I underestimated how many younger voters would stay home -- and Christie won. Marriage equality isn't faring too well in Maine. I may be one for four tonight.

Nate Silver's job is safe.

Meanwhile, it looks like Owens is doing unexpectedly well. 75% of the vote is in, and it's 49-46. But Hoffman also inoculated himself in the event of a loss by claiming Acorn was infiltrating. That seems to be GOP SOP these days, to accuse the Democrats of bringing in Hispanics or Blacks or Communists to "steal" the vote -- in every close election.

If Hoffman loses, the only upset the Republicans will have to crow about is Chris Christie, a socially liberal Republican who will piss off the wet tea bag crowd. They will again be forced into months of Colemanizing in support of a man who gave the Party a swift kick in the nuts. (And there are so many GOP nuts!)

I'm just crestfallen that so many younger voters stayed home. If it takes a charismatic candidate running a feel-good campaign to bring them out, we'll be up to our ass in elephants again in no time.

--d!