Obama vs. McCain

No, the title of this post isn't a general-election prediction (though it wouldn't be a bad one). It's a description of the all-important battle for New Hampshire's independent voters today. But NRO's Jim Geraghty thinks it's a battle both men can win:

In the final days before the New Hampshire presidential primary, the million-dollar question appears to be “will Independents vote for John McCain in the Republican primary or Barack Obama in the Democratic primary?”

The answer is likely to be that there are enough Independents — or “registered undeclared” —  to give each candidate what they need.

I hope so. We shall see.

By the way, if you're looking for early exit-poll results this afternoon, past experience suggests that you should check Drudge, The Corner and Wonkette. Remember, however, that past experience also suggests that such poll numbers are notoriously unreliable; just ask President Kerry.

Other sites to check, not necessarily for exit polls, but for frequently updated political news, commentary, and links: Mark Halperin's The Page, MSNBC's First Read, Taegan Goddard's Political Wire, National Journal's Hotline On Call, and The Politico. (Do you have other suggestions for this list? Leave 'em in comments!)

UPDATE: According to Mark Blumenthal of Pollster.com, "we are unlikely to see any...leaked [exit poll] results until moments before the polls close." D'oh! (Hat tip: TNR's The Plank.) Halperin appears to confirm this.

UPDATE 2: Drudge has a siren up: "EPIC TURNOUT FOR DEMS -- We Are Out of Ballots!" He elaborates:

Secretary of State is making runs to Seacoast – Hampton, Portsmouth – and Southern Hillsborough – Pelham, Nashua – to bring extra democratic ballots. Many towns are reporting shortages... Developing...

Poll workers and election officials are often overly excitable when it comes to turnout projections (presidential elections only happen every four years, so it's easy to forget how much higher the turnout always is than in other elections), but if the turnout is truly "epic," that's excellent news for Obama. More here.

UPDATE 3: Heh:

Mike Huckabee and Rudy Giuliani ran into each other outside the Brookside Congregational Church in Manchester, where Huckabee immediately asked the former New York mayor for his vote. “We get along beautifully on the trail," the former Arkansas governor said. "No animosity."

Say what you will about his policies, but by all accounts, Huckabee's a funny guy.

Comments

[David K.]

He puts up a siren for that? Drudge becomes increasingly less relevant...

[Brian Foster]

Huckabee's a funny guy.

And that's why he's . . . .

CHUCK NORRIS APPROVED!!!

[yea]

if only he wasn't crazy. everytime i see him on tv he seems so likable, but then you take a look at the whole picture and realize hes a nut.

[Trisha]

They ran out of ballots? Aren't they hip? I mean, even ERIE has gone electronic! No paper ballots needed!

[Joe Mama]

Speaking of nuts, I can't wait for Ron Paul supporters to explain away this piece by The New Republic on Paul's, um, less-than-racially-sensitive past.

[Joe Mama]

Of course, after the whole Beauchamp affair, anything coming from TNR should be taken with a grain of salt.

[Sandy Underpants]

Even more reason Paul should be allowed to be questioned by the non-anglo "news"casters at Fox. Oh wait, there aren't any. But at least they could ask him about his racshits roots exposed here. Don't even try to use his 6 terms as a public official to bash him. My biggest fear is that Fox picks up on this "News" story and the Paul push gets stifled.

"Paul should be allowed to be questioned by the non-anglo "news"casters at Fox. Oh wait, there aren't any."

You never watched Fox then, idiot.

[Joe Loy]

"They ran out of ballots? Aren't they hip? I mean, even ERIE has gone electronic! No paper ballots needed!"

Trisha, I think that NH (like CT and numerous Other ingenious states :), now uses the Optical Scan voting system, comprised of Paper ballots which are tallied Electronically. This way here see, you get the Worst of Both worlds :).

Perhaps ERIE hasn't quite caught up with the fact that the Maddened Millions who (a) demanded universal CHANGE :) to all-electronic Touchscreen Computers after the 2000 election got STOLEN :> via hand-recountable Paper Ballots (aka Punchcards) which were tallied Mechanically and got THROWN OUT!!! :} ~ have all now (b) Pivoted to demand RE-CHANGE ;} to: hand-recountable Paper Ballots :], so that the next election won't get STOLEN like the 2000 one was, see. :)

[Sandy Underpants]

Hey anonymous at 7:51pm, name a non-anglo (non-white) newscaster at Fox? I've seen more color on newscasts in Salt Lake City, and that's a joke btw.

Hume, Hannity, Colmes, O'Reilly, Gibson, Duhe, Shepard Smith, Carl Cameron, Major Garrett, Greg from Redeye, the morning crew, Greta, Cavuto, Kasich, Oliver North, Chris Wallace, Brian Wilson, Fred Barnes, Mort Kondracke. Sheesh, I had no idea the entire network is White until I looked at their programming schedule. The only non-white person they have on there isn't a newscaster, Juan Williams, and they let him say about 3 sentences a week, so don't tell me I don't watch Fox. Next time try backing up your ignorant comments with facts, you'll find you can't.

[Trisha]

Haha, Joe. I guess you'd have to know that Erie is so far behind most third world countries technology wise to understand my sarcasm ;)

Hey, they could just use scantrons like we did in North Dakota!

p.s. I guess it depends on what side of the aisle you are on as to whether you think the vote was "stolen" in 2000. Apparently, you and I aren't on the same side of that aisle ;)