘yes, you can be president’.

Wider, he becomes a role model for far too many young black boys who grow up without their fathers. Fathers, who have abandoned the family, are dead or in jail. Obama grew up without his own father, but today, he is a beacon of family values.

As regards the substance, I believe politics simply relates to the 5 issues, - and the decision as to who gets access to them; education, healthcare, justice, employment and housing.

Following vicious attacks about his emptiness, and I suspect that these attacks stemmed from people underestimating the depth of Obama.

After captivating his audience, he spoke substance, and they listened.

Obama stands for higher investment in education, higher wages for teachers. He wants universal healthcare. He wants justice – he says yes we can close Guantanamo Bay detention centre.

More jobs, increase minimal wage and strengthen trade unions, encourage companies to keep their factories in America rather than ship it abroad for cheaper labour.

His economic plan is such that he is standing shoulder to shoulder with working families – He talks of tax relief for those who need it the most. He talks of change, and it is a change I believe in because he plans to reverse policies that have granted tax cuts for multibillion dollar corporations.

Housing, I am not sure I need to say too much considering the dire state the present administration has got the entire global market into. Besides the super-multi bla bla bail out plan, Obama is for greater regulation of financial institutions to ensure that irresponsible mortgage lending is extinguished.

I have tried very hard to avoid talking about ‘the other side’ – but it is inevitable. They call him a socialist, a tax and spend liberal with no experience, a closet Muslim etc. In the words of Joe Biden, I hope come tonight, they will call him the 44th President of the United State.

The other side argues that Obama has no experience, and then they put Sarah Palin on their ticket, this despite the Mac being the oldest man seeking a first term presidency.

They argue that we should not redistribute wealth – because we should not punish people for being rich. They argue that we should give tax cuts to people that can afford to send their children to private schools, people that own 7 houses (like Senator McCain), and people that have private healthcare etc. I could rant on here, I won’t. The summary is that they have all the opportunities available to them – and if you ask me, ‘to whom much is given, much is expected’.

The other side would argue that government should spend less; they call investment in hospitals, schools, policing, and welfare irresponsible (uncontrolled deficit). Of course they would say that because they don’t have to attend those schools, they don’t have to use those hospitals, they live in areas with the lowest crime figures.

I am no fan of socialism, and Obama is not a socialist. Capitalism, his capitalism and my capitalism is one that has a social conscience, and one that has significant regard for our environment.

Foreign policy, Obama represents what we like about America. He listens, and he wants to understand, and hopefully Americans would be able to travel abroad without lying they are Canadians.

The other side has masterminded a bullish regime, with no regard to legitimacy or the rule of law. They have eroded liberties that were hard fought for and long established in the blink of an eye, and McCain has not expressed any objection.

Obama talks of dialogue, and that I believe is how conflicts ought to be resolved. It is not by threatening and bullying ancient and proud civilisations, and it is not by abandoning the rules of engagement.

I believe Americans will be safer under Barack Obama, and I even dare to say that they might even be loved. Obama’s objective is diplomacy, and I am convinced that is the best way to avoid Iran becoming a nuclear power, and the best way to stabilise the Middle East.

Yes, we can.

[LW]

Helloooooo!!!

Any updates? No? What is the point of a blog with no updates?

HellooooOooooooooOOOO!!

[Aminata]

i wish and hope Obama

wins

[R K Dillon]

In my case, the queue is very long - roughly a fifth of a mile - because about 20 different Election Districts vote in the same facility - there are also other polling places covering the same EDs - they're sprinkled around to minimize distances people have to travel. The mood is upbeat & friendly & people don't appear to mind waiting.

[Paul Wafula]

What I really need in US Elections is Justice. Remember that Now its Time for Blacks to take the Leadership of America.

Its not my own sayings but it was prophesied by Martin Luther King.

We Kenyans are ready to Celebrate the Swearing on Of The First America Black President of a Kenyan Blood.

We are on Watch. please Americans Do not Be like what happened here in Kenya Last year. Coz The winner has already been known. Jah is with OBAMA BARACK.

[jim hannigan]

i hope obama wins and will pay ireland a visit to visit his ancestors home

[Jon]

Hi everyone. I live in Alexandria, Louisiana and just finished voting. The school where I voted was divided into two voting stations. The first station was for a very large group of neighborhoods to the east of the school. The 2nd station was for a smaller group to the west. Thank God I was in the smaller group. The first line was huge--out the door and into the parking lot. I was able to walk past that line to a much shorter one and voted in about 15 minutes. Those other people were going to be there a very long time. Still I've never seen anything like this in my lifetime. The buzz, the energy, the tension. Some excited, some worried.

[Alex]

I Really Hope Barack Obama Wins. He Deserves It. Plus John McCains Like 72.. Hes Just That Bit Too Old To Be President.

[yaka dre aka edem]

Obama has won the election with flying colours

[yaka dre aka edem]

I'm very sure Obama will win todays election...Amen

[karissa]

McCain is sure to win....the Americans need his strength!!! When your enemies are hoping for a nominee....that should be a SIGN!!!

[EMI]

OBAMA HAS TO WIN BECAUSE WE NEED CHANGEIN THE UNITED STATE.
WE NEED A DEMOCRAT TOCHANGE THINGS AROUND.
OBAMA IS STRONG, EDUCATED, INTELLIGENT WHAT MORE DO YOU EXPECT FROM A PRESIDENT.

good look obama!!

[vivifiant]

Election irregularities?

Foreign news media reported that international observers were hindered to check on a polling station in Florida and were told to go to a specific US government selected polling station... just imagine US election observers were hindered in Russia, Ukraine etc. .. the US news media would be reporting every detail...

Vivifiant, Ohio

source:
Financial Times;
http://www.ftd.de/politik/international/:Liveticker-zur-US-Wahlnacht-20-18-Uhr-US-Wahl-befl%FCgelt-die-Wall-Street/434609.html

[NolaZach]

Geaux Obama!!!

Had a great time in London the other week to see my Saints. Voted Obama this morning.... No lines.
But we do have those "no paper trail" computer machines.
I agree that we need a better system. I think we should use the internet and snail mail to vote.

This is a great place for news, not many news sites have links to theirstories written hundreds of years ago.

[Will]

erm ya if McCain wins that surely shows the the American democracy is flawed you practically voted for bush again the third time!

[Tim Singleton]

So, the rest of the world wants Obama to win?

Cool.

When McCain wins (unlikely) let's repudiate out debts to the central banks and let the rest of the world go piss up a rope.

[dinara]

check out this page for unbiased info on all these rumors: http://2008election.procon.org/viewresource.asp?resourceID=1948

you won't believe some of the things people are saying about these candidates!

[martine p]

all the canada wants obama to win

[justin from california]

in the county i live in there are over 800 polling locations. there are a lot of people in the USA, folks (expected over 100 million will vote). that said, people are excited to vote and nobody i saw balked at the lines at all. add to that the fact that employers are required to give people time off to vote and you should be very secure in the fact that whatever the result - it is the will of the american people.

[Micheal carolan]

Obama will win and turn out to be one of the great presidents - forget race as it is not a significant factor anymore; this guy is good and won the campaign fair and square on the issues.i wish him well and good health in the white house - hopefully the secret service will protect him better than the first Roman Catholic to become president.

[Jess]

Well I hope that Obama wins. However he will have a huge job ahead of him.

What we need to do is VOTE OUT THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE! I think we can pick own president in this day and time!

[Mike from Canada]

Canadians write their votes on a piece of paper and then count them. Never any problems with counting paper votes.
Americans use high tech voting machines that are slow and problematic. Its a ridiculous system.
No wonder people line up forever.

[William]

Well, it appears our nation is on the verge of borderline socialism, entitlements, and even more moral decline. Good job America! Be careful what you ask for, you just might get it!

[JONATHAN GAULT]

PLEASE APPOINT SOMEONE WHO WILL DO BUSINESS IN THE USA AND FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE WORLDWIDE AFAIRS.

GOOD LUCK TO BOTH......

JOHNNY IN NORTHERN IRELAND.

[Alaskan for Obama]

From what my parents are saying, there are plenty of polling stations for typical numbers of voters, it just happens that we're having an extrodinarily high turnout. And before chastizing America for having to few polling stations please remember that Britian has just as much trouble as we do getting people out to vote.

[Emma Sloman]

I look forward to seeing Barack Obama take his place in the whitehouse. Lets hope that we see some big changes in America and changes to the ignorant views of some Americans.

[JONATHAN GAULT]

to all in the usa and worldwide...
good luck to both gentlemen. May the best man win and who wins that they bring pride, peace and bring the worldwide recession to an end...
johnny in northern ireland..

[cyrjim]

When Obama wins it will be because he isn't white but white enough.

[Jack]

There seems to be a lot of differences in the two candidates. it will be interesting to see America's agenda through the results and how were they stand on the war...

obama to win!

[shannon]

whos wining ??

[Daedalus]

If McCain loses Virginia and Pennsylvania then Obama wins with a coalition of states along the Atlantic seaboard, the Great Lakes, and the Pacific ocean. He could win everything else which is unlikely and still fall short of the 270 votes that are needed for the Presidency. If Obama wins Ohio it will probably push him over 300. If McCain loses Florida it will be a long night for the Republicans or as was recently noted, "They got what they deserved".

glory glory now is the time to come together behind barak obama the republicans have been in charge for to long and look were they have led us mc cain is bush chapter 2 he has supported bush 99 per cent of the time what more evidence do we need.
Time for change please vote obama

[Andrew]

Obama is not for American values. What happened to responsibility! Responsibility is freedom! Freedom is responsibility! Americans aren't entitled to the American dream. What happened to creating opportunities for people to work hard and succeed. Now it's "as long as others work hard, you can live off of them." Obama is a socialist. "Redistribution." "Economic justice." Not getting this was "one of the biggest failures of the civil rights movement." He has professed to starve America into alternative fuel sources by bankrupting the coal industry. He has said AMerica needs a civilian force just as powerful as the military (the American Gistapo? Don't ask me!). If America wants socialism, they are sure going to get it.

[Ohio Voter]

Gail said "Why are there so few polling stations that enormous queues are forming? Is someone trying to stop people voting? America needs to get its democratic voting system sorted out."

We have plenty of polling stations. The problem is the hours that they are open. We have to go to work, so most of us try to go before, then if we can't vote in the morning, we have to come back after work. Most polls are only open from 7am to 7 pm. I have to be to work at 8 am. I get off work at sometime between 5 pm and 6 pm. That is why they had the early voting by paper ballot this time. But more people are voting this election than any other election before.

[Kieran]

Where the hell were all these people for the last election, when bush managed to secure a second term?

[Tim]

The voting is futile, the election's results were decided months ago by higher powers ie. The Bilderberg Society. There is no point in all the excitment, in a capitalist world the rich and powerfull make the decisions not the poorer masses.

[Angel Potts]

Obama is ganna win so give up McCain fans

come on McCain

[Angel Potts]

Obama is AWESOME!

Am I reading something wrong? Where can I get an up to the min map of the US with all the results? I cant find one on the Times!

[Sheymo]

Why is CNN slower than the other networks to update their electorals?

[Chris]

The news media showed the same long lines where people for some strange reason wanted to vote early. At my polling place there was no waiting.

[Mark from Connecticut]

The election is OVER! Obama is President. The world can turn the page on the Bush Era.

[Did You Know]

Seems Obama is ahead and will win.
Certainly hope so.

[aislinn]

Hi,
I'm from Boston. I NEVER voted for Bush, so please dont hate me. I voted for Obama today and had tears in my eyes holding my daughter. I am white by the way, and basically, I just want my country back. The country that I love, and though I know most of the world hates us, I just thought you all should know, there are so many good people here in America who work hard, try to be kind to others, and who believe in justice, and peace, and fairness. Bush does not speak for us. Just remember when you are trashing America, half of us never voted for Bush, and its extremely painful for us to have lived through the last 8 years. I am happy beyond words that Obama will be president. I just felt like I wanted to say that. Peace to the world, we're not all crazy republican right wing nuts. Regards,
Jessica from Boston

[Fan of the USA]

Unfortunately, The US will now have to deal with greater layoffs in order for companies to pay higher taxes....but thank God that these people, who may lose their job and who do not pay very much in tax on whole, in the first place, will get there annual $500 check from the government. Very scary times when we bow to a world popularity contest...

[Sava from Australia]

Aislinn, your comment is refreshingly genuine.

We, in Australia, all hope that Obama wins as it is evident that he is the only one who can heal the damaged reputation of the USA.

The world sees the redneck stubborn attitude (I'm white also, by the way, so no bias) portayed by Bush and cannot understand how the USA moved from a great president,ie. Clinton, to this moron.

I see the Bush family as the political nemesis of the Kennedy family; the latter being a historical success of almost royal proportions, the former being a pro-war failure.

Here's to a belated positive wind of change to the USA. The world awaits the turnaround...

Sava
Adelaide, Australia

[nikki]

no more bush! obama for president!

[Erik]

All of this talk of voting troubles is overblown. Yes, in some places there are difficulties, but in the vast, vast majority of precincts across America the election runs smoothly. We are dealing with over 100 million ballots here and the media needs a story so it latches on to the small number of problems.

At my precinct, I walked in, got my ballot, voted, and walked out 5 minutes later. And I live in Minnesota, which most likely will be #1 or #2 nationwide in voter turnout.

[Anoirel S.]

this is a copy/paste from my personal blog:

And Yes Who Can?

it’s 3.30am UK time,

it’s not too early nor too late to say it now.
I’ve been thinkin about it, for quite long time but this kind of reasonning is not scientific enough.

The problem in this election, is that Obama has been the messiah the new generation have been waiting for.
Both Hillary and anyone else, Mcain did not really had chance to understand it.
In fact Mcain did, he knew exactly what he was doing by selecting Palin.

We are living in a world dominated by Fashion.
Whether you are young, old rich or poor, you have to live with it, it’s a fact that is now out of control.
Rare are those who would choose to live like Diogenes nowadays, if they could.

The world with a “unique thinking direction”, aka Globalization.

to make things easier i will sum up things like this:

Mcain, Hillary both had to compete agaisnt, not Obama himself but against:

-Shakira & Co inspired generation. (especially girls)
-Urban culture in general: R&B and all these new kind of music that iu don’t especially listen to
But most of younger generation do.

-iPode iphone generation:
As pointed out already by some political analysts during the primary season, the Obama campagn, is much younger than those of his two respective competitors.
Any young person who has already had an iPod/iPhone feel like using iTunes when visiting
http://www.barackobama.com/, easy to spend hours in this website with a so sweet design.
Things that most of younger people do, my grand parents who are almost the same age as Mcain and Hillary wouldn’t spend hours in a website, instead they watch tv and read news papers.
The message get better understood.

-Clothing design
Nowadays especially for girls, here in europe, in America both south and north,
in Africa and anywhere else in the world (pro west) the fashion is the same.
Cloth especially jeans/trousers (pants) are designed such a way that all girls have exactly or almost exactly the same shape.
They all look like shakira, or these african origins pop singers in US and in the rest of the world.
People believe in what they do, perhaps in what they wear I should say, and they fight for it.

For so long,
We all have been waiting for someone to represent us, no matter what the colour the cadidate is.
But all the time, they were the same:

Old, alod fashioned, loads of prejudices, far from the reality, brain washed.

The new generation has been waiting for just an embassador that understand them, and they got better, a messiah that guides them.

Rare are Obama supporters that aren’t yet diagnosed Obamaniac.
He has fans just like a those pop stars we cited earlier, sometimes more than fans, disciples.

well,

I’m just observing,
i’m no politican, and less philosopher,
but it’s beatiful to see that YES THEY CAN!

Anoirel S. Issa

[Grant]

Obama wins U.S. Presidency. McCain has already given a very classy concession speech.

[Allison]

I voted just outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania this morning. At that point, there wasn't a long line and all seemed to be going smoothly. But, I'm also in a smaller precinct; I know some communities within the city had enormous lines.

I am SO happy and relieved that Obama is now President of the United States! I hope now that peace and prosperity can thrive not only in the US, but the world. Obama does have his work cut out for him, and change won't be immediate. But his victory is at least a step in the right direction.

Peace to all!

[Ann]

I'm a Chicagoan and Obama supporter. The irony about this is that the Republicans belittled Obama's experience as a community organizer. As a volunteer for this election, I can testify that his experience turned into this highly efficient and organized campaign. What a proud moment for the U.S.

[rex]

a comment from the uk glad obama won lets hope he does make big changes,glad to see that war monger bush go

[j swannack]

I'm an old American man who remembers the assinations of the Kennedys. The 2008 US election is a critical point in American history. It is a major change from the last 30 years of "conservative" American politics and Repubilican demonation. It is a time for the US to return -respectively - to the global community. Obama was elected irrespective of his ethnic heritage, but because of his demenor,judgement, character and leadership. In America, we look forward to a difference in our government's attitude to our less fortunate citizens and, to the world, we anticipate a more balanced view and respect of other nations and the needs of the 3rd world. The change is welcome beyond words!

[Lesley]

I just loved reading the comments on this blog- they actually made me cry.

Why? because people really do want inspiration, peace and fairness and all of that good stuff, and they see that Obama represents those qualities.

It feels really good that he has won.

We just have to remember that it is down to each one of us to find our own real peace and to express that in the world. It can never be down to one man.

Real inner peace and understanding is for each one of us to find and to live by.

Then we can build a better world.