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The Note: Candidates Make Final Stops as Election Goes to Voters

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November 04, 2008 8:55 AM

ABC News' Rick Klein reports in Tuesday's Election Day Note:

My friends, it’s time to turn the page. You betcha, literally.

From Wasilla to Wilmington, whether you’re a plumber or a superdelegate, a Wright or a Wurzelbacher, a hopemonger or a pitbull or Miss Congeniality, That One or The One or Joe Sixpack, it’s all over but the voting now.

That would be 19 hours of voting -- with the first polls having opened at 6 am ET in eastern states (and long lines forming early) and the last polls closing at 1 am ET Wednesday in Alaska. (Alas, no one votes at 3 am.)

Your bitter fundamentals: 35 Senate races, 435 House races, 11 governor’s contests, ballot initiatives from a ban on gay marriage in California to a ban on the income tax in Massachusetts -- and a little big thing known as the presidency being decided in 50 states plus the District of Columbia.

Read the rest of The Note -- and get all the latest on the 2008 election, Congress, the White House and the wide world of politics every day -- from Rick Klein by bookmarking this link.

This remarkable journey -- the longest and costliest campaign in history, with detours through Rudy and Huck and Romney and Ron Paul ’08, and Edwards and Richardson and Mike Gravel and Hillary and Hillary and Hillary -- isn’t quite done yet:

John McCain votes in Arizona Tuesday morning and then makes quick trips to Colorado and New Mexico -- trying to hold on in his native Southwest. (No movie on this kind of packed schedule.)

Barack Obama touches down in the Indianapolis area during the day before settling in for the evening in Chicago, with his massive late-night rally set for Grant Park. (And yes, he’s building in some time for basketball.) 

Joe Biden votes in Wilmington, Del., early Tuesday, then hits Richmond, Va., at 11 am ET before heading to the Hyatt Hotel in Chicago for the long wait.

Sarah Palin is en route to Wasilla, Alaska, to vote Tuesday, then will head back to Arizona to be with McCain at the Biltmore in Phoenix.

As for who gets to celebrate: The final ABC News/Washington Post tracking poll puts it at a nine-point race, 53-44 Obama over McCain. Obama is “strong in the center and even encroaching on some Republican-leaning groups. Obama trails by 7 points among whites, for example -- a group John Kerry lost by 17,” per ABC’s polling director Gary Langer.

Continue reading today's Note by clicking HERE.

ABC News' Hope Ditto contributed to this report.

November 4, 2008 in Ballotwatch, Biden, Joe, Clinton, Bill, Clinton, Hillary, McCain, John, Obama, Barack, Palin, Sarah, Vote 2008: Democrats, Vote 2008: Republicans, Washington, White House | Permalink | User Comments (29)

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If undecideds are really breaking for Obama - as some reports this morning suggest - than this election is done. McCain needed close to 100% of the white undecideds to even have a chance.

http://www.political-buzz.com/

Posted by: matt | Nov 4, 2008 9:04:17 AM

George Wallace of the American Independent Party in 1968, won 13.5 per cent of the popular vote and 46 electoral college votes.

Defeat Obama.

Posted by: History | Nov 4, 2008 9:13:18 AM

George Wallace of the American Independent Party in 1968, won 13.5 per cent of the popular vote and 46 electoral college votes.

Defeat Obama.

Posted by: History | Nov 4, 2008 9:15:47 AM

George Wallace and the American Independent Party lives on and the membership continues to grow.

No To Obama

Posted by: Hillbilly | Nov 4, 2008 9:17:38 AM

President Barack Obama, get used to it!

Posted by: samurai | Nov 4, 2008 9:29:08 AM

IT'S OVER

E_DAY - 0: FINAL ELECTORAL COLLEGE EV POLLS

Obama 353
McCain 174
Tie 11

No Hail Mary for McCain. He is toast.

Posted by: Steve_NJ | Nov 4, 2008 9:33:45 AM

I can see it now. Bill and Hillary head to the polls hand in hand. They go into their voting booths, close the curtains and pull the levers... for McCain. God Bless America!

Posted by: Another Dem For McCain | Nov 4, 2008 9:56:55 AM

You Repugs are such sore losers.

Why can't you just be like Bobe Dole.

Bob Dole was gracious in his defeat and you could just learn from him and be good sport.

This is politics guys. We must have a winer and a loser.

You are the losers unfortunately, but "can we all just get along?".

Posted by: Steve_NJ | Nov 4, 2008 10:00:03 AM

Liberman is now the Shleprock of American politics. Bad luck for whomever he supports.

He's going to be like the kid that no wants on their kickball team.

"No, you guys take him!"

Posted by: Good job Joe! | Nov 4, 2008 10:08:58 AM

Watch out, Thought Criminals! Prepare for criminal or civil action for the following anti-progressive offenses:

Opposing affirmative action.
Doubting global warming.
Opposing tax increases.
Calling tax credits, to those who already pay no tax, welfare.
Contributing to conservative think tanks or 527's.
Using Obama's middle name.
Supporting tough border enforcement.
Criticizing the UN.
Uttering the terms "war on terror" or worse yet "Islamic Terrorist."
Calling a Progressive a Socialist.
Calling violent 60's radicals terrorists.
Supporting Victory in Iraq--and soon they'll add Afghanistan.
Supporting capital punishment.
Opposing abortion.
Uttering the terms "states rights" or "Tenth Amendment" or "judicial activism."

Posted by: New Federal Hate Crimes for 2009 | Nov 4, 2008 10:11:46 AM

I have just voted and feel great. Mr. OBAMA recieved my vote.

My hope for this country is to be one America not pro-anti-more etc. that MRS. Palin and John MCCain have stated time and time again.

I told a person last night WHO ASKED "did you hear about Obama's Grandmother dying" I said yes I feel sorry for him as I too was raised by my grandmother I know how her loss will effect him. Her reply "OH your ONE of those", HOW convient that the old bag died the night before election....I guess Obama will get sympothy votes now..

HOW SAD I am a white, female 55 year old former Republican and even I was shocked by some of the hate in this country. Her statement which I called her on was hateful and disrespectful. She stated OK Grandma we get it and left. NO RESPECT!!!! You probably think this was a teenager or young adult NO it was an older adult roughly around my age.

We must come together not divide but I guess some people you will never change.

Posted by: The Truth | Nov 4, 2008 10:17:25 AM

McCain sold himself out in order to try to win. I used to think he was an OK, straight-up guy. But you can only lose your integrity once, and with the campaign he ran, its gone. The tactics of personal destruction he and his supporters utilized backfired. His legedary "poor judgment" came home to roost.

Posted by: William J. LePetomaine | Nov 4, 2008 10:21:13 AM

The Youth are turning out at the colleges by the thousands today!! Thank you!

GOP You should have never under estimated the turnout today. You declined to listen your fellow common sense Repubs and you failed (miserably) to unit this country. You discounted the minority & young vote and you laughed with spite. Well, we're just getting started today, so is there anything you want to take back or rebuke today? Any last pleas to the American People. I hope this teaches you that country is first, but there would be NO country without its citizens. Vote for Change 08'

Posted by: becky (the real one) | Nov 4, 2008 10:23:09 AM

For the first time in my voting history... I am now 50... I am proud of my country and I will also be proud to say President before a mans name.

Obama/Biden 2008

Posted by: becky (the real one) | Nov 4, 2008 10:26:40 AM

test

Posted by: becky (the real one) | Nov 4, 2008 10:30:57 AM

Each of us owes Senator Obama our gratitude for bringing hope in a time of Despair. Perhaps an open letter.. ................

http://thefiresidepost.com/2008/10/29/senator-obama-to-sir-with-love-2/

Posted by: Ohg Rea Tone | Nov 4, 2008 10:33:47 AM

If you are a McCain supporter and plan on not voting because of the polls, stop and think again. Go out and vote McCain. If you don't, you should never complain again about Obama when he starts to destroy our American way of life. God Help Us, please!!

Posted by: Pee Vee, Long Island | Nov 4, 2008 10:44:37 AM

Voted for Obama this morning in Minnestoa.

Posted by: Greg in MN | Nov 4, 2008 10:47:33 AM

I don't want to be around when Obama begins to tone down and bring his ardent supporters out of the clouds into thw world of truth and reality. If he wins, watch how he tries to tone down on promises, hopes and dreams. He is not America's savior.

Posted by: AnneC | Nov 4, 2008 10:51:45 AM

I can hardly wait now to see who Obama will pick for his cabinets.

Posted by: becky (the real one) | Nov 4, 2008 11:02:52 AM

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