Exit Polls I

For what it's worth, exit polls were embargoed until 5pm, which means they are embargoed no longer. Will keep you up to date as they become available.

From AP:

The economy is by far the top issue on voters' minds as Election Day at last arrives.

An Associated Press exit poll finds six in 10 voters across the country picked the economy as the most important issue facing the nation. None of four other issues on the list — energy, Iraq, terrorism and health care — was picked by more than one in 10.

Not surprisingly, voters also have a very sour view of the condition of the nation's economy. About half said it's poor and nearly as many said the economy is not good. The results are based on a preliminary partial sample of nearly 10,000 voters in Election Day exit polls and telephone interviews over the past week for early voters.

From Gawker.com

Before we tell you what we're hearing the exit poll numbers are saying, can we just remind you about Bob Shrum who famously asked John Kerry, after the 2004 early exit polls came out, "Can I be the first to call you Mr. President?" After the jump, the numbers we're hearing are floating around.

Estimate for Obama low end is 300 EVs

Potentially as high as 350. The realistic number is between the high and 320.

Obama is +40 among Hispanics, +60 among young voters.

Also remember, more Ds than Rs will talk to exit pollsters. So it will be skewed D. It always is.

Slate, which has long argued that journalistic principle forces them to release exit poll numbers, spent Election Day 2004 telling readers that exit poll numbers were "mucho flattering" for Kerry. So, yeah, Obamaniacs, go crazy at your own peril.

CNN headlines its exit poll story by indicating that voters are "Excited by Historic Choice." I assume they're referring to the opportunity to vote for the oldest incoming president ever?