November 4, 2008, 9:55 P.M.

Kevin,

I believe that CNN may have abandoned the hologram cam, though maybe Obama’s address will be in 3D or smell-o-vision.

What does victory smell like?

My brother reports that the line-up to get inside Grant Park goes at least a mile from the entrance and they’re not sure they’re going to get in. They just marched past a famous site from the ‘68 convention riots. Much more peaceful this time, by all reports. The Iowa results went live while we were talking on the phone and I could hear the cheer over the line.

My brother reports that he has no idea where the line is going, but they’re going to run with it, hoping to get in.

Maybe that’s metaphor for the Obama presidency.

—John

SHARE THIS • EMAIL THIS

November 4, 2008, 9:53 P.M.

John,

When Jessica Yellin said that “reality was setting in” was she, by any chance, in hologram form?

—Kevin

SHARE THIS • EMAIL THIS

November 4, 2008, 9:42 P.M.

Kevin,

All the networks are finding more and more tortuous language to find ways to not declare Obama the winner.

Based on the remaining returns both Florida and Indiana look good for Obama. Virginia is really tight, as is North Carolina. If McCain wins both of those, he actually will have a good night, relative to expectations. He’ll be a loser, but not quite as bad as expected.

I love how Jessica Yellin on CNN said that “reality” was setting in at McCain campaign headquarters and yet they’re keeping their supporters sealed off from any information, kind of like Sarah Palin through most of her life.

Zing!

—John

SHARE THIS • EMAIL THIS

November 4, 2008, 9:36 P.M.

John,

Second part of my prediction: McCain wins Ohio.

Glad to be wrong.

Update: CNN reporting that they have turned off the televisions at McCain party headquarters.

They got Hank Williams, Jr., though.

—Kevin

SHARE THIS • EMAIL THIS

November 4, 2008, 9:10 P.M.

Kevin,

On MSNBC Chuck Todd is busy trying to stoke some remaining drama in the presidential race by pointing out, correctly, that no red state has flipped yet, which is true enough, but it seems like only a matter of time before one or more turn Obama’s way. Still, I’m not going to celebrate until it happens.

I’m glad that the networks are practicing some caution, but I’m ready for the suspense to end.

Speaking of the minds that Palin might have won over, there’s some real questions about what goes on in those minds. The videos of the knuckleheads populating the Palin rallies have been widely disseminated. It appears that that’s who McCain managed to hold on to, which is maybe enough to make it somewhat close, but this year (I hope) not a winning strategy.

—John

SHARE THIS • EMAIL THIS

November 4, 2008, 8:54 P.M.

John,

CNN called Pennsylvania during the shampoo. and New Hampshire as well. The relatively quick calls on both those states is good news, indeed.

Aside: When Obama picked Biden as his running mate, my thought was that it was a tactical move in order to force McCain to choose Tom Ridge. I thought the Obamans thought that the McCain camp wouldn’t concede Pennsylvania, especially if they believed Clinton’s performance there showed Obama was vulnerable. So they would have to counter the slight advantage Obama got from selecting Biden with the larger advantage of picking Ridge. And I thought the Obama folk thought they could beat McCain/Ridge in the rest of the country because two moderate Republicans would bring soft support from the Republican base.

It looked like McCain thought that, too, which is why he didn’t take the bait and went with Palin. But we’re looking right now at the great cost of that choice, and the intelligence of putting Biden on the ticket. Who knows what the rest of the map would look like for a McCain/Ridge ticket, but we would biting nails right now if Pennsylvania was too close to call. Palin brought philosophy to the ticket, not geography, and you win a war by taking land, not winning minds.

It’s something the Republicans have lost sight of the last eight years.

—Kevin

SHARE THIS • EMAIL THIS