A Different 2012

[Senator Cris]

13. The nominee

"We can now tell you that Chris Christie, the governor of New Jersey, has won the republican nomination. He started as an underdog in August 2011, but now, 5 June 2012, he's the republican presumptive nominee for President." -- Wolf Blitzer

California Primary – Final Results
✓ Chris Christie 62.9% (169)
Rick Santorum 23.9% (0)
Ron Paul 8.9% (0)

New Jersey Primary – Final Results
✓ Chris Christie 83.6% (50)
Rick Santorum 11% (0)
Ron Paul 5.4% (0)

New Mexico Primary – Final Results
✓ Chris Christie 58.5% (13)
Rick Santorum 28.3% (7)
Ron Paul 9.8% (0)

South Dakota Primary – Final Results
✓ Chris Christie 48.6% (13)
Rick Santorum 32.3% (9)
Ron Paul 11.8% (3)

After his four victories, Chris Christie moved to 1104, just 40 short of the magic number. Considered that Christie, thanks to Romney's endorsement, is a strong favorite in Utah, where 40 delegates will go to the statewide winner, and that he could easily gain delegates in the other two states called to vote (Montana and Nebraska), there were no hopes for Rick Santorum, who decided to drop out of the race. He endorsed Chris Christie, called for unity and to focus on defeating President Obama in November.

✓ Chris Christie - 25 states + DC
Rick Santorum - 18 states
Mitt Romney - 5 states
Newt Gingrich - 2 states

According to various reports, Christie is considering for VP various governors, senators, a representative and former primary rivals. As of his fellow governors, Christie is considering Susana Martinez of New Mexico,  Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, Bob McDonnell of Virginia, Mitch Daniels of Indiana, Nikki Haley of South Carolina and former governors Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota and Jeb Bush of Florida. As of senators, he's considering Marco Rubio from Florida, Rob Portman from Ohio, Kelly Ayotte from New Hampshire. He's also considering Representative Paul Ryan from Wisconsin and two former presidential candidates: Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich.

First RCP electoral map released

Barack Obama 233
Chris Christie 191
Toss-up 114

The first RCP electoral map after Christie victory in the GOP primary is released and it shows the incumbent President leading the electoral college 233-191, while 8 states for a total of 114 electoral votes are classified as toss-up states.

Arizona (Christie + 6)
Chris Christie 51.9%
Barack Obama 45.9%

Colorado (Obama + 1.2)
Barack Obama 48.1%
Chris Christie 46.9%

Florida (Christie + 0.2)
Chris Christie 48.2%
Barack Obama 48%

Iowa (Obama + 0.9)
Barack Obama 48.8%
Chris Christie 47.9%

Michigan (Obama + 6)
Barack Obama 51.5%
Chris Christie 45.5%

Missouri (Christie + 6)
Chris Christie 50.9%
Barack Obama 44.9%

Nevada (Obama + 5.1)
Barack Obama 51.1%
Chris Christie 46%

New Hampshire (Obama + 1.8 )
Barack Obama 48.5%
Chris Christie 46.8%

New Jersey (Obama + 6.8 )
Barack Obama 51.9%
Chris Christie 45.1%

North Carolina (Christie + 2.5)
Chris Christie 49.8%
Barack Obama 47.3%

Ohio (Christie + 0.1)
Chris Christie 48.4%
Barack Obama 48.3%

Pennsylvania (Obama + 2.6)
Barack Obama 49.5%
Chris Christie 46.9%

Virginia (Obama + 2.5)
Barack Obama 49.6%
Chris Christie 47.1%

Wisconsin (Obama + 5.4)
Barack Obama 49.7%
Chris Christie 44.3%

[Senator Cris]

14. The tickets and the conventions

"I humbly accept your nomination for the presidency of the United States" -- Barack Obama

Chris Christie picked Florida Senator Marco Rubio for Vice President. Recent polls and the affermath of the GOP primary are showing that Chris Christie needs to unite the base in order to being competitive with Obama. Also, he needs a strong bounce in at least one swing state. That's why he picked Rubio. He's popular with the tea party base, he's a popular senator in crucial battleground Florida and his Cuban American roots could help him with Hispanic voters and minorities in general. Rubio also embodies the message of the American dream, a thing that will surely help the republican ticket.

A few days after his VP announcement, the Republican National convention started in Cleveland, Ohio. Rubio won the vice presidential nomination by acclamation, Christie won the presidential nomination at the first round of voting, with a few votes going to Ron Paul. The most important speakers were Senate and gubernatorial candidates, including Ted Cruz of Texas, Senators Kelly Ayotte from New Hampshire, Rob Portman from Ohio, Governors John Kasich of Ohio, Scott Walker of Wisconsin, Brian Sandoval of Nevada, Susana Martinez of New Mexico, former Governor Jeb Bush of Florida, Representative Paul Ryan of Wisconsin. Speeches were also made by former presidential candidates like, Rick Santorum, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, also by Condi Rice. The keynote speaker was made by South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley.

The republican ticket received a bounce from the convention. In the RCP national average, Christie went ahead with a two-point margin over President Obama (48.3% vs. 46.3%). Also the republican candidate remained was ahead in the electoral map 276-262. The New Jersey Governor remained ahead in Florida, North Carolina, gained the first place in Ohio, Virginia, Colorado, New Hampshire and Iowa, while remained behind but gained ground in Nevada, Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania.

The Democratic National Convention started on September 4. Both President Obama and Vice President Biden were re-nominated without problems. Among the speakers there were various senate and gubernatorial candidates in 2012, Governors Martin O'Malley of Maryland, John Hickenlooper of Colorado, the leading democratic senators in Washington, former President Bill Clinton, the two first ladies (Michelle and Jill) and a lot of rising stars, including Newark, NJ Mayor Cory Booker, Kamala Harris from California and Massachusetts Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren.

As Christie did after the RNC, Obama too gained a bounce after his party's convention. He regained the lead in national polls (47.9% vs. 46.5% in the RCP average) and in the electoral count (303-235). The situation in the RCP electoral map was the same of the days before the Republican National Convention: Christie remained ahead in Florida and North Carolina (in this state by a very slim margin), but the President gained back the lead in Ohio (by a very slime margin here too), Virginia, New Hampshire, Iowa and Colorado.

RCP electoral maps and state averages - Early October

Barack Obama 242
Chris Christie 191
Toss-up 105

Arizona (Christie + 5.2)
Chris Christie 51.3%
Barack Obama 46.1%

Colorado (Obama + 4.4)
Barack Obama 50.8%
Chris Christie 46.4%

Florida (Christie + 1)
Chris Christie 49.8%
Barack Obama 48.8%

Iowa (Obama + 1.9)
Barack Obama 50.2%
Chris Christie 48.3%

Michigan (Obama + 9)
Barack Obama 53.3%
Chris Christie 44.3%

Missouri (Christie + 6.6)
Chris Christie 51.9%
Barack Obama 45.3%

Nevada (Obama + 5.7)
Barack Obama 51.8%
Chris Christie 46.1%

New Hampshire (Obama + 1.3)
Barack Obama 49.1%
Chris Christie 47.8%

New Jersey (Obama + 7.1)
Barack Obama 52.4%
Chris Christie 45.3%

North Carolina (Christie + 0.4)
Chris Christie 49.3%
Barack Obama 48.9%

Ohio (Obama +1.1)
Barack Obama 49.3%
Chris Christie 48.2%

Pennsylvania (Obama + 2.5)
Barack Obama 50.1%
Chris Christie 47.6%

Virginia (Obama + 2.6)
Barack Obama 49.9%
Chris Christie 47.3%

Wisconsin (Obama + 4.6)
Barack Obama 50.5%
Chris Christie 45.9%

RCP electoral map - No Tossup

Barack Obama 303
Chris Christie 235

[NHI]

What could have been

[Senator Cris]

15. October

"What was he doing? Where was Obama tonight? Christie was winning!" -- Chris Matthews

Chris Christie strongly won the first debate focused on economy. A CNN poll found that 63% thought that Christie had done better, 22% thought President Obama had done better, and 15% thought that it was a tie.
Marco Rubio slightly won the vice presidential debate. A CBS poll of uncommitted voters found that 43% of viewers tought that Rubio did better, while 38% tought that the Vice President did better. 19% tought that the debate was a tie among the two.
The second debate, a town-hall, was slightly won by the President. A Reuters poll released after the debate showed that 39% of viewers thought that the President won, 32% tought that Christie did better, while the remaining viewers tought that it was a tie.
The third and last debate, focused on foreign policy, was a tie. The polls conducted after the debate came to the same conclusion: almost one third tought Obama won it, one third tought Christie did better than the President, while the other third said that the debate was a tie.

A few days before the election, Hurricane Sandy affected 24 U.S. states, with particular damage in Chris Christie's home state of New Jersey. Both candidates canceled various campaign stops all around the nation and President Obama visited New Jersey, where he hugged with Governor Christie. Both candidates said that they don't regret that hug. “I don't regret it. First of being a presidential candidate, I'm the governor of New Jersey. The President came here to show his closeness and I thanked he” said Christie. This image traveled all around the world and we'll see if there'll be effects on the results of the presidential election.

In the final polls, Obama is holding a nationwide lead and also a lead in the electoral college map, but in October Christie reduced the gap in both national polls, states poll and electoral count. The President is leading in most of battleground states and according to a majority of predictions, including Nate Silver's 538 one, he's the favorite for the win. Karl Rove is predicting a Christie victory. Election night is very close and we'll see who is right.

RCP Final National Average (Obama + 0.7)
Barack Obama 49.6%
Chris Christie 48.9%

RCP final electoral maps and state averages

Barack Obama 233
Chris Christie 206
Toss-up 99

Arizona (Christie + 7)
Chris Christie 52.4%
Barack Obama 45.4%

Colorado (Obama + 2.1)
Barack Obama 49.9%
Chris Christie 47.8%

Florida (Christie + 2.1)
Chris Christie 50.3%
Barack Obama 48.2%

Iowa (Obama + 1.2)
Barack Obama 50%
Chris Christie 48.8%

Michigan (Obama + 6)
Barack Obama 52.8%
Chris Christie 46.8%

Missouri (Christie + 12)
Chris Christie 54.8%
Barack Obama 42.8%

Nevada (Obama + 5.7)
Barack Obama 50.7%
Chris Christie 47.6%

New Hampshire (Obama + 0.3)
Barack Obama 49.2%
Chris Christie 48.9%

New Jersey (Obama + 4.5)
Barack Obama 52.3%
Chris Christie 47.8%

North Carolina (Christie + 3.9)
Chris Christie 50.8%
Barack Obama 46.9%

Ohio (Christie +1)
Chris Christie 49.5%
Barack Obama 48.5%

Pennsylvania (Obama + 0.8 )
Barack Obama 49.6%
Chris Christie 48.8%

Virginia (Obama + 1.5)
Barack Obama 49.5%
Chris Christie 48%

Wisconsin (Obama + 3.5)
Barack Obama 51.1%
Chris Christie 47.6%

RCP final electoral map - No Tossup

Barack Obama 285
Chris Christie 253

NEXT: Election night!

[Senator Cris]

16. Election night – Part 1

"A crucial moment for the presidential candidates and for the american people" -- Wolf Blitzer

7 PM

It's now 7 PM on the east coast and we can make some projections. We can project that Governor Christie will carry Indiana and its 11 electoral votes. We move to neighboring Kentucky, where we can project that Governor Christie will win. Christie carries Kentucky and its 8 electoral votes. Now, we move to New England. We project that President Obama will carry 3 electoral votes from the state of Vermont. As of the other states, we can tell you that the battleground state of Virginia is too close to call, while both Georgia and South Carolina are too early to call: Christie seems to have a lead here, but we don't have enough informations for making a projection right at poll closings.
No surprises from this first bench of states. Chris Christie has 19 electoral votes right now, while the President has 3.

Indiana – Final Results
✓ Chris Christie 54.3%
Barack Obama 43.6%

Kentucky – Final Results
✓ Chris Christie 60.7%
Barack Obama 37.4%

Vermont – Final Results
✓ Barack Obama 62.6%
Chris Christie 35.3%

Chris Christie 19
Barack Obama 3
No projection 38

Right now, Governor Christie is leading by a strong margin in Virginia, but that's not a real surprise: the republican areas of the states come quickly in, while Northern Virginia, a traditional democratic stronghold, will come later. So we'll see this numbers starting to tightening soon. As of the other two states, Chris Christie is ahead in both Georgia and South Carolina

Virginia – 1% reported
Chris Christie 54.3%
Barack Obama 44.3%

Georgia – 4% reported
Chris Christie 58.1%
Barack Obama 40.6%

South Carolina – 2% reported
Chris Christie 53.6%
Barack Obama 44.4%

7:30 PM

It's now 7:30 PM and three states, including two crucial battlegrounds are about to close. Three, two, one, here we go! We can project the state of West Virginia and its 5 electoral votes for Governor Christie. That's not a surprise. We can also project that South Carolina, that closed at 7 PM, and its 9 electoral votes will be won too by the Governor of New Jersey. Now, we can move to the two battlegrounds. According to our informations, both Ohio and North Carolina are too close to call at this time. As of the electoral college, Chris Christie moves to electoral votes, while President Obama still has 3.

West Virginia – Final Results
✓ Chris Christie 62.9%
Barack Obama 34.2%

South Carolina – Final Results
✓ Chris Christie 55.8%
Barack Obama 42.3%

Chris Christie 33
Barack Obama 3
No projection 62

Chris Christie continues to have a lead in the state of Virginia, while the margin is closing on. Right now, the President is leading in the state of Ohio, while Governor Christie has an early lead in North Carolina. We remember that the state of Ohio has a democratic counting bias, so Christie will start to close the gap here soon.

Virginia – 14% reported
Chris Christie 52.9%
Barack Obama 45.8%

Ohio – 2% reported
Barack Obama 54.6%
Chris Christie 44.6%

North Carolina – 5% reported
Chris Christie 50%
Barack Obama 49.2%

Georgia – 25% reported
Chris Christie 56.7%
Barack Obama 42.1%

7:55 PM

In 5 minutes, 15 states plus the District of Columbia will close, but right now we have a call from the state of Georgia. We can project that the state of Georgia and its 16 electoral votes will go to Governor Christie. A major win for the Governor out of Georgia. Right now, Christie moves to 49 electoral votes, while the President stays at 3.

Georgia – Final Results
✓ Chris Christie 53.6%
Barack Obama 45.1%

Chris Christie 49
Barack Obama 3
No projection 46

[Senator Cris]

17. Election night – Part 2

"Wow! A lead of just one hundred votes here! What a close race!" -- Rachel Maddow

8 PM

It is now 8 PM on the east coast and we have various projections to make. We can project that Governor Christie will win Alabama and its 9 electoral votes, Mississippi and its 6 electoral votes and also will carry the state of Tennessee and its 11 votes. We are going to project a lot of states for the President: Connecticut and its 7 electoral votes, Delaware, worth 3 votes, the District of Columbia, worth 3, the state of Illinois and its 20 electoral votes, 3 out of 4 electoral votes in Maine, Maryland and its 10 electoral votes, Massachusetts and its 11 electoral votes and Rhode Island, worth 4 electoral votes. We cannot make a projection in Florida, too close to call at this time. Too close too call also in the states of New Hampshire, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. We also have not enough informations to make a projection in the state of Missouri.

Alabama – Final Results
✓ Chris Christie 61.2%
Barack Obama 37.8%

Connecticut – Final Results
✓ Barack Obama 55.3%
Chris Christie 43.1%

Delaware – Final Results
✓ Barack Obama 56.3%
Chris Christie 42.4%

District of Columbia – Final Results
✓ Barack Obama 87.8%
Chris Christie 10.6%

Illinois – Final Results
✓ Barack Obama 56.1%
Chris Christie 42.4%

Maine – Final Results
✓ Barack Obama 53.2%
Chris Christie 44%

Maryland – Final Results
✓ Barack Obama 59.9%
Chris Christie 38.3%

Massachusetts – Final Results
✓ Barack Obama 58.4%
Chris Christie 40%

Mississippi – Final Results
✓ Chris Christie 55.7%
Barack Obama 43%

Oklahoma – Final Results
✓ Chris Christie 67.3%
Barack Obama 32.7%

Rhode Island – Final Results
✓ Barack Obama 59.3%
Chris Christie 39.6%

Tennessee – Final Results
✓ Chris Christie 60.6%
Barack Obama 38.6%

In Marco Rubio's home state of Florida half of the final expected vote is in and Chris Christie is ahead. The President of the United States is ahead in New Jersey and New Hampshire. President Obama also has a lead in the state of Pennsylvania, but the state has a democratic counting bias as the most traditional republican counties usually start to report their numbers after the democratic areas. Missouri is too early to make a projection, but Chris Christie has a lead here. As of the states that closed at 7 and 7:30 PM, right now, 8 PM, Chris Christie continues to have a lead in the state of Virginia, but the margin is going to be more tight minute after minute. Ohio is the opposite of Virginia: the President continues to have a lead, but Christie is recovering here update after update. In North Carolina, it's still to close to call, but the President continues has a slight lead here.

Virginia – 25% reported
Chris Christie 51.4%
Barack Obama 47.3%

Ohio – 16% reported
Barack Obama 51.5%
Chris Christie 47.6%

North Carolina – 42% reported
Barack Obama 50.1%
Chris Christie 49%

Florida – 50% reported
Chris Christie 50.3%
Barack Obama 49%

Missouri – 2% reported
Chris Christie 52.3%
Barack Obama 45%

New Jersey – 2% reported
Barack Obama 56.9%
Chris Christie 43%

New Hampshire – 3% reported
Barack Obama 50%
Chris Christie 48.5%

Pennsylvania – 1% reported
Barack Obama 56.5%
Chris Christie 43%

Chris Christie 82
Barack Obama 64
No projection 124

8:30 PM

The polls have just closed in the state of Arkansas and we can project that Governor Chris Christie, the republican nominee, will win this state and its 6 electoral votes. Not a surprise.

Arkansas – Final Results
✓ Chris Christie 60.8%
Barack Obama 36.7%

Chris Christie 88
Barack Obama 64
No projection 124

We just projected another state for Governor Christie, but let's take a look at how things stand in battleground states. Chris Christie continues to have a lead in Virginia, but this is getting closer, closer and closer. In Ohio, the President has a slight lead, but Governor Christie is recovering here. Another good news for the Governor are that he jumped ahead of the president in the state of North Carolina and expanded his lead in Florida. The governor of New Jersey is still behind but it's recovering a bit in his home state of New Jersey, but expanded his lead in Missouri. As of the remaining two states at stake tonight, President Obama has a lead of one hundred votes in New Hampshire and is still leading in the crucial swing state of Pennsylvania.

Virginia – 46% reported
Chris Christie 50.5%
Barack Obama 48.6%

Ohio – 31% reported
Barack Obama 50.1%
Chris Christie 48.9%

North Carolina – 57% reported
Chris Christie 49.9%
Barack Obama 49.5%

Florida – 91% reported
Chris Christie 50.9%
Barack Obama 48.4%

Missouri – 5% reported
Chris Christie 53.9%
Barack Obama 44%

New Jersey – 16% reported
Barack Obama 55.5%
Chris Christie 44.3%

New Hampshire – 7% reported
Barack Obama 49.5%
Chris Christie 49.4%

Pennsylvania – 5% reported
Barack Obama 55.9%
Chris Christie 43.8%

[TheSaint250]

First of all, great job so far!

Second of all, you forgot to put in Christie's total in Connecticut.

Third of all, Christie performed better than Romney in Maine. Is this a sign of victory?

[Senator Cris]

First of all, great job so far!

Thank you very much!

Second of all, you forgot to put in Christie's total in Connecticut.

I'm trying to fix it but it's not working right now. It's 43.1%

Third of all, Christie performed better than Romney in Maine. Is this a sign of victory?

We'll see.

[TheSaint250]

Haha thanks

[Senator Cris]

18. Election night – Part 3

"Brace yourself. The night is still young and this thing will not be done soon." -- John King

9 PM

It's now 9 PM on the east coast and the polls are closing in 15 more states. We can project that Governor Christie will carry Kansas and its 6 electoral votes, Louisiana and its 8 electoral votes and 4 of 5 electoral votes from the great state of Nebraska. We also project that the Governor of New Jersey will win both Dakotas: 3 electoral votes from North Dakota and 3 from South Dakota. Another 3 electoral votes for the GOP nominee from Wyoming and, last but not least, big prize Texas and its 38 electoral votes will go to Chris Christie. For President Obama we can project the state of New York and its 29 electoral votes. We cannot make a projection in various states. In the state of Arizona, it's still to early to make a projection, but Governor Christie is in the lead. It's also too early to call in New Mexico, but here the incumbent President is ahead. Not too early, but too close to call in the states of Colorado, surprisingly in the states of Michigan and Minnesota. It's also too close to call, but it's not a real surprise, in Wisconsin.

Kansas – Final Results
✓ Chris Christie 59.9%
Barack Obama 37.8%

Louisiana – Final Results
✓ Chris Christie 58.2%
Barack Obama 40.1%

Nebraska – Final Results
✓ Chris Christie 60.8%
Barack Obama 37.1%

New York – Final Results
✓ Barack Obama 59.8%
Chris Christie 39.5%

North Dakota – Final Results
✓ Chris Christie 59.7%
Barack Obama 37.1%

South Dakota – Final Results
✓ Chris Christie 58.6%
Barack Obama 37.9%

Texas – Final Results
✓ Chris Christie 58.3%
Barack Obama 40.5%

Wyoming – Final Results
✓ Chris Christie 68.9%
Barack Obama 27.4%

Chris Christie 153
Barack Obama 93
No projection 186

Let's take a look at the votes coming from battleground states. Chris Christie has a very small lead in Virginia, where the President recovered a lot. The inverse situation in the state of Ohio: Obama keeps a small lead, but the Governor of New Jersey is on the rise. Governor Christie is opening a lead in North Carolina and Florida, he's ahead in Missouri but is currently trailing the President in New Hampshire, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, but in both of those states, expecially in Pennsylvania, he's on the rise. Obama has an early lead in New Mexico, where he's still favored, as does Christie in the state of Arizona. In Colorado, right now, we have a very close race. Very close races as well in the other states: Governor Christie is ahead in Wisconsin and the incumbent president is slightly ahead in Michigan and Minnesota, but we have to remember our viewers that all 3 of those states have a republican counting bias.

Virginia – 66% reported
Chris Christie 49.9%
Barack Obama 49.2%

Ohio – 37% reported
Barack Obama 49.9%
Chris Christie 49%

North Carolina – 70% reported
Chris Christie 50.5%
Barack Obama 48.7%

Florida – 93% reported
Chris Christie 51%
Barack Obama 48.2%

Missouri – 10% reported
Chris Christie 54.2%
Barack Obama 43.3%

New Jersey – 31% reported
Barack Obama 54.5%
Chris Christie 45.2%

New Hampshire – 12% reported
Barack Obama 49.7%
Chris Christie 49.1%

Pennsylvania – 10% reported
Barack Obama 54.9%
Chris Christie 44.6%

Arizona – 3% reported
Chris Christie 52.3%
Barack Obama 46%

Colorado – 4% reported
Barack Obama 49.4%
Chris Christie 49.3%

Michigan – 5% reported
Barack Obama 49.8%
Chris Christie 49.2%

Minnesota – 1% reported
Barack Obama 49%
Chris Christie 48.5%

New Mexico – 3% reported
Barack Obama 49.8%
Chris Christie 46%

Wisconsin – 2% reported
Chris Christie 51.2%
Barack Obama 47.4%

[Senator Cris]

19. Election night – Part 4

"This election is getting closer, closer and closer. This might be 2000 all over again." -- Wolf Blitzer

10 PM

It's now 10 PM on the east coast and we can project several states for Chris Christie. We project that the New Jersey governor has won the state of Montana and its 3 electoral votes, the state of Utah, worth 6 electoral votes and also we can project a state that closed at 8 PM: it's Missouri, we project that Chris Christie will win Missouri and its 10 electoral votes. At this time, it's too close to call in the state of Iowa and it's also too close to call in the state of Nevada.

Montana – Final Results
✓ Chris Christie 57.8%
Barack Obama 39.8%

Utah – Final Results
✓ Chris Christie 71%
Barack Obama 25.1%

Missouri – Final Results
✓ Chris Christie 54.8%
Barack Obama 42.8%

Chris Christie 172
Barack Obama 93
No projection 188

Now, let's take a look at how things stand in too close to call states. In Iowa, right now, President Obama is ahead by a pretty large margin, but remember: this state has a democratic counting bias, so the Governor of New Jersey will recover here. In the other state that closed at 10 PM, Nevada, the President has a lead over Christie. Now, let's go with the other states that closed at 7 PM or later. In Virginia, the President jumped ahead by few votes. In Ohio, Chris Christie is now ahead of the President by almost one point. Chris Christie is expanding his lead in both North Carolina and Florida, is still behind in New Jersey, while he's recovering in both Pennsylvania and New Hampshire, where a few number of votes separate the President and the Governor. In Arizona, Chris Christie mantains a lead, while the President of the United States is ahead in the states of Colorado and New Mexico. The President is now ahead in Wisconsin, while he's expanding his lead in both Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Iowa – 3% reported
Barack Obama 53.5%
Chris Christie 44.9%

Nevada – 1% reported
Barack Obama 51.4%
Chris Christie 46.4%

Virginia – 87% reported
Barack Obama 49.5%
Chris Christie 49.4%

Ohio – 67% reported
Chris Christie 49.9%
Barack Obama 49%

North Carolina – 81% reported
Chris Christie 51.2%
Barack Obama 47.9%

Florida – 95% reported
Chris Christie 51.1%
Barack Obama 48%

New Jersey – 45% reported
Barack Obama 53%
Chris Christie 46.7%

New Hampshire – 40% reported
Barack Obama 49.4%
Chris Christie 49.3%

Pennsylvania – 33% reported
Barack Obama 52.3%
Chris Christie 46.9%

Arizona – 32% reported
Chris Christie 53.1%
Barack Obama 45.3%

Colorado – 53% reported
Barack Obama 50.6%
Chris Christie 48.4%

Michigan – 26% reported
Barack Obama 49.9%
Chris Christie 49%

Minnesota – 12% reported
Barack Obama 49.6%
Chris Christie 48%

New Mexico – 27% reported
Barack Obama 51%
Chris Christie 45.2%

Wisconsin – 27% reported
Barack Obama 49.5%
Chris Christie 49.2%

10:05

We can now project that President Obama will win New Mexico and its 5 electoral votes.

New Mexico – Final Results
✓ Barack Obama 50.5%
Chris Christie 45.4%

Chris Christie 172
Barack Obama 98
No projection 183

10:30

It's now 10:30 PM and we can make various projections on battleground states. We can project that President Obama will carry the state of Virginia and its 13 electoral votes. We also project another state for the President, and it's Colorado, worth 9 electoral votes. Last but not least, we can project that Governor Chris Christie will carry the state of Arizona and its 11 electoral votes. Governor Christie moves to 183 electoral votes, while President Obama is getting 120.

Virginia – Final Results
✓ Barack Obama 49.9%
Chris Christie 49%

Colorado – Final Results
✓ Barack Obama 50%
Chris Christie 48.9%

Arizona – Final Results
✓ Chris Christie 54%
Barack Obama 44.4%

Chris Christie 183
Barack Obama 120
No projection 150

Let's take a look at the battleground states of the night. The President is still ahead in both Iowa and Nevada, states that closed at 10 PM. As of the other states, Chris Christie remains ahead and expands his lead in the states of Ohio, North Carolina and Florida. The President is ahead in Chris Christie's home state of New Jersey and is ahead by just 8 votes in the Granite State, New Hampshire. What a close race here! The President is also ahead in Pennsylvania, but here it's getting closer, closer and closer, as Governor Christie continues to recover minute after minute. Good news for the President from the trio of Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin: he's expanding his lead in all of those. Since we have a winner in Virginia, a clear leader in Ohio, Florida and North Carolina, it's probable that this election will come down to Pennsylvania.

Iowa – 21% reported
Barack Obama 52.1%
Chris Christie 46.3%

Nevada – 15% reported
Barack Obama 51%
Chris Christie 46.7%

Ohio – 78% reported
Chris Christie 50.5%
Barack Obama 48.7%

North Carolina – 85% reported
Chris Christie 51.2%
Barack Obama 47.7%

Florida – 97% reported
Chris Christie 51.2%
Barack Obama 47.9%

New Jersey – 73% reported
Barack Obama 52.2%
Chris Christie 47.5%

New Hampshire – 49% reported
Barack Obama 49.6%
Chris Christie 49.6%

Pennsylvania – 52% reported
Barack Obama 50.4%
Chris Christie 48.8%

Michigan – 48% reported
Barack Obama 50.5%
Chris Christie 48.5%

Minnesota – 39% reported
Barack Obama 50%
Chris Christie 47.8%

Wisconsin – 42% reported
Barack Obama 49.7%
Chris Christie 48.8%

[TheSaint250]

Obama seems like he might win.

Great job so far!

[Senator Cris]

Obama seems like he might win.

Great job so far!

Thanks!

[Senator Cris]

20. Election night – Part 5

"Everyone might still win this. The next President might be decided by a few thousand votes" -- Rachel Maddow

10:50

We have a bunch of projections to make right now. We can project that Governor Christie will carry Florida, the homestate of his running mate Marco Rubio, and its 29 electoral votes and the electoral vote from the second congressional district of Nebraska. For the President, we can project the state of Michigan, and its 16 electoral votes and the states of Minnesota and Wisconsin, both worth 10 electoral votes.

Florida – Final Results
✓ Chris Christie 51.4%
Barack Obama 47.8%

Michigan – Final Results
✓ Barack Obama 51.9%
Chris Christie 47.1 %

Minnesota – Final Results
✓ Barack Obama 50.5%
Chris Christie 47.3%

Wisconsin – Final Results
✓ Barack Obama 50.3%
Chris Christie 48.3%

Chris Christie 213
Barack Obama 156
No projection 84

11 PM

The polls have just closed in 5 states and we can project that California and its 55 electoral votes will be won by President Obama. We also project for the President the state of Hawaii and its 4 electoral votes and the state of Washington and its 12 electoral votes. We can also project the state of Idaho and its 4 electoral votes for Governor Christie. At this hour, we have not enough informations to make a projection in the state of Oregon, but we can make two projection for states that closed earlier: we can project that Governor Christie will win the swing state of North Carolina and its 15 electoral votes. For the President of the United States, we can project one electoral vote from the second congressional district of Maine. Thanks to those big prize win, President Obama has moved just 4 electoral votes short of Chris Christie: 232 for the Governor, 228 for the President of the United States.

California – Final Results
✓ Barack Obama 59.3%
Chris Christie 38.9%

Hawaii – Final Results
✓ Barack Obama 69.3%
Chris Christie 28.9%

Idaho – Final Results
✓ Chris Christie 65.1%
Barack Obama 32.1%

Washington – Final Results
✓ Barack Obama 53.2%
Chris Christie 44.9%

North Carolina – Final Results
✓ Chris Christie 51.8%
Barack Obama 47.1%

 

Chris Christie 232
Barack Obama 228
No projection 75

Let's take a look at the battlegrounds. Obama has an early but pretty solid lead in Oregon, is still ahead in Iowa but Christie here recovered a bit. The President is also ahead in Nevada, in New Jersey. Governor Christie is still ahead in the state of Ohio, jumped ahead in New Hampshire and is behind the President in Pennsylvania, but here the Governor continues to recover minute after minute.

Oregon – 2% reported
Barack Obama 52.4%
Chris Christie 44.6%

Iowa – 40% reported
Barack Obama 50.4%
Chris Christie 48.2%

Nevada – 50% reported
Barack Obama 50.8 %
Chris Christie 47%

Ohio – 89% reported
Chris Christie 50%
Barack Obama 49.1%

New Jersey – 88% reported
Barack Obama 51.8%
Chris Christie 48%

New Hampshire – 59% reported
Chris Christie 49.5%
Barack Obama 49.3%

Pennsylvania – 68% reported
Barack Obama 50%
Chris Christie 49.5%

11:12

We have a big news to report. We can now project that Governor Chris Christie will carry the state of Ohio. We repeat: Chris Christie has won Ohio and its 18 electoral votes. Governor Christie hits 250, while Obama stays at 228.

Ohio – Final Results
✓ Chris Christie 50.3%
Barack Obama 48.8%

Chris Christie 250
Barack Obama 228
No projection 57

[TheSaint250]

I'd say the only state Christie can win are NH and PA as of now.

This is exciting!

[jaichind]

Looks like PA will decide the election.

[Senator Cris]

21. Election night – Part 6

"Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania" -- Chris Matthews

11:25

We have another big projection to make. President Obama has won the state of New Jersey and its 14 electoral votes. Chris Christie is the current governor of New Jersey, he made this traditional democratic state competitive tonight but not enough to win. President Obama moves to 242 electoral votes, just 8 behind Chris Christie.

New Jersey – Final Results
✓ Barack Obama 51.5%
Chris Christie 48.2%

Chris Christie 250
Barack Obama 242
No projection 43

11:45

We can project 2 states for the President: Barack Obama will carry the swing state of Nevada and its 6 electoral votes. Another important win comes from Oregon: Obama will win Oregon and its 7 electoral votes. Thanks to Nevada and Oregon, President Obama jumps ahead in the electoral college: 255 to 250. It's very close, but now it's clear that Pennsylvania will be the state that will decide who our next President will be.

Nevada – Final Results
✓ Barack Obama 50.3%
Chris Christie 47.6%

Oregon – Final Results
✓ Barack Obama 51.6%
Chris Christie 45.3%

Barack Obama 255
Chris Christie 250
No projection 30

11:53

Another big projection for the President. Obama has won the state of Iowa and its 6 electoral votes. The President is now 11 votes ahead of Chris Christie in the electoral college.

Iowa – Final Results
✓ Barack Obama 49.4%
Chris Christie 48.9%

Barack Obama 261
Chris Christie 250
No projection 24

At this hour, both Pennsylvania and New Hampshire are too close to call. This election comes down to Pennsylvania, where Chris Christie jumped ahead by almost 100 votes. This is very close and might go every way. There are votes left to count in both democratic and republican areas. If Christie wins Pennsylvania, he moves to 270. If Obama wins Pennsylvania, he moves to 281. So, Pennsylvania will decide our next President. In New Hampshire it's also very close, with Governor Christie slightly ahead of the President.

New Hampshire – 85% reported
Chris Christie 49.4%
Barack Obama 49.3%

Pennsylvania – 94% reported
Chris Christie 49.6%
Barack Obama 49.6%

01 AM

Now, we can project that the state of Alaska and its 3 electoral votes will be won by Governor Christie. Christie moves to 253, Obama stays at 261.

Alaska – Final Results
✓ Chris Christie 55.3%
Barack Obama 40.4%

Barack Obama 261
Chris Christie 253
No projection 24

[America Needs R'hllor]

This is exciting. Go Obama! Though I have to wonder just how outrageous would a Christie presidency be. He could have a huge version of Bridgegate.

[Senator Cris]

22. The results

"An historic moment. Governor Chris Christie is now President elect Chris Christie." -- Wolf Blitzer

Governor Chris Christie (R-NJ)/Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) 277 Evs, 49.5% PV
President Barack Obama (D-IL)/Vice President Joe Biden (D-DE) 261 Evs, 49.1% PV

After a long night of waiting, Chris Christie was declared the winner of the states of New Hampshire and expecially Pennsylvania, that put him over the top. President Obama graciously conceded to Christie and wished him the best. Governor Christie accepted victory from his home state of New Jersey, said that he was committed to be “President of all Americans”.

Pennsylvania – Final Results
✓ Chris Christie 49.9%
Barack Obama 49.5%

New Hampshire – Final Results
✓ Chris Christie 49.6%
Barack Obama 49.1%

While the republicans won the presidency, the democrats retained the Senate. The net gain was Democrats + 1: the party led by Senator Reid moved to 52, while the Republicans led by Senator McConnell lost one seat and now have 46. There are still 2 independent senator, both of them will caucus with Democrats. Democrats gained the open seats of Indiana (Donnelly defeated Mourdock by 5 points), Connecticut (Murphy defeated McMahon) and defeated the incumbent republican in Massachusetts (Warren defeated Senator Brown by 2 points). The republicans gained two seats: the open seat of Nebraska (Fischer defeated Kerrey) and the North Dakota seat (Berg defeated Heitkamp by 3 points). Independent lost one open seat in Connecticut, but gained one in Maine with King and retained Vermont with Senator Sanders. As of the other competitive races, Senator Brown defeated Josh Mandel by almost 2 points in Ohio. The Democrats retained Virginia with Tim Kaine defeating George Allen by 3 points, Wisconsin with Tammy Baldwin defeating Tommy Thompson by 4 points and Montana, where incument Jon Tester defeated Denny Rehberg by one point. Two competitive seats were retained by the Republicans: Nevada, with Dean Heller defeating Shelley Berkely by 2 points and Arizona, where Jeff Flake defeated Richard Carmona by 4 points. The republicans retained the control of the House of Representatives.

As of competitive governor races, the Republicans picked up three seats: Montana, with Rick Hill defeating incumbent Steve Bullock by 2 points, North Carolina, with Pat McCrory defeating Walter Dalton by 13 points and Washington state, with Rob McKenna defeating Jay Inslee by two thousand votes. The republicans retained the Indiana governorship with Mike Pence defeating John Gregg by almost 5 points. Democrats retained the state of West Virginia with Earl Ray Tomblin defeating Bill Maloney by 2 points. As of other states, Democrats won New Hampshire, Vermont, Missouri and Delaware, while Republicans won North Dakota and Utah.

This was the story of a most interesting, a different 2012. Hope you enjoyed it!

[TheSaint250]

Wow! Amazing job!

Please make another timeline

[NHI]

I enjoyed this very much!

[Senator Cris]

Wow! Amazing job!

Please make another timeline

Great TL.

I enjoyed this very much!

Thank you all so much!