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BARACK OBAMA HAS won a second term as President of the United States, beating former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney in a hotly contested election.
All major US television networks called the crucial state of Ohio for Obama just after 4am on Wednesday morning, giving the incumbent 274 electoral votes – well clear of the 270 needed to claim victory.
Below you’ll find our liveblog showing events as they unfolded throughout the night.
Things won’t be in full swing until around midnight, but we’ll be here to report on any tidbits that happen until then – so stay tuned!
To bring you up to speed in the meantime, check out Hugh O’Connell’s lowdown on what you need to know if you’re watching the US election tonight…
Speaking to Prime Time’s Richard Crowley, reporting from Washington, Washington Post columnist Colbert King says the result will be down to the wire – commenting: “We’re not going to have a landslide tonight.”
Frank Sesno, Director of the School of Media and Public Affairs at The George Washington University, said Obama’s chances had been permanently dented by his “disastrous” first debate with Romney – and that the incumbent “never recovered” from it.
So what if Romney were to win? King and Sesno are split on whether he would take a ‘centrist’ or right-wing position as president. “It may not be possible for Romney to move to middle and stay there,” King points out.
Meanwhile, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright tells Crowley she believes it’s essential to keep swing state Virginia ‘blue’ for an Obama victory.
King and Sesno say the economy is still the “main concern” for US voters – and the preliminary results of an exit poll conducted for The Associated Press backs them up, with 6 in 10 voters putting this at the top of their agenda.
Only one quarter of those surveyed think they’re better off than they were four years ago, when Obama took the reins.
Anyone will tell you that the electoral college, the system by which the US president is elected, is ridiculously complicated – and they’re completely right about that.
But it all really boils down to this: there are a total of 538 electors (or electoral college votes) and the first candidate to reach 270 electoral college votes wins the presidency. Boom.
Keep your eye on the swing states, which will give the best indication of which way this race is heading – namely: Colorado (9 electoral votes), Florida (29), Iowa, (6), Michigan (16) Nevada (6), New Hampshire (4), North Carolina (15), Ohio (18), Pennsylvania (20), Virginia (13), Wisconsin (10).
There’s under one hour to go before the first state closes its polls, but voting doesn’t end until 6am… So, to stop you from twiddling your thumbs, Sinead O’Carroll has put together a list of things to do while the American’s are casting their ballots.
Why not play the New York Times’ 512 Paths to the White House graphic, which provides the various paths-to-victory available to either candidate if they win in one of the more competitive states.
(Warning – it’s weirdly addictive.)
He knows it’s close. A last-minute appeal from the sitting president:
The Drudge Report has some interesting exit poll info – reporting that it looks like Romney will take North Carolina and Florida. Obama, meanwhile, could be set to take New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Miami and Nevada, according to the polls.
It’s apparently still a toss up in Ohio, Virginia, Colorado and Iowa.
So, NBC are reporting live from ‘Democracy Plaza’ tonight, apparently… (any guesses for where that is?)
Outside Rockerfeller Centre. Go figure.
(Ps: those flags are usually the flags of the world. Message? The rest of the world is not getting a look-in tonight.)
If you’re suffering from election fatigue after all these months of campaigning, we’d like to remind you that elections can be great fun…
In case you need to visualise that…
Fun fact: Republicans haven’t won a US presidential election without a Bush or Nixon on ticket since 1928.
With minutes until polls begin to close, Michelle Obama and Ann Romney give another push:
Obama:
All of our hard work these past 18 months comes down to what happens right now. Let’s not leave anything to chance.
Romney:
We’re so close to the better future we deserve – we just need you to vote. Find your polling place.
A whole lot hinges on Ohio – but that doesn’t stop people asking…
I think that I’m going to win, intellectually, and I feel it as well.
NBC exit poll: 46 per cent believe US is going in the right direction, 52 per cent think it’s on the ‘wrong track’…
IT’S ALMOST TIME… polls close soon in Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, South Carolina, Vermont and Virginia.
Virginia and Ohio are the ones to watch here – it’s worth noting that Obama took a good chunk of the female and younger vote in Virginia.
Exit polls from CNN indicate the Latino electorate account for nearly 10 per cent of the vote, after turning out in a double -digit percentage across the nation for the first time.
Mmm it’s close. It’s very close. So, what happens if the electoral college is a tie? Gavan Reilly figures looks at ”where the fun politicking happens”.
Here we go again: West Virginia (5): Romney, North Carolina (15): too close to call, Ohio (18): too close to call.
(That means Obama 3, Romney 22, too early to call 58.)
CNN exit poll gives Ohio to Obama, 51-48.
FRUSTRATING FACT: North Carolina too close to call with a 49 per cent tie… just like Virginia.
Polls to close shortly in: Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee
A word to the wise…
The incumbent appears to have the upper hand according to the first polls from the Buckeye State, which will be crucial – check out what’s going on in on Ohio and Florida so far…
Meanwhile, over on Fox News…
Check out the predictions coming from guests at the Guinness Storehouse tonight… more tweets from @usembassydublin
Uploaded by U.S. Embassy Dublin
Good news rolling in for Obama…
Picture by: Kerim Okten/PA Archive/Press Association Images
Meanwhile – Oklahoma and Mississippi go to Romney
Picture by: Charles Dharapak/AP/Press Association Images
Every voter in the state of Ohio got the option to vote early this year – according to a (very early) count, Obama in the lead.
Maybe so… but then what excuse would we have to do maths in the early hours of the morning?
Two networks call the once-Democratic state of Arkansas for Romney. Native Bill Clinton won’t be best pleased.
Votes on Columbus, in Franklin County, and Cincinnati seen as clinchers for which way Ohio state will swing.
Romney feels his campaign has “put it all on the field”, “left nothing in the locker room”, “fought to the very end”, and other big, manly metaphors – VIDEO via the Guardian.
Don’t start flagging on us now…
The auto bailout seems to have gone down well with voters in Michigan – does this spell good news for Obama in the all-important state of Ohio?
Minnesota is predicted to support Obama, having voted Democrat solidly since 2000 – with MBC, CBS, CNN, the New York Times, Real Clear Politcs and the BBC all expecting the incumbent to win in that state.
Colorado is a wild-card, having voted Republican in 2000 and 2004, but switching to Democrat last election.
Wisconsin has supported Democratic candidates in the past three presidential elections – even so, it’s predicted to be a toss-up there.
Finally, Arizona, is predicted to go with Romney.
If any of you have a problem with suspense, you won’t like this: queues mean final Virginia, Florida results could be delayed by hours. Sorry.
Voters in the queues have been advised to stay in line – if they’re there already, their votes will be counted.
Meanhile, Congress will remain divided for the next two years. Republicans will keep control of the House while the Democrats stay in control of the Senate.
We hope you like John Boehner, because he will remain the Speaker of the House for at least the next two years. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Speaking from Obama HQ in Chicago Debbie Wasserman Schultz – US Representative for Florida’s 20th congressional district – says she thinks they might have an early night.
Prediction that Obama will take New Hampshire – where Romney has (one) home. Not good news for the Republicans.
Ted Kennedy’s old Senate seat is back in the hands of the Democrats – and there’s another new generation of Kennedys in Congress – as Elizabeth Warren takes Scott Brown’s seat.
Elizabeth Warren, left, emerges from the polling booth as she votes in Cambridge, Mass. on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012. (AP Photo/Josh Reynolds)
AP is calling Utah (6) and Montana (3) for Romney – no surprises on Utah, but Montana had been a toss-up.
Meanwhile the swing-states of Iowa (6) and Nevada (6) still remain too early to call.
Fox says Romney wins all 5 electoral votes in the split state of Nebraska, while Obama takes all 5 of Maine’s.
Itching for someone to take a one of these swing states so I can play this for real… #c’monsomeone
New York Times’ Paths to the White House
It’s still too close to call in Florida but Obama is shading it with over 7.4 million votes counted – around 84 per cent of the total. The president now leads by just a few thousand votes.
Arizona (11) called for Romney (John McCain’s home state) so no surprises there.
Meanwhile, CBS News is projecting Minnesota for Obama…
A landmark election in Wisconsin sees Tammy Baldwin become the first openly gay member of the Senate after defeating Republican rival Tommy Thompson.
Republican candidate for Wisconsin’s U.S. Senate seat, former Gov. Tommy Thompson, left, participates in a debate against Democratic candidate U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin at Marquette University Friday, Oct. 26, 2012, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)
Al Gore GOES there.
Feeling a bit lost over tonight’s proceedings? Gavan Reilly’s bumper state-by-state spreadsheet could help get things into context…
In the next few minutes, polls will close in California, Hawaii, Idaho, Oregon, Washington. None of these are swing states but the 55 electoral votes of California, predicted to go to Obama, will significantly boost his electoral tally.
Obama is pitched to take Hawaii (4), Oregon (7) and Washington (12) too – while Romney is expected to take Idaho (4)and North Dakota (3).
Todd ‘legitimate rape’ Akin has been defeated in his campaign for a Senate seat.
Akin caused international furore when he said the female body could repel a pregnancy after a “legitimate” rape.
He’ll have a bit more time on his hands now, so we suggest he buys a biology book.
All the polls, expect for Alaska, are now closed.
Obama has taken Washington state, California, and his birth-place Hawaii.
Romney, meanwhile, has taken Idaho and Oregon is still too close to call.
We’re bating our breath for outcomes in the swing states amid rumours – and we stress rumours - that Romney has lost Florida.
NBC calls Ohio for Obama.
That means it’s all over folks…
OBAMA WINS FOUR MORE YEARS.
(AP Photo/Paul Vernon)
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This election worries me. Hope they realise a Mitt is for keeping hands warm and not Presidential material.
Unless you’re a Muppet.
I’m glad you raised that point Sean. Mitt is a shortened version of mitten. A glove. When Mitt was asked to name his son, he chose the name Tagg. It sounds similar to name tag. Both names seem to objectivy a person, there are some people within society that view others as objects. These names seem to add evidence to this theory.
“As it stands: Obama 3, Romney 51, too early to call 46″
According to BBC this “scoreline” never happened – currently Obama 56 Romney 40…….
Though I just see Sky news also just after going to Obamaa 65, Romney 82…….
Wouldn’t trust Sky, it’s as reliable as Fox. I believe nothing until Dimbleby says it.
Funny you should say that Sam! Here’s a post I put out on FB just a while ago….
Coffee and chocolate sky control! Go Obama!
I’ve been sucked in – A lot of indications were that there might be 1 or several weeks of legal challenges (which could still happen) but I’ve been totally sucked in now!
If they pick Romney expect everyone to be laughing at them in the morning
I’d even take Bush over Romney and that’s saying something.
Ah here… Let’s not get carried away…
The worst part is so would I. I mean Romney believes in magic underpants for feck sake and any person who believes that and who could be put in such a position of power…… that frightens the bejosephsmith out of me.
Ad hominem is alive and well, it seems
Mormons and their magic underpants, such stupid people.
@ Michael – Romney hasn’t told anyone what his actual plans are so ‘ad hominem’ is what we have!
Leave eh bleedin ouh…
@Joe, it only sounds stupid because there’s not a lot of them in Ireland. If there was a lot of any particular group around you you’d not think it was stupid.
Just like any christian magic.
Vote in Obama …. He deserves another 4 years of no recession ….. To get the USA back on its feet again – USA suffer we suffer …. Vote !!!!
I hope the coolest guy wins cos that would be cool, I like cool, mostly i like what the media says is cool.. this is going to be so cool..
Cool
It is extremely hard to understand that someone like Mitt is actually in with a chance of clinching this. The American electorate should know well he is a compulsive liar among other things.
Then again, I’m sure an American looking at Ireland last year would have found it hard to understand how we voted Fine Gael into power! Seems there’s a lot of idiots in both nations. Hopefully they don’t form the voting majority across the Atlantic this time though!
Romney is dangerous – a Mormon isn’t just for Christmas!
Brilliant Dave. Your comment speaks volumes.
Barack Obama will win a second term.
Willing it doesn’t make it happen!
To be fair, most Irish hope for Obama, probably mostly because we feel we could actually have a pint with him and curse at him in the way we do to all our pals…..
The primary thing going on is about economy – people talk about other things that will separate this vote and yes, there are other things but for the most part, economy is the one that actually swings it.
The real question about the economy is will people say that Obama has left it in sh*t or will they say that he inherited it that way from Bush? Will people realise that much of Obama’s promise for change hasn’t come to fruition not because he hasn’t followed through but because republicans have blocked him at every turn?
Yes we can, by god we better, Iran would be a great money spinner for Mitt and the lads
and let’s be honest, probably will be regardless….
I really hope Tiger Woods wins.
Obama won the in Guam. They don’t have any electoral college votes but have correctly picked the winner since 1984. Will be interesting to see if they’re right this time.
There’s a saying in presidential elections -’Iowa picks corn while Ohio picks presidents’, the adage is true as no president in history has ever become president without winning Ohio. It is the bellwether of the entire US, once it falls to Obama then the game is up.
Minge Romney. Go on, say it. Minge Romney. Hee hee.
This election is over, Obama has already won it. I say that as the most accurate method in political science at predictiing a Presidential race (Lichtman’s Keys to the White House) had already called this election for Obama as early as July 2010.
Professor Lichtman has never been wrong on predicting a future president and it is highly unlikely this election will be the first occasion. He wrote in July 2010 that Obama met most of his criteria on governing over the last 4 years and would therefore retain the White House. For any politicos out there who like to beat the bookies I can highly recommend following this guy- his system has won me money on every presidential election since 2000 and given Obama’s higher polling numbers in 7 out of 9 swing states I expect tonight to be no different from his previous form
http://www.aolnews.com/2010/07/12/professors-13-keys-predict-obama-will-get-re-elected/
…… but the robots were picking Romney….. I can’t compute this? Human lies!
Im still recovering after the Santos/McGarry campaign.
I was wondering how long til the west wing was mentioned
what I dont get is if the experts say this is too close to call, why has a bookies paid out on Obama winning already and all bookies have Obama at such short odds to win for the last few weeks, they can’t surely have their info so wrong.
The bookies will turn out to be right- studies have shown that bookies odds are a better and more accurate predictor of a presidential race than opinion polls are. Opinion polls ask ‘who do you intend to vote for’ whereas bookies odds ask ‘who do you think is going to win’. People who bet on politics do so with their head, people who answer opinion polls do so with their heart and then they might not even bother to vote on the day. When you introduce the financial gain incentive to get it right is much higher.
And as the bookies odds having been calling this election for Obama for several weeks now it is clear they’ve done their sums in the swing states an it is like a commentator said earlier “Obama has the math, Romney has the myth”
What bookies? Masters of stunt marketing, Paddy Power? Bookies are bookies for a reason. Yes, Obama is probably going to win but either way it doesn’t matter. If Obama wins- free marketing for two days and bets are payed. If Obama loses Paddy Power pay for their marketing and punters think “I love Paddy Power, they’re idiots and give away free money, let’s bet there”
Plus some punters will throw a few quid at Romney winning just to hope they can beat the bookies both ways. It’s a kind of reverse psychology thing there.
America needs a new centrist party. I’m personally neutral on this election.
As opposed to two right-wing parties?
Cmon O’bama. Don’t have me stay up for nothin!
My apologies for repeating myself, but Romney is not only a Mormon, but a Mormon bishop as well. Imagine a president of the USA being a bishop. Or, look at it another way, imagine a bishop becoming a president. I can’t quite articulate my misgivings, but then do I really have to?.
I’d be more concerned with the fact that he’s a bishop of a homophobic and historically racist cult.
Wow. Just throw the first amendment out.
Typical Obama supporter, shredding the constitution over an over again.
Patriot act, ACA, NDAA.
This is awful
Do you want to shred the bit in the 1st amendment about freedom of speech too Michael?
No problem with people practicing their religion personally though I do think it’s misguided. Unfortunately if you want to call in the 1st, you have to accept all that it entails.
Calling in what you want as it suits your argument? Typical Romney supporter….
Hahaha he thinks I’m a Romney supporter.
That’s cute.
Romney wouldn’t fix any of these things either. Both candidates are horrible.
My point is that you attack a man based on his religion. That’s just the same as doing it via race.
We’re not bigoted or racist, are we?
Bush! Romney! Crazy Mormons! Hates gays! Magic underpants! Booo republicans.
Go Obama! Kittens. Yay Democrats.
If you care about the domestic economy, Romney.
If you care about social issues, Obama.
If you care about foreign policy, the NDAA, the ‘repeal the 4th amendment’ (Patriot Act), national debt, interventionism, freedom, against drone strikes, auditing the federal reserve and following the constitution by actually declaring war through congress, you vote for….
Who??
“23.37 –
NBC says Obama’s been spending the day having basketball”
I know when I’m having a stressful day, having some basketball really makes it better.
Gooey, sweet sweet basketball. NOM
Bejosephsmith ….Love it!!!!!! My new word for the day …… No worries, O’bama has it in the bag
Why does the media constantly say that the ‘electoral college system is “very complicated”‘? This drives me mad, it’s as simple as shit! All you need to understand it is basic addition arithmetic, or ‘math’…
Well done Obama
Obama and Romney don’t run their twitter or facebook pages – their campaign offices do
Yes but Obama tweets from those accounts every now and again.
Result!!! Congratulations America :)
Everyone should watch the election explainer videos on YouTube by CGPGrey , he explains the electoral college (and how you can ‘technically’ win with just 22% of the populations vote) .. http://youtu.be/7wC42HgLA4k . He also explains what happens in the case of a tie
Thanks for that…easy to understand.
So Mitt Has said he only has a victory speech written. Well I say get Writing Romney. Go Barack!!! 4more years!!!
Well done to The Journal for the updates too. What a fantastic result for Obama :)
Congrats Barack Obama on winning a second term.
Obama is a sexy beast :-P
Obama posted on Reddit again an hour ago, by the way:
“I want to thank you all again for the reception you gave me in August for my AMA. Good questions. Definitely not bad.
I’m checking in because polls will start closing in this election in just a few hours, and I need you to vote.
Millions of Americans have stepped up in support of this campaign over the last 19 months, and today we decide what the next four years look like — but only if we show up.
I ask that you go out there and cast your vote, whatever your political persuasion.
You can confirm your polling location here:
https://www.barackobama.com/lookup
If you’ve voted already, don’t stop there — spread the word to your friends, roommates, and neighbors. Think of it as upvoting.”
http://www.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/12r7yb/reddit_this_is_important/c6xgw22
If he posted on 4chan’s /b/ he might get a few votes……
….over 9000……
Fingers crossed for Obama.
Thank The Gods. I can go to sleep now. Go Obama. So say we all!
All polls closed by CNN! More coffee time!
Game on!
Relief! Americans you did good!
What a relief. Thanks Jen+ Gavan. Was worried to see 162:162 at 04:00. This is good news. Go on Obama and hope they get rid of the republicans in two years time to really implement change. Phew
I recon it’s going to be A Very Long & interesting Election result’s Night. What Do U Think?
I want Obama to win, although I think Romney could make it interesting..
Just want to say that a man who can say that biologically a woman cannot get pregnant by rape…………..hmmmmm
Romney ran out of white folks. That’s what a one of the men said on CNN.
OBAMA!!! OBAMA!!! OBAMA!!!
Re Fun Fact: Republicans haven’t won a US presidential election without a Bush or Nixon on ticket since 1928.
Wasn’t Gerald Ford a Republican President in the 70s and I don’t think his VP was either a Bush or Nixon
He was elected as Nixons Vice President. He only took office by default when Nixon resigned. He lost at the next election to Jimmy Carter.
Cheers Andy :-)
gerry ford was put in place after Nixon was forced to resign.
Let’s be honest here.
This is SHOCKING, that it is so close.
How could a panderer like Romney be even close in this election?
Might just show you how bad Obama really has been and more of the same for another 4.
Fox News website seems to be ahead of CNN in providing “results.”
Nice graphic novel review of the campaign on the guardian website
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/interactive/2012/nov/06/america-elect-graphic-novel
Wish I didn’t have to go to work tomorrow. Have to turn in!!
Scary to think Romney is more popular
Change !
A bit one sided here! Think I’ll stick with Twitter.
Congratulations on the re- election of Barack Obama.
Over 6 Billion was spent on the U.S. political campaigns to tell the Americans how good they are with money and debt.
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