CHICAGO, Ill. — At the moment CNN called Pennsylvania for Obama, the crowd had its
biggest roar yet.

Everyone knew the importance of Pennsylvania for John McCain to make a
comeback victory. He invested a lot of time in the state — time that
will clearly be questioned by pundits as a waste of precious
resources.

Pennsylvania called for Obama. Room goes crazy.

Forty minutes after Pa. polls closed, CNN and Fox News now join MSNBC and ABC News in calling Pennsylvania for Obama.

Minutes after the polls closed in Pennsylvania, MSNBC and ABC News called the state for Senator Obama.

CNN and Fox News say the state is still too close to call.

CHICAGO, Ill. — The crowd is roaring here in Grant Park. Thousands are cheering at any mention on CNN of good news for Obama. Everyone is waiting on the 8 p.m. states — including Pennsylvania — to be called.

Some networks are planning on announcing the winner of the presidential election as early as 9 p.m. EST — two hours before polls close on the west coast.

Based on agreements made by the networks that are within the consortium that conducts exit polling, networks cannot announce winners for individual states before the state’s polls close, according to the Chicago Tribune. But they can announce the national winner before all polls close.

But if the 2000 election taught us anything about elections, it is that announcing results too early may have an effect on voter turnout. In Florida, networks began calling the state for then-Vice President Al Gore before all polls in the state had closed. Gore supporters have since said that this caused many to stay home, believing the election had already gone in their favor. 

According to the Tribune, a similar situation could occur this year: “Such an announcement will lead to some potential voters leaving the polls before they cast their ballots and others to not come at all.”

The only line longer than the the ones at the polls today is the one outside of Ben & Jerry’s. I snapped a photo of students who braved the light drizzle to get free ice cream the store is handing out to those who voted today.

Want your own free scoop? Go to Ben & Jerry’s any time before 8. Plan to wait a while - the line wraps around the corner.

Students line up outside Ben & Jerry's for free ice cream.

CHICAGO, IL —

Today, Chicagoans hope to send one of their own to the White House.
I’ve been here since yesterday, walking around Hyde Park (where Obama lives), walking up to Obama National Headquarters, and eating sausage with sauerkraut at Berghoff’s (Abe Froman reference, anyone?).

On my way out to the University of Chicago yesterday, nearly everyone on the bus from downtown was talking about politics. Intensely. “McCain should never have picked Palin,” said one man, who thinks Palin will cost McCain the election. The commuters near him agreed, and the conversation continued for the entire 35 minute ride.

But it didn’t stop there. I have seriously not stopped hearing people talk about the election (as would be expected on a very big Election Day). People seem anxious, paranoid, uncertain.

“All I can do it hope and pray. Hope and pray,” said one man.
(more…)

Penn President Amy Gutmann just voted in Steinberg-Dietrich Hall. She was followed to her polling place by professor John DiIulio’s Intro to American Politics class, which she addressed on College Green before going to vote.

Gutmann, who was described by DiIulio as a, “lean, mean civic-engagement machine,” applauded the class and Penn Leads the Vote for their hard work.

“This has been an amazing and really history-making campaign in terms of leading the vote,” she said.

Check back later to see video of Gutmann voting.

When the polls opened at 7 a.m. this morning, long lines had already gathered in front of most polling stations on campus. Poll workers at Harnwell College House estimated that nearly 70 students had lined up to vote when the station opened. Harrison College House and the Walnut Street Library (on the southeast corner of 40th and Walnut Streets) each had about 30 in line at the start of the day, according to poll workers at both locations.

Although workers said the high early turnout made for a somewhat hectic morning, the lines didn’t seem to impede anyone from voting — the workers didn’t see anyone leave their line before getting a chance to vote.