Hartsfield's Landing; The ultimate exit poll

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Many West Wing fanatics will remember the 2002 episode "Hartfield's Landing" (a fictional town) which was "based on Dixville Notch, an unincorporated small village in the Dixville township of Coos County, New Hampshire, USA. Dixville Notch is best known in connection with its longstanding middle-of-the-night vote in the U.S. Presidential Election, including during the New Hampshire primary." Since 1960 election, all the eligible voters in Dixville Notch gather at midnight in the ballroom of The Balsams. The voters cast their ballots and the polls officially are closed one minute later. The result of the Dixville Notch vote in both the New Hampshire primary and the general election are traditionally broadcast around the country immediately afterwards. A similar tradition in the community of Hart's Location, New Hampshire began in 1948; theirs was discontinued in the 1960s in light of the abundance of media attention, and revived only in 1996. (Wikipedia) Twenty-six voters took part in the 2004 elections.

Anyway, according to the associated press: "Democrat Obama defeated Republican John McCain by a count of 15 to 6 in Dixville Notch, where a loud whoop accompanied the announcement in Tuesday's first minutes. The town of Hart's Location reported 17 votes for Obama, 10 for McCain and two for write-in Ron Paul. Independent Ralph Nader was on both towns' ballots but got no votes."

A harbinger of things to come? Josh Lyman would definitely say it is. But who knows? If anything, it's definitely a very good sign for Obama since "the notch" in NH has a slight lean to the right politically and has never been favorable to a democrat (not even winners like Clinton, Kennedy, Lyndon B or Carter). Other then Obama, Hubert Humphrey is the only Democrat to actually win the notch.

Here are some of the recent past results:

1984 (Reagan- 29, Mondale- 1)

1988 (HW Bush- 34, Dukakis- 3)

1992 (HW Bush- 15, Perot- 8, Marrou- 5, Clinton- 2)

1996 (Dole- 18, Clinton- 8, Perot- 1)

2000 (W Bush- 21, Gore Jr.- 5, Nader- 1)

2004 (W Bush- 19, Kerry- 7)

I guess only time will tell now. But judging from that odd trend in NH, this could turn into a possible mini impeachment (referendum) of George W Bush's unjust war. Anyway, have a great election night. For those who want a good election primer, I have posted one below.

BBC's Guide to US election night