On election night, the magic number for President Obama will be 192.

[MarianJack]

If he's gained 192 Electoral Votes before the west coast states have closed, he's IN.

He will win CA (55), WA (12), OR (7) & HI (4) for a total of 78. If he has 192 before the West Coast closes, Than 192 + 78 = 270.

In my opinion, he will be well over 192 at that time. I expect President Obama to wind up with well over 300 Electoral Votes. He SHOULD be well over 400, but there are too many too red/teabagger states.

That's my 2 cents, and quite possibly overpriced at that!

PEACE!

[Deep13]

1. If he wins 2 of OH, PA, and either FL or VA, it's over. nt

[MarianJack]

6. I may be overly optimistic, but...

...I think that all 4 are a distinct possibility.

PEACE!

[cleduc]

12. I'd have it even simpler

PA + OH
or
PA + FL

and it's over.

Romney can't win without both OH AND FL

[Deep13]

18. Especially if VA goes blue again. nt

[Hosnon]

30. He can mathematically.

He can even win mathematically without PA, OH, and FL.

But realistically, if he doesn't get OH and either PA or FL, it's over.

[johnnyrocket]

2. I think if we win Virginia, it's a lock. If it's dicey, that 192 is good to keep in mind.

[MarianJack]

7. I think that the Prez will win damn near all of the "swing" states

PEACE!

[yellowcanine]

28. I think VA is pretty close to a lock right now so I guess the election is a lock also then.

[msongs]

3. election is over by 3 or 4 pm hawaii time. thanks a lot lol nt

[MarianJack]

8. Wouldn't that be better than a nail biter?

PEACE!

[Chichiri]

11. Let's get early voting in all 50 states!

[TDale313]

4. Some of the swing states may be

Too Close to Call by the time we close the polls out here on the West Coast, but yeah, sounds pretty much right.

[MarianJack]

9. Thanks.

I hope not, though.

PEACE!

[TDale313]

20. I hope not, too.

Nothing made me happier than having it called for Obama the minute the polls closed on the West Coast in '08. Here's hoping it'll go that way again.

[MarianJack]

21. Yes, here's hoping!

PEACE!

[pointsoflight]

14. I bet the numbers will be slow coming out of the Cleveland, OH area...

...so that OH takes awhile.

[gateley]

5. Do you know when early voting and absentee ballots are counted? Thanks.

[MarianJack]

10. Not offhand, but that'd be good to know.

PEACE!

[longship]

15. AFAIK, all votes are counted after polls are closed.

That means early, absentee, and all of the rest. Absentee ballots (and military deployed) can trickle in for days since they only have to be postmarked by a certain date, usually election day.

No votes are counted until polls close because there would be a chance for leaks.

[gateley]

16. Eek -- with all those early voters! No sleep for us Tuesday!

[NMDemDist2]

17. the absentees are counted on election day

the early voting totals are usually available early on election day, the absentee take a bit longer as they have their own committee that verifies signatures then opens them and tabulates them

at least that's how they do in NM

[gateley]

29. thanks!

[Drunken Irishman]

13. My guess is that it won't be called that early...

Obama will probably be at 250 or so once the west coast comes in ... but I anticipate the following states undecided:

Colorado
Florida
Iowa
Nevada
New Hampshire
North Carolina
Virginia
Wisconsin

[MarianJack]

22. I don't think that many will take so long.

I hope I'm right about that one.

PEACE!

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

19. Depends when they call IA or NV

VA and FL will likely be called well after 11PM, IMHO.

[MarianJack]

23. Hopefully not that late.

PEACE!

[davidpdx]

24. That is logical and correct

The assumption that he will win California, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii is a pretty safe one. The same goes for him losing Alaska. All of those should be called pretty soon after the polls close in those states.

The better question is will some of these states hit by the storm get their vote totals in before 1am (EST) on election night. One possibility is all the states mentioned have been called (including Hawaii and Alaska) and we are still waiting for east coast states.

[MarianJack]

26. It's a possibility, but...

...I don't think a liklihood. I think we'll know before midnight.

PEACE!

[RomneyLies]

25. On election night, the magic number for Romney is 266.

266 + 3 (Alaska) = 269 = Romney most likely wins in the House with Biden as his Veep.

I doubt seriously if Romney will get anywhere close to 266 electoral votes.

[MarianJack]

27. I think about 200 is his high water mark.

Hopefully lower.

PEACE!