Arnie runs in 2008 - Timeline

[State Comptroller Atkins]

Comments?

[State Comptroller Atkins]

Sorry, i coloured Maine red by mistake in my previous maps here is the real map.

[State Comptroller Atkins]

8:56PM - We are now prepared to call Tennessee for Arnold Schwarzenegger.



Schwarzenegger - 86
Obama - 74

[Jayhawker]

Nice job, interesting results. A lot of toss-up states, though...

[State Comptroller Atkins]

9PM - This is Brian Williams reporting the election returns on this historic Election Night in 2008 on NBC News. The polls have now closed in another 15 states. Let's take a look at them.

In New York, we are projecting that Obama will carry the Empire State. No suprise at all.

In Rhode Island, again no suprise, a very safe Democratic state, Obama is projected to win it.

In Kansas, one of the safest Republican states in the union, Schwarzenegger is projected to win it.

In Louisiana, used to always vote Democratic in Presidential Elections, it has become a fairly safe Republican state in recent years, Schwarzenegger is projected to win it.

In Minnesota, it's too close to call. The Obama campaign team said they were going to carry this state, they may well do, we shall see as the night goes along.

In Nebraska, Schwarzenegger is projected to carry this state. Another very safe Republican state.

In New Mexico, it's too close to call. This has become a Democratic-leaning state in recent years, will it vote for the Democratic candidate tonight? We shall see.

In South Dakota, Schwarzenegger is projected to win it. South Dakota hasn't voted for a Democrat in a Presidential Election, since LBJ's landslide over Barry Goldwater in 1964.

In Texas, it's too close to call. This was a very safe state for Schwarzenegger until Obama picked Ron Paul as his running mate. This will be a state to watch as the evening goes along.

In Wyoming, another unsuprising projection, Schwarzenegger carries it.

In Wisconsin, it's also too close to call. This has been a battleground state in the last two elections, and it's proved to be one again this time.

In Colorado, it's too close to call. This state has become more moderate in recent years, and many think that Obama has a real chance of carrying Colorado tonight.

In Arizona, it's too close to call. This is of course the home state of two-time Presidential Candidate, Senator John McCain, who campaigned a lot for Schwarzenegger during this campaign.


So let's take a look at the Electoral Map.



Schwarzenegger - 112
Obama - 109

We can now join the Chairman of the DNC, and former Governor of Vermont, Howard Dean, who is in Chicago right now.



Brian Williams - Hello Chairman Dean. What do you make of the night so far?

Howard Dean - Well, i'm pleased so far. We have carried states that we needed to have, and we are doing well in Ohio and Florida. I'm feeling good about this.

Brian Williams - Ok. What do you think Senator Obama needs to have in order to get to 270 tonight?

Howard Dean - Well he needs to obviously take Ohio or Florida, and i think Texas would seal it. But who knows? The smaller states in the Midwest and the West could decide it. We feel great about California too. I think the majority of the American people know that they can't afford another Republican Adminstration, and it's showing in the numbers we....

Brian Williams - I'm sorry Chairman Dean, i have to interrupt you for a second. We are projecting that the state of Minnesota will go for Senator Obama. This is of course a battleground state. Chairman Dean, what do you make of this?

Howard Dean - Well that's great news for us Brian. Minnesota was close for most of the campaign and we are glad that it's voted for us.

Brian Williams - Chairman Dean, thanks for being on here tonight.

Howard Dean - Thank you Brian.



Schwarzenegger - 112
Obama - 119

[State Comptroller Atkins]

Nice job, interesting results. A lot of toss-up states, though...

Thanks.

[State Comptroller Atkins]

9:16PM - We have a big projection to make. The state of Pennslyvania will go for Seantor Obama. This is an important win for Obama, a state that he really needed to have.

Before we look at the electoral map, let's look at the returns so far in some of the the too close to call states.

Ohio:

35% Reporting:

Schwarzenegger - 52% - 1,010,078
Obama - 48% - 932,379

Florida:

24% Reporting

Schwarzenegger - 50.6% - 918,677
Obama - 48.9% - 887,813

Texas:

18% Reporting

Schwarzenegger - 49.4% 1,064,488
Obama - 49.9% - 1,075,263

Now, let's take a look at the Electoral Map.



Schwarzenegger - 112
Obama - 140

[Alexander Hamilton]

continue please

[State Comptroller Atkins]

9:34PM - We are now calling North Carolina for Schwarzenegger. This is usually a safe Republican state in Presidential Elections, Senator John Kerry didn't come anywhere near to winning it in 2004 despite choosing North Carolina Senator John Edwards as his running mate, but it was a toss up state towards the end of the campaign, but according to our projection, it has voted Republican again.



Schwarzenegger - 127
Obama - 140

[State Comptroller Atkins]

9:54PM - Let's take a look at the nationwide popular vote.

38% Reporting

Schwarzenegger - 51.8% - 26,141,014
Obama - 47.6% - 24,021,472

[State Comptroller Atkins]

10:00PM - The polls are closed in four more states. Let's take a look at them.

In Iowa, it's too close to call. George W. Bush carried Iowa in 2004, and Arnold Schwarzenegger will be hoping to do the same tonight.

In Montana, we are projecting that Arnold Schwarzenegger has carried it. This is no suprise.

In Nevada, it's too close to call. The Schwarzenegger campaign team is very confident about carry Nevada, but it's too close to call at this hour.

In North Dakota, Arnold Schwarzenegger is projected to win it. North Dakota also hasn't voted for a Democrat in a Presidential ELection since LBJ in 1964.

In Utah, Arnold Schwarzenegger is projected to win it. This is no suprise, although many Mormans in Utah are alienated by Arnold Schwarzenegger's positions on social issues such as gay rights and abortion.

Let's take a look at the Electoral Map.



Schwarzenegger - 138
Obama - 140

10:06PM - We have an important projection to make. Virginia will go for Arnold Schwarzenegger. Schwarzenegger campaigned there this weekend, and said he would carry Virginia, and he was right.

10:14PM - We have another big projection to make. Michigan will go for Barack Obama. This state was expected to vote for Obama, althought it appears to be closer that the polls suggested.



Schwarzenegger - 151
Obama - 157

[State Comptroller Atkins]

10:24PM - We can now join Senator John McCain in Los Angeles, California.



Brian Williams - Senator, good evening.

John McCain - Good evening Brian.

Brian Williams - Senator, you've campaigned a lot for Governor Schwarzenegger, many think that after you endorsed him in the Primaries, it helped win him the Republican Nomination. What are your thoughts on the night so far?

John McCain - Well it's great for us that we have won Virginia, it looked doubtful before this night began, and North Carolina which also looked doubtful. We are very confident about Ohio, and things are looking good for us in Texas and Florida too. We will have to see how California goes after the polls close there, but we are confident about that too.

Brian Williams - Senator, we have now have something to report that will be of great interest to you, Nevada is projected to go for Arnold Schwarzenegger. A handy 5 Electoral Votes for the Governor of California. Senator, what do you make of this?

John McCain - Well, i am of course pleased about this, but it isn't a big suprise. Now, i'm hoping that California can deliver for it's Governor too.

Brian Williams - Thank you Senator.

John McCain - Thank you Brian.


Now let's take a look at some of the big battleground states.

Ohio:

56% Reporting:

Schwarzenegger - 51.2% - 1,668,216
Obama - 48.1% - 1,567,212

Schwarzenegger has a lead in Ohio of just over 100,000 votes. Big counties including Hamilton County are yet to report.

Florida:

54% Reporting

Schwarzenegger - 52.2% - 1,819,813
Obama - 46.7% - 1,628,070

Schwarzenegger has a fairly big lead here at the moment, but a lot of the vote is still to be reported in Democratic stronghold counties such as Miami-Dade and Palm Beach.

Texas:

44% Reporting

Schwarzenegger - 49.6% - 2,596,453
Obama - 49.5% - 2,591,219

The vote is almost tied here. A lot of the big city areas have reported, and according to the information we are getting, about 55% of the rural vote is still to be reported.

Wisconsin:

48% Reporting

Schwarzenegger - 48.7% - 756,966
Obama - 50.4% - 783,389

Missouri:

52% Reporting

Schwarzenegger - 49.2% - 768,765
Obama - 49.4% - 771,890

Let's take a look at the Electoral Map.



Schwarzenegger - 156
Obama - 157

[Proud Lieberal from Northeast]

With a really moderate Republican in the race, closeness of Wisconsin or some other states is no suprise, as well as ironically in Texas. Good timeline so far.

[Farage]

I LOVE your timeline it's just obvious that a so mediatic clash could be an interesting election OMG this could be a dream
But what are Schwarzenegger's stances on issues? Didn't he flip-flopped a lil bit in order to appeal to conservatives? Is he also an hawk on foreign policy? Is he something like Giuliani 2008?

Love your TL though

[Farage]

and I can't wait to see president Schwarzenegger xD

[State Comptroller Atkins]

10:48PM - We have another projection to make. The state of Maine will go for Arnold Schwarzenegger. This may be a suprise to a lot of people as Maine hasn't voted Republican in a Presidential Election since 1988. However, we are only calling three of it's four electoral votes at this moment as the 1st District is still too close to call.

Here are the numbers from Maine.

78% Reporting

Schwarzenegger - 51.8% - 303,618
Obama - 47.7% - 279,587

Now, let's take a look at some of the too close to call states.

Ohio:

62% Reporting:

Schwarzenegger - 50.7% - 1,795,688
Obama - 48.7% - 1,724,852

Florida:

61% Reporting

Schwarzenegger - 51.8% - 2,601,034
Obama - 47.1% - 2,365,033

Texas:

54% Reporting

Schwarzenegger - 49.6% - 2,176,167
Obama - 49.8% - 2,184,942


10:56PM - We have another big call to make. The state of Wisconsin will go to Senator Obama. They had been confident about carrying Wisconsin, and it proved to be the case.

Let's take a look at the Electoral Map.



Schwarzenegger - 159
Obama - 167

[State Comptroller Atkins]

11PM - The polls have now closed in five more states. Let's take a look at them.

In Idaho, Arnold Schwarzenegger is projected to win it. No suprise at all. This is one of the safest Republican states in the union.

In Washington, it's too close to call. Obama was widely expected to carry this, but at this hour, it's too close to call.

In Oregon, it's too close to call. This has been a toss up state for a while for this campaign.

In California, it's too close to call. The last time California was competitive in a Presidential Race was in 1988, but this time it's a toss up state as it is of course the home state of Arnold Schwarzenegger.

In Hawaii, the state in which Barack Obama was born, we are projecting it for him. No suprise at all.


11:06PM - We have another projection to make. The state of Washington will go for Barack Obama. As i said at the hour, this was widely expected.


Let's take a look at the Electoral Map.



Schwarzenegger - 163
Obama - 182

[State Comptroller Atkins]

11:34PM - We have a projection to make. The state of New Mexico will go for Senator Obama. This is not a big suprise, although it was fairly close towards the end of the campaign.

Here are the numbers from New Mexico.

68% Reporting

Schwarzenegger - 46.8% - 276,385
Obama - 52.6% - 310,638


11:48PM - We have an important projection to make. The state of Arizona will go for Arnold Schwarzenegger. This was a toss up state, Senator John McCain will be as pleased as anyone about this projection, as he campaigned for Governor Schwarzenegger in Arizona over the weekend, and it's proved to be successful.

Here are the numbers in Arizona.

56% Reporting

Schwarzenegger - 52.1% - 705,576
Obama - 47.3% - 640,571

Let's take a look at the Electoral Map.



Schwarzenegger - 173
Obama - 187

[tonyreyes89]

Excellent Timeline.

[State Comptroller Atkins]

12AM - The polls have closed in Alaska. The voting for the 2008 US Presidential Election is over. The waiting isn't. We are projecting that Arnold Schwarzenegger will carry the state of Alaska. This is no suprise.

12:04AM - We can now join former Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove.



Brian Williams - Mr Rove, good evening, or good morning i should say.

Karl Rove - Good morning Brian.

Brian Williams - Mr Rove, for the third election in a row we do not have a winner after all the polls have closed. You were President Bush's Campaign Advisor in 2000 and 2004. What do you make of this?

Karl Rove - Well, i've been speaking to a friend of mine who is an expert in Florida elections, and he has been looking at the data in Florida tonight, and he now thinks there's a 75% chance that Governor Schwarzenegger wins Florida.

Brian Williams - Really? He's a Republican though, so he want Schwarzenegger to win?

Karl Rove - Yes, he wants Schwarzenegger to win, but he has been pessimistic actually, because he's been worried all night about Schwarzenegger's chances. He remains very worried about Ohio and Texas, but he's not an expert on either of those two states. He's done many stadewide races on Florida, and he thinks that Schwarzenegger has a great chance of winning Florida, which would that everything would hinge on Ohio, Texas, California, and possibly Missouri.

Brian Williams - Thank you Mr Rove.

Karl Rove - Thank you Brian.


Let's take a look at the states which Karl Rove mentioned.

Florida:

82% Reporting

Schwarzenegger - 51.6% - 3,620,335
Obama - 47.8% - 3,353,721

Ohio:

78% Reporting

Schwarzenegger - 50.4% - 2,273,156
Obama - 48.9% - 2,205,502

Texas:

76% Reporting

Schwarzenegger - 48.4% - 3,045,158
Obama - 50.8% - 3,196,157

California:

24% Reporting

Schwarzenegger - 52.8% - 1,796,679
Obama - 46.6% - 1,585,706

Democratic strongholds such as San Franscisco have yet to report, so the race is expected to tighten in California as the night goes along.

Missouri:

72% Reporting

Schwarzenegger - 49.4% - 756,138
Obama - 49.8% - 762,261


12:28AM - We have a projection to make. The state of New Hampshire will go for Arnold Schwarzenegger. This is a bit of a suprise, as most polls shows that Obama would probably carry New Hampshire, but as it turns out, it's 4 Electoral Votes go to Schwarzenegger.

Let's take a look at the Electoral Map.



Schwarzenegger - 180
Obama - 187

[N.i.K.]

A bit odd; But I like it.

[State Comptroller Atkins]

12:44AM - We can now project that Maine's 1st Congressional District will go for Arnold Schwarzenegger. That adds 1 Electoral Vote to his total.

12:54AM - Let's go to Rachel Maddow, who is near Grant Park in Chicago.



Brian Williams - Good morning, Rachel.

Rachel Maddow - Good morning, Brian.

Brian Williams - Can you tell us what's going on over there?

Rachel Maddow - Well Brian, this huge crowd has remained very positive and loud throughout  the night. They have a very good knowledge of how Senator Obama can get to 270. Within the past few minutes, however, we have received reports that the Obama campaign team has more or less given up on winning Florida. I know we haven't called it yet, but from the votes already counted in Florida, they think it's unlikely that Obama will carry Florida.

Brian Williams - So, what states are they concentrating on now?

Rachel Maddow - Well, they are confident of winning Texas and Ohio. They are not sure about California yet, they are waiting to see what happens about the Democratic counties start reporting, which very few have yet in the state of California. Also, the....

Brian Williams - Rachel, i have to interrupt you for a second, this one will make the crowd at Grant park even louder. We are projecting that Senator Obama will carry the state of Missouri. This is a bellweather state, an important win for Obama. Rachel, i assume the crowd is even louder now?

Rachel Maddow - Sorry, Brian...i...can't hear you.

Brian Williams - Ok, we are going to have to leave Grant Park for the moment. Let's take a look at the Electoral Map.



Schwarzenegger - 181
Obama - 198

[N.i.K.]

Quite an odd result. But still fun to read!

[Jayhawker]

I don't see any way Obama could win Texas in `08. He pretty much reached his ceiling in RL, Arnie would probably alienate some voters, but not enough to lose the state.

[President Mitt]

Obama picks Congressman Ron Paul as his running mate!

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