When do the candidates usually know who wins? Early exit polls.

[MikeG]

Which will be leaked over the internet by at least 3 PM.

[maxsolomon]

1. PST or EST?

somehow i don't think they'll call washington state when the polls are open 8 more hours.

[MikeG]

2. EST.

[pmbryant]

3. That won't work if the election is within a few percent

Exit polls are imprecise measurements and also fail to count both early voters and absentee voters.

They can be off by several percent. This election will no doubt be too close to call on the basis of exit polls.

--Peter

[MikeG]

4. It won't be close. And we'll know it early.

[featherman]

5. Apparently some question about validity of exit polling this year

in states with high percentage of early or mail voters. Needs to be supplemented and tweaked with phone polling which may be a problem during the day.

[Piperay]

6. Their own internal

polls tell them, I bet they already know now.

[napi21]

7. I'd bet the top candidates already have a real good idea already!

I know I heard the Ragin Cajun the other day say then knew before the election that BC had a lock! I know it was a broader spread then than now, but when you're on the trail EVERY DAY, and you have top aides in all the states, you get a strong feel for what's really going on.

I bet they already know.