The Longest Day Starts

The Longest Day Starts

You won't hear much from me today, maybe an early evening update and a verrrrry late look at the local big picture. Just a couple things to share this morning:

The big secret weapon of the GOP 72 Hour Fiendish Plan seems to be, you guessed it, vote suppression:

This year's heavy volume of automated political phone calls has infuriated countless voters and triggered sharp complaints from Democrats, who say the Republican Party has crossed the line in bombarding households with recorded attacks on candidates in tight House races nationwide.

Some voters, sick of interrupted dinners and evenings, say they will punish the offending parties by opposing them in today's elections. But critics say Republicans crafted the messages to delude voters -- especially those who hang up quickly -- into thinking that Democrats placed the calls.

Many voters hang up as soon as a robo-call begins -- without waiting for the criticisms or the NRCC sign-off at the end -- so they think it was placed by the Democratic candidate named at the start...

Even worse:

In New Mexico yesterday, the state Democratic Party accused its GOP counterpart of calling Democratic voters and falsely telling them their polling place has changed.

Even Even Worse:

Tim Daly from Clarendon got a call saying that if he votes Tuesday, he will be arrested. The transcript from his voicemail reads:

"This message is for Timothy Daly. This is the Virginia Elections Commission. We've determined you are registered in New York to vote. Therefore, you will not be allowed to cast your vote on Tuesday. If you do show up, you will be charged criminally."

Daly has been registered to vote in Virginia since 1998, and he has voted for the last several cycles with no problem. He has filed a criminal complaint with the Commonwealth's attorney in Arlington.

If you really really don't know where to vote, call me at work or look it up. I'll also be posting the turnout updates and the returns - there not here so that explains the lack of blogging.

Just How Confident Are House Republicans?

Some Republican members have already suggested that the conference may consider an entirely new leadership team if the party ends up losing control of the House. Among those mentioned as possible members are Policy Chairman Adam H. Putnam of Florida and Chief Deputy Whip Eric Cantor of Virginia.

Parties that are expecting to win -- or even to lose narrowly -- don't let leak discussion of the defenestration of their leadership the day before an election.

Loebsack and Culver win the Hamburg Inn Coffee Bean Poll:

Culver defeated Republican candidate Jim Nussle 1,475 votes to 260 votes. Loebsack defeated incumbent Jim Leach 1,123 votes to 446 votes.

Remember: the Ronald Reagan table is also the Jim Leach Table...