...not yet announced. Bush is planning a victory speech, but not declaring victory yet. Kerry's camp seems depressed over their internal polling, but is not about to repeat Al Gore's 2000 mistake of conceding too early. The final contested state of significant impact appears to be Ohio (as expected) where Bush ran strong, but which was hit hard by job cuts this year. Currently, Bush is ahead by 125,000 votes but there are more than that number outstanding of "provisional ballots." i.e. Ballots cast by people whose names were not on the official voter rolls, but claimed they had a right to vote at the precinct they showed up to yesterday. It is still unlikely this will make a difference, but Florida 2000 proved that you never know what may be significant.
Perhaps most significant is that no matter what happens George W. Bush won the popular vote handily. And it appears that control of both the House and the Senate will remain in GOP hands. If so, and if Kerry does not miraculously pull out a squeaker victory, it is grim news for the Democratic Party. Prior to GWB, the standard of American government was split power - one party held the Congress and the other held he presidency. Now, the GOP appears to hold all branches of government (especially if several Supreme Court justices retire in the next 4 years and Bush appoints their replacements).
What does this mean for the Democratic Party? Probably another battle for its heart and soul. A "centrist" candidate lost in 2000. A "leftist" candidate lost in 2004 (maybe). What does this tell us about the American people? Perhaps that they are more conservative than expected. Maybe it means the Dems need another New Democrat running for the top seat in 2008. And the main New Democrat on the national stage today? (Clue: Her initials are HRC.)
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