A Different Big Accomplishment

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Olbermann: Thank you, Andrea. Let's go over to Ed Schultz who is live in Nevada at Harry Reid headquarters. So, for the senate, we have Republicans holding Kentucky, picking up Indiana. The Democrat is leading in West Virginia. What do these early signs say about the fight for the Senate?

Schultz: Well, I've always said that West Virginia is a key bellwether. They'll be others later in the night, particularly New York, but West Virginia comes in early, it has perhaps the democrat with the best personal brand in the entire country, and based on the math, if Manchin were to go down, it almost certainly means Democrats are losing the Senate. So him leading is certainly good news for Democrats, it is possible for the Republicans to get the Senate without West Virginia, but it would make the New York race very close to a must win, and I do honestly think Kirsten Gillibrand is positioned to pull it out in a very democratic state.

Robinson: How's Senator Reid feeling right now?

Schultz: Well the campaign is certainly still making calls and doing what they can to get the last bit of the vote out, the polls remain open until 10:00 Eastern. But there is a very quiet confidence here. There was a very strong early vote in Clark County, and it was reportedly underwhelming in Sharron Angle's home county of Washoe. And Sharron Angle is just a really extreme candidate that the Reid campaign ultimately believes Nevada is simply not going to elect. That's not to say it won't be a close race, it certainly will be, but there is a real quiet confidence that Reid has the votes to win.

Olbermann: Thank you, Mr. Schultz, we'll be back later in the night. Let's move over to Lester Holt, who is looking at some of our exit polling. Lester?

Holt: Yes, some interesting early numbers that could give us some signs. We'll start with Obama's numbers:

Do you approve of President Obama's Job Performance?

Approve: 45%
Disapprove: 54%

As you can see, a big change from the late summer when Obama had positive approvals, though this does appear to be a slight uptick from the late october polls. Very much within the margin of error though. Of course, a key reason Obama's approvals declined was the immigration bill:

Opinion of the Immigration Bill passed by Congress?

Approve: 42%
Disapprove: 55%

As you can see, the bill is less popular than Obama. We also asked people about Obama's failed health care agenda and Sanders's single payer bill:

Opinion of Obama Health Care Agenda

Favorable: 41%
Unfavorable: 52%

Opinion of the Sanders Single-Payer Legislation

Favorable: 39%
Unfavorable: 53%

As you can see, people are not happy with any of the health care ideas that have been discussed during the Obama Presidency, and may very well vote in Republicans in hopes of getting a better idea on Healthcare. The electorate does see it as an important issue:

Should the next congress attempt to address some form of Health Care Reform:

Yes: 59%
No: 36%

We also asked people about their feelings toward the government, and the negativity shows very clearly:

Opinion towards the Government Overall:

Enthusiastic: 4%
Satisfied: 19%
Average: 20%
Dissatisfied: 38%
Angry: 17%

As you can see, 55% of voters dissatisfied or angry with the government. This next question is even more telling:

Level of Concern regarding the economy

Very Worried: 27%
Worried: 41%
Mildly Concerned: 12%
Satisfied: 16%
Very Satisfied: 3%

A full 68% of voters worried or very worried about the economy, and fully 80% of voters with some level of concern. Finally, we want to look at voters's opinions of both political parties:

Opinion of the Democratic Party:

Favorable: 42%
Unfavorable: 55%

Opinion of the Republican Party:

Favorable: 43%
Unfavorable: 54%

As you can see, voters are not really happy with anyone. The Republicans, if successful tonight, are not winning so much on their ideas but simply on being a vehicle for rapid change, much like Obama two years ago.

Olbermann: Thank you for all that information. We'll now take a short break.

Next: 8:00 Poll Closings

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Olbermann: It's 8:00 on the east coast, and the polls have closed in an array of states, encompassing lots of interesting races. As always, let's start with the House of Representatives:

Maine

District 1: Pingree (D) wins 55-45
District 2: Michaud (D) wins 54-46

Status quo in Maine. Nothing to see here folks.

Running Total of the House so far: 53 Republicans (+15), 29 Democrats (-15)

New Hampshire

District 1: Guinta (R) wins 54-43 (R PICKUP)
District 2: Bass (R) wins 48-47 (R PICKUP)

Two big pickups for the Republicans in New Hampshire, embarrassing the Democrats in a state that went for Obama by 9%.

Running Total of the House so far: 55 Republicans (+17), 29 Democrats (-17)

Massachusetts

District 1: Oliver (D) wins 60-35
District 2: Neal (D) wins 56-44
District 3: McGovern (D) wins 56-40
District 4: Frank (D) wins 53-43
District 5: Tsongas (D) wins 54-43
District 6: Tierney (D) wins 55-45
District 7: Markey (D) wins 67-33
District 8: Capuano (D) wins unopposed
District 9: Lynch (D) wins 68-26
District 10: Keating (D) wins 46-44

Democrats retain all 10 seats in Massachusetts, although that 10th district race was uncomfortably narrow.

Running Total of the House so far: 55 Republicans (+17), 39 Democrats (-17)

Connecticut

District 1: Larson (D) wins 61-37
District 2: Courtney (D) wins 58-40
District 3: DeLauro (D) wins 65-34
District 4: Himes (D) wins 52-48
District 5: Murphy (D) wins 53-47

Despite strong challenges in the 4th and 5th districts, Democrats retain all five seats in Connecticut.

Running Total of the House so far: 55 Republicans (+17), 44 Democrats (-17)

New Jersey

District 1: Andrews (D) wins 63-35
District 2: LoBiondo (R) wins 66-31
District 3: Runyan (R) wins 51-46 (R PICKUP)
District 4: Smith (R) wins 69-28
District 5: Garrett (R) wins 64-34
District 6: Pallone (D) wins 55-44
District 7: Lance (R) wins 60-40
District 8: Pascrell (D) wins 61-37
District 9: Rothman (D) wins 58-40
District 10: Payne (D) wins 85-13
District 11: Frelinghuysen (R) wins 67-30
District 12: Holt (D) wins 52-47
District 13: Sires (D) wins 74-23

Republicans pick up the 3rd District. Status quo otherwise.

Running Total of the House so far: 61 Republicans (+18), 51 Democrats (-18)

Delaware

District 1: Carney (D) wins 52-45 (D PICKUP)

As most expected, Democrats pick up the lone house seat in Delaware, with the incumbent having retired to run for the Senate.

Running Total of the House so far: 61 Republicans (+17), 52 Democrats (-17)

Maryland

District 1: Harris (R) wins 55-41 (R PICKUP)
District 2: Ruppersberger (D) wins 64-33
District 3: Sarbanes (D) wins 61-36
District 4: Edwards (D) wins 83-17
District 5: Hoyer (D) wins 63-35
District 6: Bartlett (R) wins 60-35
District 7: Cummings (D) wins 75-23
District 8: Van Hollen (D) wins 73-25

As expected, Republicans pick up the first district, and the rest remains the same.

Running Total of the House so far: 63 Republicans (+18), 58 Democrats (-18)

Pennsylvania

District 1: Brady (D) wins unopposed
District 2: Fattah (D) wins 89-11
District 3: Kelly (R) wins 56-44 (R PICKUP)
District 4: Rothfus (R) wins 51-49 (R PICKUP)
District 5: Thompson (R) wins 69-28
District 6: Gerlach (R) wins 58-42
District 7: Meehan (R) wins 55-44 (R PICKUP)
District 8: Fitzpatrick (R) wins 53-47 (R PICKUP)
District 9: Shuster (R) wins 73-27
District 10: Marino (R) wins 55-45 (R PICKUP)
District 11: Barletta (R) wins 54-46 (R PICKUP)
District 12: Burns (R) wins 50.3-49.7 (R PICKUP)
District 13: Schwartz (D) wins 56-44
District 14: Doyle (D) wins 69-28
District 15: Dent (R) wins 53-39
District 16: Pitts (R) wins 65-35
District 17: Holden (D) wins 55-45
District 18: Murphy (R) wins 67-33
District 19: Platts (R) wins 72-23

This state HURTS for the democratic party. Republicans win essentially every competitive race, scoring 7 pickups, radically changing the congressional delegation and imperiling the democratic party in this state.

Running Total of the House so far: 77 Republicans (+25), 63 Democrats (-25)

Illinois

District 1: Rush (D) wins 80-16
District 2: Jackson (D) wins 81-14
District 3: Lipinski (D) wins 70-24
District 4: Guiterrez (D) wins 77-14
District 5: Quigley (D) wins 71-25
District 6: Roskam (R) wins 63-37
District 7: Davis (D) wins 81-16
District 8: Bean (D) wins 48.7-48.2
District 9: Schakowsky (D) wins 66-31
District 10: Dold (R) wins 51-49
District 11: Kinzinger (R) wins 57-43 (R PICKUP)
District 12: Costello (D) wins 60-36
District 13: Biggert (R) wins 64-36
District 14: Hultgren (R) wins 51-45 (R PICKUP)
District 15: Johnson (R) wins 64-36
District 16: Manzullo (R) wins 65-31
District 17: Schilling (R) wins 52-43 (R PICKUP)
District 18: Schock (R) wins 69-26
District 19: Shimkius (R) wins 71-29

3 important pickups for Republicans in Illinois, though they miss a key opportunity in the 8th District. In the 10th, the Democrats missed a rare opportunity to pick up a seat, not getting that will hurt.

Running Total of the House so far: 87 Republicans (+28), 72 Democrats (-28)

Missouri

District 1: Clay (D) wins 74-23
District 2: Akin (R) wins 66-30
District 3: Carnahan (D) wins 49-46
District 4: Hartzler (R) wins 50-45 (R PICKUP)
District 5: Cleaver (D) wins 54-44
District 6: Graves (R) wins 69-30
District 7: Long (R) wins 64-30
District 8: Emerson (R) wins 66-29
District 9: Luetkemeyer (R) wins 77-22

The Democrats split the difference in Missouri, holding the 3rd district but losing the 4th. Not good but not as bad as some of the other states we've seen.

Running Total of the House so far: 93 Republicans (+29), 75 Democrats (-29)

Oklahoma

District 1: Sullivan (R) wins 77-23
District 2: Boren (D) wins 56-44
District 3: Lucas (R) wins 78-22
District 4: Cole (R) wins 77-23
District 5: Lankford (R) wins 63-35

No changes in Oklahoma. Move along folks.

Running Total of the House so far: 97 Republicans (+29), 76 Democrats (-29)

Mississippi

District 1: Nunnelee (R) wins 56-40 (R PICKUP)
District 2: Thompson (D) wins 61-38
District 3: Harper (R) wins 68-31
District 4: Palazzo (R) wins 52-47 (R PICKUP)

Two big republican pickups in Mississippi. Both result in the departure of major members of the blue dog democrat caucus.

Running Total of the House so far: 100 Republicans (+31), 77 Democrats (-31)

Tennessee

District 1: Roe (R) wins 81-17
District 2: Duncan (R) wins 82-15
District 3: Flesichmann (R) wins 57-28
District 4: DesJarlais (R) wins 57-39 (R PICKUP)
District 5: Cooper (D) wins 54-44
District 6: Black (R) wins 68-29 (R PICKUP)
District 7: Blackburn (R) wins 72-24
District 8: Fincher (R) wins 60-37 (R PICKUP)
District 9: Cohen (D) wins 74-25

As expected, Republicans pick up three seats in Tennessee.

Running Total of the House so far: 107 Republicans (+34), 79 Democrats (-34)

Alabama

District 1: Bonner (R) wins 83-17
District 2: Roby (R) wins 53-47 (R PICKUP)
District 3: Rogers (R) wins 60-40
District 4: Aderholt (R) wins unopposed
District 5: Brooks (R) wins 57-43
District 6: Bachus (R) wins unopposed
District 7: Sewell (D) wins 71-29

Republicans win the single competitive race in Alabama. No other districts are remotely notable here.

Running Total of the House so far: 113 Republicans (+35), 80 Democrats (-35)

Florida

District 1: Miller (R) wins 81-11
District 2: Southerland (R) wins 53-42 (R PICKUP)
District 3: Brown (D) wins 63-34
District 4: Crenshaw (R) wins 77-23
District 5: Nugent (R) wins 65-35
District 6: Stearns (R) wins 71-29
District 7: Mica (R) wins 69-31
District 8: Webster (R) wins 56-38 (R PICKUP)
District 9: Bilirakis (R) wins 71-29
District 10: Young (R) wins 64-36
District 11: Castor (D) wins 60-40
District 12: Ross (R) wins 48-41
District 13: Buchanan (R) wins 69-31
District 14: Mack (R) wins 66-30
District 15: Posey (R) wins 65-35
District 16: Rooney (R) wins 67-33
District 17: Wilson (D) wins 86-14
District 18: Ros-Lethinen (R) wins 70-30
District 19: Deutch (D) wins 64-36
District 20: Wasserman-Schultz (D) wins 60-38
District 21: Diaz-Balart (R) wins unopposed
District 22: West (R) wins 54-46 (R PICKUP)
District 23: Hastings (D) wins 80-20
District 24: Adams (R) wins 59-41 (R PICKUP)
District 25: Rivera (R) wins 51-45

Running Total of the House so far: 132 Republicans (+39), 86 Democrats (-39)

With 4 pickups in Florida, and two critical holds in the 12th and 25th districts, Republicans now have the exact number of pickups needed to get the house, 39. The race for the house is not quite over - Republicans still have a significant amount of ground to cover before they can actually hit 218, and there are potential democratic pickups left outstanding - but at this point, it would be a major surprise if the Republicans do not take control of the house.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Olbermann: Let's now go to the Senate Races. In the State of Florida, the Republican Marco Rubio easily defeats the Democrat Kendrick Meek:

35% in: Rubio 52-45

Final:

Rubio (R): 54.6%
Meek (D): 42.5%
Others: 2.9%

In New Hampshire, the Republican Kelly Ayotte easily holds the seat, swallowing the Democrat Paul Hodes:

Ayotte (R): 60.6%
Hodes (D): 37%
Others: 2.4%

In the State of Maryland, no surprise, the incumbent senator Mikulski will have another term:

Mikulski (D): 62.2%
Wargotz (R): 36.1%
Others: 1.7%

In Alabama, the incumbent Mr. Shelby will be going back to Washington:

Shelby (R): 65.3%
Barnes (D): 34.7%

In Oklahoma, the incumbent Mr. Coburn has also won another term:

Coburn (R): 70.3%
Rogers (D): 26.2%
Others: 3.5%

In Delaware, it is too early to call, but the Republican Mike Castle is in the lead over the Democrat Chris Coons.

In Missouri, it is too early to call, but the Republican Roy Blunt is in the lead over the Democrat Robin Carnahan.

In Pennsylvania, it is too close to call.

In Illinois, it is too close to call.

In Connecticut, it is too early to call, but the Democrat Richard Blumenthal leads over the Republican Linda McMahon.

Let's look at the uncalled races from earlier:

WV (2% in):

Manchin (D): 53%
Raese (R): 45%

NC (16% in):

Burr (R): 55%
Marshall (D): 44%

Democrats: 41 (-1)
Republicans: 31 (+1)
Independents: 2

Let's take a look at the governors now. In Alabama, the Republican Robert Bentley will hold the seat for his party:

Bentley (R): 59.4%
Sparks (D): 40.6%

In Tennessee, we have the first republican gain among the governorships! The Republican Bill Haslam will replace the retiring Democrat Phil Bredesen:

Haslam (R): 64.8%
McWherter (D): 33.1%
Others: 2.1%

In Oklahoma, another gain for the Republicans! The Republican Mary Fallin will replace the retiring Democrat Brad Henry:

Fallin (R): 60%
Askins (D): 40%

In Florida, it is too close to call. With 35% in:

Scott (R): 50%
Sink (D): 48%

In New Hampshire, it is too early to call, though the incumbent Democrat John Lynch has the lead. With 5% in:

Lynch (D): 57%
Stephen (R): 40%

In Illinois, it is too close to call.

In Pennsylvania, it is too early to call. The Republican Tom Corbett leads the Democrat Dan Onorato.

In Maryland, also too early to call, though the incumbent Democrat Martin O'Malley is in the lead.

In Connecticut, it is too close to call.

In Rhode Island, it is too close to call.

In Massachusetts, it is too close to call.

In Maine, it is too close to call.


Let's take a look at the uncalled races from earlier:

Vermont (8% in): Shumlin (D) 54%, Dubie (R) 43%
South Carolina (5% in): Sheheen (D) 55%, Haley (R) 44%
Georgia (4% in): Deal (R) 63%, Barnes (D) 35%
Ohio (7% in): Strickland (D) 57%, Kasich (R) 39%

Republicans: 9 (+2)
Democrats: 7 (-2)

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Olbermann: So, initial thoughts from that collection of results?

O'Donnell: Well, certainly a lot of that was expected. But it is a bit saddening to continue to see the Democratic party hit bottom in the south. It was just four years ago that democratic governors of Tennessee and Oklahoma were winning re-election by landslides. But now - nope, not even close. If the Republicans take back the house, I think you're going to look at the map and see that they have a lot of southern states to thank for it. And it's not because they've somehow started running better candidates. With their purge of the moderates, they've ushered in tea party republicans in these districts, and as a result the next congress - whoever controls it - is going to be a lot more polarized.

Maddow: Certainly. But I think it's important to note that we'll be getting sanity in some places outside the south. Delaware voters breathed a sigh of relief on primary night when Christine O'Donnell lost, as did Colorado voters when Ken Buck lost. Whoever wins in those two races, it's not going to be some tea party reactionary. Now we do have Sharron Angle in Nevada, but hopefully the Reid machine can still work one last time.

Robinson: Well, I know Ed Schultz told us there was some quiet confidence at the headquarters, but I have to say the late polls did not inspire great confidence in the Reid campaign. Democrats probably need the Reid seat to keep the senate in their hands, and even if they were to hold the Senate without it, it would still really hurt to lose it, especially because a new majority leader would have to be chosen, and I think that would be a real intraparty fight between Schumer, Durbin, and if she survives tonight, Patty Murray.

O'Donnell: Well, one senator who will survive, because she's not up for re-election, is Louisiana's Mary Landrieu, who was the subject of attack ads across the country, and Ms. Landrieu joins us now. Senator, it must have been a real experience to not be campaigning for office yet be the subject of tons of ads.

Landrieu: Well, I'm disappointed that my vote proved to be an effective strategy for republicans in this election, but the reason why those ads worked is because the democratic party did this bill the wrong way. The immigration bill was originally a bipartisan effort that I believe we could have passed with 52 or 53 democrats and 7 or 8 Republicans. But instead, you had Reid insisting on unifying the democrats at all expense, and as a result it was turned into a partisan effort. Quite frankly, I don't know how it still got 3 republican votes in the Senate, but I sided against it because it ultimately proved too soft on illegal immigration for most of the people that I represent in Congress.

Matthews: Given you voted against this, is it fair to categorize you as an Obama Liberal as the ad does?

Landrieu: Well, I'm certainly still supportive of our President and I do hope there are some real silver linings for us tonight in the results. But ultimately whether the President supports something does not determine whether I support it. In fact, the people who are determining their position on a bill based on the President's position, is nearly every republican, for they often oppose policies solely because Obama supports them. I supported the health care bill last session, and it had a lot of provisions that were from the Mitt Romney plan in Massachusetts, but Republicans are just so deadset on opposing this president that they failed to provide the single vote that was required from their side to pass it.

Sharpton: Is Health Care reform dead?

Landrieu: Well, I want to remain optimistic, but the sad thing is now certain factions of our party have moved on to the idea of single payer health care, which no reasonable american or senator can support, and the idea of any big health care bill passing what should be a very closely divided senate is likely beyond the realm of possibility due to the way the filibuster works. But if the votes somehow pop up at some point on a good bill, I'd certainly like to get back to the issue, yes.

Olbermann: And just briefly, we know that Democrats are trying to pick up a new Orleans seat in Louisiana that they lost in 2008 over some scandals. Chairman Kaine expressed confidence about that race earlier, do you share his confidence?

Landrieu: Well, it was certainly quite a surprise to see that seat flip given the electoral climate that cycle, so I take nothing for granted with that seat, but I do know that the Richmond campaign remains confident with both the early voting numbers and what they've seen on the ground, and I'm certainly very hopeful that the seat will flip and hopefully flip comfortably.

Olbermann: Thank you, Senator. We'll return after a short break.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Olbermann: We can now project the North Carolina Senate race, and we do so for the Incumbent Senator Burr:

31% in: Burr 56-43

Final:

Burr: 55.4%
Marshall: 42.9%
Others: 1.7%

Democrats: 41 (-1)
Republicans: 32 (+1)
Independents: 2

Olbermann: Let's now talk with a Democrat in an especially tight race tonight, the appointed senator from Colorado, Democrat Michael Bennett. Mr. Bennett, we know your polls don't close for another 45 minutes, but tell us what you know now.

Bennett: Well, we just feel incredibly privileged to even be where we are. On a night where others in my party will go down heavily, this race has remained incredibly close. And we do feel that we made a strong case against Ms. Norton, and we're ready to see the outcome.

Olbermann: Are you confident that this will be settled tonight, or is this something that may be litigated?

Bennett: Oh, I don't know. Obviously we'd love to win it tonight, but we're ready to wait for as long as it takes to decide the winner, and we fully expect a long night.

Sharpton: Looking back, was it the right decision to pass that immigration bill?

Bennett: Certainly. We achieved real solutions to fix our immigration system and provide reasonable security for our undocumented population. The best solutions aren't always popular - but that doesn't change the fact that it was the right bill to pass. And it's imperative that the democrats who will be in the next congress fight hard to prevent any tearing-apart or repeal of this bill. I think we'll hold the Senate, but even if we don't, we need to use the filibuster effectively, and should it ever become necessary, we need Obama to be prepared to use his veto.

Matthews: Let's say you're a Democrat in Colorado, and you haven't voted yet. What's the one chief reason you should turn off the tv, get out there, and vote before these polls close?

Bennett: Because my opponent has continually made statements on issues from education to women's rights that are simply way out of the mainstream, and are not going to be helpful to the state of Colorado. And this is not a race people can ignore. It's as close as these things get, and we need every single vote.

Matthews: Who's your hero?

Bennett: Abraham Lincoln

Matthews: Very safe answer, thank you.

Olbermann: Well, Mr. Bennett, we wish you the best of luck tonight. Let's now go back to our correspondent Ed Schultz at Harry Reid headquarters. Mr. Schultz, your take on the Colorado race?

Schultz: Well, I certainly think Bennett put in a strong performance at the final debate, where he really took it to Norton on some controversial stuff she's said over the years. But it remains the case that Republicans likely dodged a bullet when Ken Buck lost the primary, and I don't know if the votes are there in this sort of republican climate for Bennett to win.

Olbermann: Anything new from the Reid race?

Schultz: Well, you can start to see the crowd starting to fill in, they opened the doors a short while ago, the crowd will continue to grow as these polls actually close here. The Reid people do seem to be pleased with the election day turnout in Clark County, but the Republicans are just as confident with the Turnout in the rural areas. It certainly does look close.

Maddow: Now, when you talk to Democrats about what can get done in what will be a very divided congress, they say it's infrastructure, they say it's energy, weirdly, and they're hoping that they can avoid reauthorizing the Bush Tax Cuts for the wealthiest Americans while still keeping them for the middle class. Is that going to be it?

Schultz: Well, the fact is that many in the republican party seem to be opposing whatever the President supports. Both the immigration bill and the dodd frank banking bill, as well as the stimulus, only narrowly passed filibusters. And now with likely 5 or 6 or 7 fewer senators on the democratic side, getting over that 60 vote threshold is going to be quite tough on all but a few select issues.

Robinson: Looking at 2012, does how bad tonight goes for Democrats have any bearing on whether a Hillary Clinton primary challenge can be successful?

Schultz: Well, I remain unconvinced that she's actually going to run, but the President has a strong donor base and a strong base of support, and can argue powerfully for another term regardless of the success of others in his party. And if she does run, I honestly think Obama will squash her like a bug, winning in every state primary comfortably.

Olbermann: All right. We'll take a quick break before the next poll closing.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Olbermann: The polls have closed in the State of Arkansas. Looking at the House of Representatives:


District 1: Crawford(R) wins 51-45 (R PICKUP)
District 2: Griffin(R) wins 58-38 (R PICKUP)
District 3: Womack(R) wins 72-28
District 4: Ross(D) wins 57-40

Running Total of the House so far: 135 Republicans (+41), 87 Democrats (-41)

Two more Senate Results to announce. First, in Connecticut, the Democrat Mr. Blumenthal will hold the open seat:

1% in: Blumenthal 60-39

Final:

Blumenthal(D) 55.4%
McMahon(R) 43.3%
Others: 1.3%

In Arkansas, we project that the seat will go to the Republican Mr. Boozman, who has defeated the incumbent Democrat Blanche Lincoln!

Boozman (R): 58.5%
Lincoln (D): 39.8%
Others: 1.7%

Democrats: 42 (-2)
Republicans: 33 (+2)
Independents: 2

We can also project the Arkansas Gubernatorial Election for the incumbent Democrat Mr. Beebe:

Beebe (D): 64.4%
Keet (R): 33.5%
Others: 2.1%

Republicans: 9 (+2)
Democrats: 8 (-2)

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Olbermann: So, a crushing defeat for Blanche Lincoln. Thoughts?

O'Donnell: Well, the purge of moderates from the Senate continues. We saw earlier tonight the election of Rand Paul in Kentucky and the Republican takeover of the Evan Bayh seat in Indiana. Now we have this loss in Arkansas. And there will be probably be other races throughout the night where the elected republican candidate is more partisan than the defeated Democratic candidate.

Sharpton: Looking back, people are going to wonder if it was the right idea for Bill Halter to attempt to primary Blanche Lincoln. Did that hurt her too much? Could she at least have given Boozman a fight without that? As much as the Republicans have foolishly allowed the creation of their tea party, are we creating a Democratic tea party with this race in Arkansas?

Maddow: Well, the moderates in the Democratic party are certainly not going the same way the moderates in the republican party are. Mary Landrieu is not going anywhere anytime soon, in fact that immigration vote is probably a big selling point for her eventual re-election. Ben Nelson claims that since Health Care reform failed, he can win re-election. Some blue dogs are going to be picked off tonight, but the democratic moderate class will remain for the long haul. I can't say the same thing for the republican moderate class.

Robinson: Well, with this Arkansas race, Health Care Reform was actually what nearly got Lincoln primaried. She refused to support the public option and helped tank it. Yes, the ultimate final proposal failed when Ben Nelson voted No, but earlier bills tanked in part due to Blanche Lincoln's opposition and the left was enraged about that, and now they're enraged about the Sanders bill being completely ignored by the leadership, and they may try to primary other incumbents.

Olbermann: Hold on. We have a projection in the State of West Virginia. The Democrat, Joe Manchin, has defeated the Republican John Raese, holding an open seat for the Democrats!

24% in: Manchin 54-44

Final:

Manchin 55.3%
Rossi 42.9%
Others 1.8%

Democrats: 43 (-2)
Republicans: 33 (+2)
Independents: 2

O'Donnell: A pivotal win for the Democrats

Matthews: With that, a Trump win over Gillibrand in New York becomes close to a necessity if we're going to see a republican takeover in the Senate. They will also need two of Washington, California, and Nevada.

Maddow: However, I think it's important we realize that Manchin did not run as a traditional democrat. He ran far to the right of the DNC platform. And in electing him, the Democrats have helped add to the Senate's moderate caucus, while the Republicans are continually detracting from it.

Olbermann: Let's go over to Howard Fineman at the Listening Post. Fineman, while obviously the Democrats are cheering this win in West Virginia, there's certainly a lot of races left to be decided. What are you hearing about the Colorado Race, the New York race, the Pennsylvania race?

Fineman: Well, the Democrats do appear to be encouraged about the turnout in the Democratic leaning areas of all three of those states, and the question becomes, what happens in the Suburbs? And with respect to the New York race, I am being told that there are still very long lines in parts of Long Island even as we are barely 20 minutes away from the poll closing time, and looking at where the lines specifically are, there are some people from the DNC who are telling me very quietly that there is worry that these could be good lines for Mr. Trump. There are also some leaked early exit poll numbers that show anywhere from 15% to 22% of those who are voting for Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer, who is not being seriously challenged, are voting for Trump over Gillibrand. Depending on what Schumer's margin ends up being, that could be enough to imperil Gillibrand.

Olbermann: 15% to 22%, that would be quite a number of crossover voters.

Fineman: It certainly would. And one thing to point out about the Manchin race - in electing him, given how he ran, Democrats may have added to the Senate a vote against any future attempt to have Health Care Reform.

Olbermann: Thank you, Howard. When we come back, we'll talk with Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn, who would welcome that vote. Stay with us.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Olbermann: We continue, and we now have the third republican pickup of the night. The Congressman Mike Castle has defeated the Democrat Chris Coons in the Delaware Senate Race!

43% in: Castle 54-45

Final:

Castle (R) 52.4%
Coons (D) 46.4%
Others 1.2%

Democrats: 43 (-3)
Republicans: 34 (+3)
Independents: 2

Let's now go to Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn. Congresswoman, in terms of the priorities for the next congress, if you can't get the bush tax cuts reauthorized in the lame duck, is that a more important priority than restructuring the immigration bill?

Blackburn: Yes, we need to keep the tax cuts. But we have to also take a very serious look at the immigration bill. We need to get those sanctuary cities provisions that the Democrats took out back in the bill, and keep them there, perhaps even in a stronger form than before. We have to take out the provision allowing citizenship - maybe do some lesser legal status - but we cannot keep citizenship in this bill. And then we have to restructure the Dodd-Frank regulations and deal with this exploding deficit that this administration has allowed to be created.

Sharpton: But isn't that deficit just the result of a recession and two wars that the Bush administration started?

Blackburn: No. In Bush's last full fiscal year in office, our deficit was just $400 Billion. This president comes in, passes a stimulus, passes Dodd-Frank, and just generally wastes money, and then we wonder why the deficit is suddenly 1.2 to 1.3 Trillion. This is why it is so critical that we are taking back the house majority and hopefully the senate majority tonight. We are showing this President that there is a movement against his policies, and we're going to fight them every stretch of the way. And if he thinks he's just going to sit up there and veto everything, well then he can enjoy losing re-election in 2012.

Robinson: One item that the President did not accomplish is Health Care Reform. Is there any form of Health Care Reform that you would accept?

Blackburn: Well, I can't issue a blanket statement on an entire issue, but I can tell you that anything like the Health Care Bill they tried to pass is dead on arrival in this new congress, and so is the Sanders Single Payer Legislation. Anything that does pass is going to have to be a representative of what the american people actually want, because this President already tried to do what America doesn't want, and thanks to the heroic actions of Ben Nelson, he didn't get it done. And now he's going to have at least three fewer votes in the Senate, and hopefully it's at least seven, eight, nine less votes by the end of the night - so nothing like the last attempt is going to pass.

Olbermann: Hold on, we have two gubernatorial projections we want to make here. Democrats have held the governorships of Maryland and New Hampshire!

MD: 13% in: O'Malley 56-43

Final:

O'Malley (D): 55.7%
Ehrlich (R): 43.5%
Others: 0.8%

NH: 22% in: Lynch 55-42

Final:

Lynch (D): 52.6%
Stephen (R): 45.1%
Others: 2.3%

Democrats: 10 (-2)
Republicans: 9 (+2)

The questioning will continue with Chris Matthews.

Matthews: Blackburn, you say the deficit is a huge problem, but how do you actually plan to get rid of it. Are you going to cut medicare, medicaid, social security?

Blackburn: Well, you start with all your discretionary stuff, that is step one.

Matthews: So, you cut defense spending?

Blackburn: I said, step one is discretionary...

Matthews: Defense spending is discretionary. Would you cut defense spending in addition to domestic spending?

Blackburn. No, you have to always support our military. But beyond that, you start with the discretionary spending and do across the board cuts.

Matthews: So you're reducing this to 6, 7, 8 percent of the federal budget.

Blackburn: And then after that initial step, you have an adult conversation about the entitlements. And we've done an effective job of this in our states. Our democrat governor in Tennessee worked with the legislature to do this budget school program, where you take an honest look at the state budget, or nationally, the federal budget, and really become educated about what needs to be in there and what doesn't need to be in there, and from there you can reach an adult solution about what to do with the hard to cut items.

Maddow: Are you going to vote for the debt ceiling increase that will come up this spring?

Blackburn: Well, I would hope we do the across the board discretionary cuts early in the congress so we don't have to deal with the ceiling for a while. But when it eventually does come, we have to handle it very carefully, and make sure, before we approve any increase in the ceiling, that we have a plan to really get our deficit under control and restore the economy. And at this juncture, that plan isn't there, so I can't commit to voting for a ceiling increase at this time.

Olbermann: We have to end it there because of the closings at the top of the hour. Ms. Blackburn, thank you for joining us.

Next: 9 ET Closings

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

9 ET Closings

Olbermann: A slew of polls closing across more than a dozen states. Let's take a look at the latest from the House of Representatives:

Rhode Island

District 1: Cicilline (D) wins 50-45
District 2: Langevin (D) wins 60-31

Status quo in Rhode Island. Move along, nothing to see.

Running Total of the House so far: 135 Republicans (+41), 89 Democrats (-41)

New York

District 1: Altschuler (R) wins 49-48 (R PICKUP)
District 2: Israel (D) wins 53-42
District 3: King (R) wins 69-27
District 4: McCarthy (D) wins 50-46
District 5: Ackerman (D) wins 56-36
District 6: Meeks (D) wins 77-20
District 7: Crowley (D) wins 67-28
District 8: Nadler (D) wins 67-30
District 9: Weiner (D) wins 54-45
District 10: Towns (D) wins 84-14
District 11: Clarke (D) wins 86-13
District 12: Velazquez (D) wins 88-12
District 13: Grimm (R) wins 53-45 (R PICKUP)
District 14: Maloney (D) wins 77-21
District 15: Rangel (D) wins 63-30
District 16: Serrano (D) wins 93-6
District 17: Engel (D) wins 72-25
District 18: Lowey (D) wins 58-41
District 19: Hayworth (R) wins 55-44 (R PICKUP)
District 20: Gibson (R) wins 55-44 (R PICKUP)
District 21: Tonko (D) wins 55-45
District 22: Hinchey (D) wins 51-48
District 23: Doheny (R) wins 47-45 (R PICKUP)
District 24: Hanna (R) wins 54-46 (R PICKUP)
District 25: Buerkle (R) wins 52-48 (R PICKUP)
District 26: Lee (R) wins 70-30
District 27: Higgins (D) wins 57-43
District 28: Slaughter (D) wins 56-43
District 29: Reed (R) wins 55-44 (R PICKUP)

A sea change in New York, as the Delegation changes from 27-2 D to 19-10 D. In addition, while the 4th, 9th, 21st, and 22nd Districts were held by the Democrats, it was by a lesser margin than expected. We'll see what this means for the Special Senate Race as the night continues.

Running Total of the House so far: 145 Republicans (+49), 108 Democrats (-49)

Michigan

District 1: Benishek (R) wins 50-43 (R PICKUP)
District 2: Huizenga (R) wins 63-34
District 3: Amash (R) wins 57-40
District 4: Camp (R) wins 64-33
District 5: Kildee (D) wins 55-43
District 6: Upton (R) wins 60-35
District 7: Walberg (R) wins 49-47 (R PICKUP)
District 8: Rogers (R) wins 62-35
District 9: Peters (D) wins 52-46
District 10: Miller (R) wins 69-27
District 11: McCotter (R) wins 57-40
District 12: Levin (D) wins 63-33
District 13: Clarke (D) wins 80-19
District 14: Conyers (D) wins 77-20
District 15: Dingell (D) wins 56-41

Two republican gains in the state of Michigan.

Running Total of the House so far: 154 Republicans (+51), 114 Democrats (-51)

Wisconsin

District 1: Ryan (R) wins 68-30
District 2: Baldwin (D) wins 62-38
District 3: Kind (D) wins 52-45
District 4: Moore (D) wins 67-30
District 5: Sensenbrenner (R) wins 67-31
District 6: Petri (R) wins 66-34
District 7: Duffy (R) wins 51-46 (R PICKUP)
District 8 : Ribble (R) wins 54-46 (R PICKUP)

Republicans pickup the 7th and 8th Districts in Wisconsin, a state hit hard by the recent recession.

Running Total of the House so far: 159 Republicans (+53), 117 Democrats (-53)

Minnesota

District 1: Walz (D) wins 49-45
District 2: Kline (R) wins 61-39
District 3: Paulsen (R) wins 56-40
District 4: McCollum (D) wins 59-35
District 5: Ellison (D) wins 69-26
District 6: Bachmann (R) wins 52-41
District 7: Petersen (D) wins 57-37
District 8: Oberstar (D) wins 48.4%-48.1%

Status quo election in Minnesota, though the 8th District came very close to flipping.

Running Total of the House so far: 162 Republicans (+53), 122 Democrats (-53)

North Dakota

District 1: Berg (R) wins 53-47 (R PICKUP)

Republicans take the the only ND seat, embarrassing the longtime D incumbent.

Running Total of the House so far: 163 Republicans (+54), 122 Democrats (-54)

South Dakota

District 1: Noem (R) wins 48-46 (R PICKUP)

The only SD seat also flips.

Running Total of the House so far: 164 Republicans (+55), 122 Democrats (-55)

Wyoming

District 1: Lummis (R) wins 70-26

No surprise in Wyoming.

Running Total of the House so far: 165 Republicans (+55), 122 Democrats (-55)

Nebraska

District 1: Fortenberry (R) wins 70-30
District 2: Terry (R) wins 59-41
District 3: Smith (R) wins 70-18

Status quo in Nebraska.

Running Total of the House so far: 168 Republicans (+55), 122 Democrats (-55)

Kansas

District 1: Huelskamp (R) wins 74-23
District 2: Jenkins (R) wins 63-32
District 3: Yoder (R) wins 57-39 (R PICKUP)
District 4: Pompeo (R) wins 59-36

As expected, the 3rd district flips due to the retirement of the incumbent.

Running Total of the House so far: 172 Republicans (+56), 122 Democrats (-56)

New Mexico

District 1: Heinrich (D) wins 53-47
District 2: Pearce (R) wins 53-47 (R PICKUP)
District 3: Lujan (D) wins 60-40

New Mexico elects a 2-1 D delegation as expected.

Running Total of the House so far: 173 Republicans (+57), 124 Democrats (-57)

Colorado

District 1: Degette (D) wins 67-28
District 2: Polis (D) wins 57-37
District 3: Tipton (R) wins 52-45 (R PICKUP)
District 4: Gardner (R) wins 53-40 (R PICKUP)
District 5: Lamborn (R) wins 66-30
District 6: Coffman (R) wins 65-31
District 7: Perlmutter (D) wins 51-43

A major shift in Colorado as two seats flip. Democrats do retain the 7th District by a comfortable margin.

Running Total of the House so far: 177 Republicans (+59), 127 Democrats (-59)

Louisiana

District 1: Scalise (R) wins 78-20
District 2: Richmond (D) wins 60-38 (D PICKUP)
District 3: Landry (R) wins 64-36 (R PICKUP)
District 4: Fleming (R) wins 62-32
District 5: Alexander (R) wins 79-21
District 6: Cassidy (R) wins 65-35
District 7: Boustany (R) unopposed

Democrats both gain a seat and lose a seat in Louisiana. Neither outcome is a surprise.

Running Total of the House so far: 183 Republicans (+59), 128 Democrats (-59)

Texas

District 1: Gohmert (R) wins 90-10
District 2: Poe (R) wins 90-10
District 3: Johnson (R) wins 66-31
District 4: Hall (R) wins 74-22
District 5: Hensarling (R) wins 71-27
District 6: Barton (R) wins 66-31
District 7: Culberson (R) wins 82-18
District 8: Brady (R) wins 80-17
District 9: Green, Al (D) wins 76-23
District 10: McCaul (R) wins 65-33
District 11: Conaway (R) wins 81-15
District 12: Granger (R) wins 72-25
District 13: Thornberry (R) wins 87-9
District 14: Paul (R) wins 74-26
District 15: Hinojosa (D) wins 56-41
District 16: Reyes (D) wins 58-37
District 17: Flores (R) wins 59-39 (R PICKUP)
District 18: Jackson-Lee (D) wins 70-27
District 19: Neugebauer (R) wins 78-19
District 20: Gonzalez (D) wins 64-34
District 21: Smith (R) wins 69-28
District 22: Olson (R) wins 68-30
District 23: Canseco (R) wins 48-45 (R PICKUP)
District 24: Marchant (R) wins 80-20
District 25: Doggett (D) wins 54-44
District 26: Burgess (R) wins 67-31
District 27: Ortiz (D) wins 48-47
District 28: Cuellar (D) wins 56-42
District 29: Green, Gene (D) wins 65-34
District 30: Johnson (D) wins 76-22
District 31: Carter (R) wins 82-18
District 32: Sessions (R) wins 63-35

Republicans pick up two seats in Texas, along with holding many seats.

Running Total of the House so far: 205 Republicans (+61), 138 Democrats (-61)

Barring an absolute miracle in the states yet to close, Republicans will take control of the house.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Let's move on to the Senate races. In North Dakota, in the 4th Republican Pickup of the night, John Hoeven easily wins the open seat!

Hoeven (R): 73.2%
Potter (D): 24.5%
Others: 2.3%

In Kansas, a hold for the Republicans, as Jerry Moran wins the open seat:

Moran (R): 67.1%
Johnston (D): 30%
Others: 2.9%

In Louisiana, the incumbent Mr. Vitter has been re-elected:

Vitter (R): 58.4%
Melancon (D): 37.4%
Others: 5.2%

In South Dakota, Senator John Thune wins due to the fact that he ran unopposed:

Thune (R): 100%

In the regularly scheduled election for New York, Senator Chuck Schumer is re-elected, though the margin is not nearly as overwhelming as it was in 2004:

Schumer (D): 61.6%
Townsend (R): 36.7%
Others: 1.7%

In the Special Election for New York, it is too close to call. Kirsten Gillibrand and Donald Trump locked in a very tight race.

In Colorado, it is too close to call between the Appointed Democratic Incumbent Michael Bennett and the Republican Jane Norton.

In Wisconsin, where Democrats retain hopes that Russ Feingold can find a way to beat Ron Johnson, it is too close to call.

Here is the latest from the three Senate races from earlier that we cannot call:

MO (2% in):

Blunt (R): 61%
Carnahan (D): 33%
Others: 6%

PA (5% in):

Sestak (D): 61%
Toomey (R): 39%

IL (7% in):

Giannoulias (D): 58%
Kirk (R): 36%
Others: 6%

(Brown = 1 D, 1 Unknown)

Democrats: 44 (-4)
Republicans: 38 (+4)
Independents: 2

Let's move on to the Governors. In Texas, the incumbent Governor Rick Perry has been re-elected!

Perry (R): 55.4%
White (D): 41.9%
Others: 2.7%

In New Mexico, it is too early to call. The Republican Susana Martinez leads the Democrat Diane Denish.

In Colorado, it is too early to call. The Democrat John Hickenlooper leads the Constitution Party's Tom Tancredo. Republican Dan Maes trails.

In Kansas, the Republicans pick up the open seat:

Brownback (R): 62.3%
Holland (D): 35%
Others: 2.7%

In Nebraska, the Republican Dave Heineman has been re-elected!:

Heineman (R): 74.3%
Meister (D): 25.7%

In Wyoming, the Republicans pick up the open seat:

Mead (R): 70.3%
Petersen (D): 26%
Others: 3.7%

In South Dakota, Republicans hold the open seat:

Daugaard (R): 61.5%
Heidepriem (D): 38.5%

In Minnesota, it is too close to call.

In Wisconsin, it is too close to call.

In Michigan, Mr. Snyder picks up the seat for the Republicans!:

Snyder (R): 58.1%
Bernero (D): 40%
Others: 1.9%

In New York, the Democrat Andrew Cuomo is the winner:

Cuomo (D): 60.7%
Paladino (R): 36.9%
Others: 2.4%

Let's look at the uncalled races from earlier:

Vermont (26% in): Shumlin (D) 50%, Dubie (R) 47%
South Carolina (31% in): Sheheen (D) 51%, Haley (R) 48%
Georgia (25% in): Deal (R) 59%, Barnes (D) 39%
Ohio (25% in): Strickland (D) 51%, Kasich (R) 45%
Florida (65% in): Scott (R) 49%, Sink (D) 49%
Illinois (7% in): Quinn (D) 59%, Brady (R) 35%
Pennsylvania (5% in): Onorato (D) 59%, Corbett (R) 41%
Connecticut (6% in): Foley (R) 52%, Malloy (D) 47%
Rhode Island (10% in): Chafee (I) 35%, Robitaille (R) 34%, Caprio (D) 22%, Block (Moderate) 8%
Massachusetts (27% in): Patrick (D) 48%, Baker (R) 41%, Cahill (I) 9%
Maine (16% in): LePage (R) 38%, Cutler (I) 38%, Mitchell (D) 20%

Republicans: 15 (+5)
Democrats: 11 (-5)

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Olbermann: Let's go right to our Correspondent Andrea Mitchell, at Donald Trump Headquarters. The race is too close to call. What are you hearing now?

Mitchell: Well, the polls may be closed, but the voting is not over. There are still long lines in the upstate cities, and the Trump campaign believes that is good for them. There are also still significant lines in Queens, which could be good for Gillibrand, but that is a borough where Trump has been trying to make some inroads. However, I am hearing a bit of concern, moreso from this crowd than the campaign, when both Schumer and Cuomo's victories were called immediately. Yes, both were widely expected to win regardless of how Trump did, but I think this crowd would have liked to make one of them sweat a bit.

Sharpton: What percent is Trump looking to get in Queens?

Mitchell: They are hopeful they can get as much as 35% of the vote there, and perhaps 30% in Brooklyn. But their key goal is winning every upstate county, and both Suffolk and Nassau Counties on Long Island, and winning the conservative-leaning borough of Staten Island.

Robinson: If this is something that gets litigated for several weeks, does Trump have the resources to fight the democratic machine that would rise up?

Mitchell: They seem to think they would, and they do speak of a stellar legal team. But Trump has been hoping for a clear victory, and in the final days on the trail suggested he could win by as much as five points. Of course, the Gillibrand campaign has rejected it out of hand, suggesting they will defeat Trump by 10 points statewide.

Olbermann: Thank you. Rand Paul is giving his victory speech, and we're going to go to him right now.

Paul: Thank you! Thank you! I'd like to thank my wife (...)

I have a message! A message from the people of Kentucky! A message that rings loud and true! We're here to take our government back! (...)

They say the United States Senate is the world's most deliberative body. I ask them to deliberate on this: Why do we take on so much debt and never pay for it (...)

Why do we let our country be overthrown by special interest groups and be led by a pathetic swamp of corrupt creatures (...)

Why do we let our country become a place of sanctuary cities and Amnesty? We must repeal this immigration monstrosity immediately! (...)

Our government has forced us to be quiet for years, but we're done with that! (...) With my win and hopefully a win by Donald Trump in New York, we will change this country (...) Thank you!

Olbermann: Uh, interesting speech.

Maddow: Kind of daring there. He thinks he has this amazing power over the body he was just elected to. Also, that explicit endorsement of Trump right there at the end - kind of strange - he's been trying to pitch himself as this regular guy, and Trump is a billionaire.

Robinson: I think the implication is they're both outside the swamp, but even that may not exactly be true. Trump has made all sorts of shady deals over the years and you have to wonder how departed from the Swamp he really is.

Sharpton: Well, one thing I have to point out - if Trump wins, presumably he won't be able to do Celebrity Apprentice anymore, which means the end of that stupid show!

Matthews: Hey I kind of liked that! Granted the last season of it was a shortened season because he had to be campaigning, so that was kind of weak.

Olbermann: Let's go to Chuck Todd for an update of how the Republican Path to the Senate Majority is looking.

Todd: Well, we're still at a point in the night where Republicans sort of have to run the table. You look at where they are now, 38 seats. There are some seats still out that they should hold - Iowa, Arizona, Utah, Idaho, Alaska - that gets them to 43. Holding Missouri is 44. Then they have to pick up these battleground seats. Pennsylvania, Illinois, Colorado, Wisconsin - that's 48. Now the Democrats are at 44 currently, if we assume the two independents caucus with them that's 46. They should hold on in Oregon and Hawaii, that's 48 on their side. At that point, the contest comes down to California, Washington, New York, and Nevada. Because Democrats have the Presidency, they need only two of the four, while Republicans need 3. Now what the Democrats tell me is that they are very confident they will hold California, and it is quite the blue state, and Senator Boxer is an incumbent of several terms. So with that, Republicans need to sweep Washington, New York, and Nevada. So it really could all come down to whoever wins the old Hillary Clinton seat.

Maddow: And looking at the governors, do we have a clear sense at this point of if the Republicans can get a majority of Governorships?

Todd: Well, we're waiting on a lot of really close races here, some of which haven't even closed yet, and unlike with the Senate, for the Governors there are some really big democratic pickup opportunities, in California, Vermont, Minnesota. Rhode Island may flip from Republican to Independent. Maine may go away from the Democrats, but still go to an Independent instead of a Republican. There are of course still other Republican pickup opportunities left out here - New Mexico, Iowa, Wisconsin. But still, it's just too early to tell if they can get all the way to 26.

Olbermann: All right. When we come back, we'll speak with Matt Kibbe, President of Freedomworks, a large conservative group.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Olbermann: Let's go to Matt Kibble, with the conservative group Freedomworks. Mr. Kibble, we thank you for joining us.

Kibble: Thank you for having me.

O'Donnell: As you know, the next congress will have to deal with an increase to the debt ceiling. For the audience, the debt ceiling is effectively our nation's credit limit. We obviously have a debt in this country, and that debt can be raised up to a legislative limit. It is not something that is raised implicitly by us agreeing to spend more money, raising the limit requires separate legislation. Mr. Kibble, when the debt ceiling increase comes up in this next congress, will it be your organization's position that it should not be raised?

Kibble: Well, I'm not sure, that's a debate that's continuing...

O'Donnell: You're not sure? Really?

Kibble: Well I don't want to get into hypotheticals, this depends on when it happens...

O'Donnell: This is not a hypothetical. The debt ceiling is going to be reached. It is not something we can project exactly as it depends on varying expenses such as interest on the debt, which is not a discretionary spending item. It could be as early as March. It could be as late as June. But we are going to reach it, and if we do not raise it, then it would be the first default in our nation's history and our credit would be hurt badly. Again, is it your position that we should not raise the ceiling?

Kibble: Well, what I mean is, whether it happens early or late in the congress can determine strategy. If it happens early in the congress, no one has time to offer real reforms to our spending, and we may have little choice but to authorize a clean short term raise. But if it happens later in the congress, we would hope that we've taken the time to have some real debate over government spending, so even as we do raise the ceiling when necessary, we're doing it along with a plan to not get into this sort of pickle again.

Sharpton: Would you be willing to support a tax increase as part of this?

Kibble: We do not believe a tax increase would be effective, as it just gives Washington more money to waste. We should be extending the Bush Tax cuts permanently for everyone, and reducing corporate taxes. We should also be teaching Washington to live within its means, and not just keep giving it candy it doesn't deserve, so to speak.

Matthews: Okay, so what gets cut first?

Kibble: The first thing we need to do is drastically restructure this immigration sham bill, and then we need to repeal Dodd-Frank.

Matthews: That's hardly going to make a dent, but okay...

Kibble: Of course, that's only the tip of the iceberg. We're going to have to look at every dollar in every department and figure out if it's being wisely spent. Honestly, these budgets are so big and passed with almost no debate much of the time, and we don't even really know what we spend our money on. It could be lining the pockets of the Chinese Dictator for all we know. Slow down and take some time to read these budgets and educate ourselves on where Washington is wasting money and where it is using money effectively, and then we can make an adult decision about how to balance the budget effectively.

Matthews: So you're willing to cut entitlements?

Kibble: Well, if that's the best way to balance the budget, maybe we can have a conversation about that at some point. But this has to start with yanking all these earmarks and quid pro-quos out of the budget. The budget should be a readable piece of legislation, not a 5,000 page disaster that could take years to read with good comprehension.

Robinson: Who are you going to back in the 2012 presidential race?

Kibble: (laughs) Well, that's something that can't be answered yet, it's still too early. We hope to have a wide berth of candidates running on the republican side, the last thing we should do is try to coronate somebody. And I hope that Hillary Clinton gives President Obama a real challenge in the Democratic Primary to create real doubts about his leadership even within the core liberal constituencies across this country.

Olbermann: Thank you. Let's go to Lester Holt for more from our exit polling.

Holt: Thank you, we're going to look at some key questions from our New York exit poll and then look at some more national data. First off, straight candidate favorable numbers from New York:

Cuomo 64-33 favorable
Schumer 65-29 favorable
Trump 47-52 unfavorable
Gillibrand 45-54 unfavorable

First off, no surprise that the two democrats who won easy re-elections tonight are viewed strongly favorably, Donald Trump himself said he likes Schumer and voted for him. But the big numbers here, Gillibrand viewed more unfavorably than Trump. Both candidates came into election day with an unfavorable image, but Gillibrand's is worse than Trump.

Next, Trump spent the campaign arguing for border walls for both the US border with Canada and the US border with Mexico. We asked about support for both walls.

Wall With Mexico: 39-57 Oppose
Wall With Canada: 46-52 Oppose

As you can see, while the Mexico idea is unpopular, the Canada idea enjoys healthy support for a Republican proposal in deeply blue New York. Trump's framing of the two issues together seemed to have helped it go over as best as he could hope it could in a deep blue state:

Approve of Trump's immigration views: 44-52 Disapprove

But where the best signs for Mr. Trump are on the honesty and integrity issue, the issue that he ran on the most. 52% of the state believes that Trump is the more ethical candidate, while 45% of the state believes Gillibrand is. The question that will determine the results tonight is what was most on voters minds - if it's immigration, Gillibrand should survive. if it's Ethics, she may lose in what is normally a deep blue state.

Looking back at the national numbers, we wanted to take a look at some other issues that Obama has pushed and see how they polled. Here we go:

Close Guantanamo Bay Prison: 42-51 (Oppose with 51)
Repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell: 53-42
Defense of Marriage Act should be declared unconstitutional: 44-51
Equal Pay: 55-40
Minimum Wage Increase to $9: 65-32
Minimum Wage Increase to $11: 56-41
Reinstate Assault Weapons Ban: 42-55

The President can look at this and take some victories out of it. They're going to particularly like support for DADT repeal at 53-42, that is a goal in the lame duck and this conservative electorate wanting it repealed is a great mandate line for the President to use. As we've always seen, support for a minimum wage increase is strong despite Washington inaction on the issue. And closing Gitmo is still not really resonating, though don't expect the president to give up anytime soon.

Olbermann: Thank you, Lester. When we come back, we'll speak with our correspondents at the Patty Murray and Dino Rossi headquarters in Washington State.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Olbermann: Welcome back. First order of Business is a Governor's race call. In the State of Colorado, the Democrat John Hickenlooper is the winner:

14% in: Hickenlooper 53, Tancredo 34, Maes 12

Final:
Hickenlooper (D): 50.3%
Tancredo  (Constitution): 37.6%
Maes (R): 11.4%
Others: 1.3%

Republicans: 15 (+5)
Democrats: 12 (-5)

Let's now go to Craig Melvin, who is standing by at Patty Murray headquarters, where the polls close in an hour and change. Craig, what are you hearing about this potentially critical senate race?

Melvin: Well, I can tell you that they are still trying to get out a few last votes even at this late hour, they're making sure that everyone in this crowd here has actually voted as well, and they are casting this as the race that will decide the Senate Majority. Senator Murray voted this morning, and she did her best to put on a very confident face, but within the campaign there is certainly some concern, particularly given how close the race in New York appears to be, many within the campaign were expecting Gillibrand to win easily, and that clearly is not happening. But at the end of the day, they say there are a lot of votes, a lot of votes to count in Seattle, and that that should put Murray over the top at the end of the day.

Sharpton: If this ends up being like the 2004 Governors race in the state, are they prepared for a recount?

Melvin: Well certainly the reality they would prefer is to win by several points, but they do have a legal team in place should such a scenario arise. Obviously no one expects Rossi to concede this race easily after all the money he has put in it, but I think there is real confidence here that this race will not stretch on as long as the 2004 Governor's race.

O'Donnell: Now, Murray is one of the major committee leaders in the Senate. Should she hold on, have you gotten any indication of what she believes a narrowly Democratic Senate can still achieve with what we presume will be a Republican House?

Melvin: At this time, No. They are just trying to win this race, and hoping that other Democrats around the country also win, particularly Majority Leader Harry Reid, who is fighting hard for re-election in Nevada as we speak.

Olbermann: Thank you. Peter Alexander is at Dino Rossi Headquarters. Mr. Alexander, what's the mood there?

Alexander: It is clear. This is a campaign that believes it is going to win. They are talking a big game about the massive turnout they think is out for them in swing areas across the state, and they have also stated that if King County tries to steal the election from them, they are prepared to fight. Clearly prepared for a remarkably close race if that's what this is going to be.

Robinson: So they believe their victory is inevitable?

Alexander: Well, that's not a view that I share, but the campaign certainly wants to believe that. Maybe they're right, maybe they're wrong. They are going to have to override a very democratic King County and surrounding counties, but they believe they have the turnout in Spokane and Vancouver and elsewhere to do it.

Olbermann: Thank you, Mr. Alexander. We now want to put up the first figures for the Trump-Gillibrand race. 3% of the vote is in, we are told this is mostly from New York City. Here's what we have for you:

Gillibrand: 64.7%
Trump: 33.3%
Others: 2%

Again, just three percent of the vote is in, that will narrow as the night continues. When we return, we'll speak with RNC chair Michael Steele about how the night is going so far.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Olbermann: We can call the Senate Race in Missouri now. Mr. Blunt takes the open seat.

14% in: Blunt 60-34

Final:

Blunt(R): 54.2%
Carnahan(D): 41.5%
Others: 4.3%

Democrats: 44 (-4)
Republicans: 39 (+4)
Independents: 2

Let's now bring in RNC chair Michael Steele to talk about the night so far. As you can see, Democrats with a Senate Plurality of 44-39 with 2 independents, and Republicans with a Gubernatorial Plurality of 15-12. What do those numbers tell you about how the night is going so far?

Steele: Well, it's encouraging. With the Senate, we're tied 44-44 if you count the seats we already hold where the polls have not yet closed, and I think we can get Independent Joe Lieberman to caucus with us, so with Senator Sanders of course caucusing with the Democrats, it's a tie at 45-45. From there, we have to win some important contests in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania and Illinois and Colorado and New York and hopefully in Nevada, and then we would have a slim majority. And that path remains very much open right now and I've seen nothing to suggest we can't achieve it.

Olbermann: and regarding the governors?

Steele: It's very early still and I don't want to jinx anything here, but I think there are encouraging numbers in several races around the country and hopefully we can take some of them. As far as if we can get to a majority of governorships, we're very hopeful but we'll just have to see. There's lots of outstanding races out there.

Maddow: One thing that looks clear, barring a big surprise in the outstanding seats, is that you will take a majority in the house. Are you surprised that that has become clear this early in the evening?

Steele: No, I think we've seen throughout this cycle that we have strong candidates running for the house, in some cases, even stronger than the candidates running for the governorships or the senate seats. And when we get the final number in several hours, it could be north of 250 seats, which I think would really send a powerful voice for change and show that the American people are tired of this presidency.

Robinson: How do you get the President to sign on to a weakening of his signature immigration legislation?

Steele: Well, you have to show the president what his legislation is doing to this country. Show him all the illegals who are flooding in to this country now to get the amnesty that he is providing. Show him the sanctuary cities that are developing anew. Remember, we got Mary Landrieu to oppose this bill, an extremely liberal individual. Now it still passed, but she voted No. No one is out of reach here. And if we're not successful in the congress, some have suggested a challenge to the law's constitutionality, and we'll look at that route as well.

Sharpton: Will you be opposed to raising the debt ceiling?

Steele: Well, I think Matt Kibble was very clear earlier - the position that is taken depends on the exact time that that comes up and the proposals that exist to reform our system so that this is the last time we have to do a ceiling increase. And that is where we have to be. The ceiling likely has to be increased no matter what thanks to the policies of this presidency, but let's make sure that this is the absolute last time we have to raise it.

Olbermann: Thank you, Mr. Steele. We'll be back at the top of the hour with more poll closings.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

10 ET Poll Closings

Olbermann: Welcome to another set of poll closings. As always, we start with the house:

Iowa

District 1: Braley (D) wins 49-48
District 2: Loebsack (D) wins 51-45
District 3: Boswell (D) wins 50-48
District 4: Latham (R) wins 66-31
District 5: King (R) wins 66-32

In a disappointment for the Republicans, status quo in Iowa.

Running Total of the House so far: 207 Republicans (+61), 141 Democrats (-61)

Montana

District 1: Rehberg (R) wins 60-34

Nothing to see here folks. Move along.

Running Total of the House so far: 208 Republicans (+61), 141 Democrats (-61)

Utah

District 1: Bishop (R) wins 69-24
District 2: Matheson (D) wins 50-47
District 3: Chaffetz (R) wins 72-23

Another status quo election in Utah.

Running Total of the House so far: 210 Republicans (+61), 142 Democrats (-61)

Nevada

District 1: Berkeley (D) wins 58-37
District 2: Heller (R) wins 63-33
District 3: Heck wins 51-46 (R PICKUP)

Nevada's 3rd district flips to the Republicans in a big blow to the Democratic Party.

Running Total of the House so far: 212 Republicans (+62), 143 Democrats (-62)

Arizona

Under State Law, full results are not available for an hour, so only uncompetitive races can be shown at this point.

District 1: UNAVAILABLE
District 2: Franks (R) wins 65-31
District 3: UNAVAILABLE
District 4: Pastor (D) wins 67-28
District 5: UNAVAILABLE
District 6: Flake (R) wins 66-29
District 7: UNAVAILABLE
District 8: UNAVAILABLE

Two republicans and a Democrat easily re-elected. Among the competitive seats, all but the 3rd district are additional pickup opportunities for republicans. Stay tuned.

Running Total of the House so far: 214 Republicans (+62), 144 Democrats (-62)

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Just stumbled across this and I'm a bit confused by Harkin's opposition to the Single-Payer bill; he's spoken positively of Cuba's Single-Payer system in the past and in OTL, he voted yes on a Single-Payer proposal that Brown and Sanders put up for a vote on the HELP Committee (the three of them plus Merkley were the only ones who voted for it, fwiw)

After ObamaCare failed to pass, Health Care reform was declared a dead issue by Obama and top Democrats in the House and Senate, so as a committee chair, Harkin can't really support the single payer bill without risking losing his chairmanship.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Moving along to the Senate, we start in Arizona, where it is projected that the Incumbent Senator John McCain will win another term. His biggest battle was of course in the primary with Mr. Hayworth, so no surprise here.

McCain (R): 59.6%
Glassman (D): 33%
Others: 7.4%

In Iowa, another six years for Mr. Chuck Grassley.

Grassley (R): 65.1%
Conlin (D): 32.8%
Others: 2.1%

In Utah, an easy win for Mike Lee.

Lee (R): 62.7%
Granato (D): 31%
Others: 6.3%

And, of course, too close to call in Nevada, where the world awaits the fate of Majority Leader Harry Reid.

In the other uncalled races:

WI (14% in):

Johnson (R): 58%
Feingold (D): 41%
Others: 1%

CO (25% in):

Bennet (D): 50%
Norton (R): 46%
Others: 4%

IL (28% in):

Giannoulias (D): 54%
Kirk (R): 40%
Others: 6%

PA (47% in):

Sestak (D): 53%
Toomey (R): 47%

NY-S (16% in):

Gillibrand (D): 60%
Trump (R): 38%
Others: 2%

Democrats: 44 (-4)
Republicans: 42 (+4)
Independents: 2

----

Moving along to the gubernatorial races, it is too early to call in Arizona, though the Republican Jan Brewer is in the lead.

In Iowa, also too early to call, with the Republican Terry Branstad in the lead.

In Nevada, also too early to call, with the Republican Brian Sandoval in the lead.

In Utah, we can make a projection. Republican Gary Herbert wins the governorship in Utah:

Herbert (R): 64.1%
Corron (D): 31.9%
Others: 4%

We can also call the sixth republican gain of the night, in Pennsylvania, where the Republican Tom Corbett has been elected!

47% in: Corbett 51-49

Final:

Corbett (R): 55.3%
Onorato (D): 44.7%

Here are the latest numbers from the other uncalled races:

Vermont (48% in): Dubie (R) 50%, Shumlin (D) 48%
South Carolina (54% in): Haley (R) 50%, Sheheen (D) 49%
Georgia (49% in): Deal (R) 58%, Barnes (D) 40%
Ohio (47% in): Kasich (R) 49%, Strickland (D) 47%
Florida (85% in): Scott (R) 49%, Sink (D) 49%
Illinois (28% in): Quinn (D) 55%, Brady (R) 39%
Connecticut (35% in): Foley (R) 53%, Malloy (D) 46%
Rhode Island (38% in): Chafee (I) 34%, Robitaille (R) 34%, Caprio (D) 23%, Block (Moderate) 8%
Massachusetts (56% in): Patrick (D) 48%, Baker (R) 43%, Cahill (I) 8%
Maine (37% in): LePage (R) 39%, Cutler (I) 37%, Mitchell (D) 20%
Minnesota (22% in): Dayton (D) 50%, Emmer (R) 37%, Horner (I) 12%
Wisconsin (14% in): Walker (R) 58%, Barrett (D) 41%
New Mexico (16% in): Martinez (R) 57%, Denish (D) 42%

Republicans: 17 (+6)
Democrats: 12 (-6)

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Olbermann: Let's begin the hour at Harry Reid headquarters with our correspondent Ed Schultz. Mr. Schultz, the Nevada race is too close to call per our decision desk, but what are you hearing on the ground?

Schultz: Too close to call, certainly, but there continues to be a real quiet confidence here, perhaps even turning into a calm whisper. The lines are still there in the core of Las Vegas and they believe it is full of their voters. They do know that Angle will run up the score in these rural areas but there continues to be a real sense of confidence here.

Olbermann: So, looking at tonight so far - the House margin of 214 to 144 at this hour, obviously that will come down once California comes in, but still, all indications are that the GOP will be able to control the House by a notable margin - on the strength of a tea party brand that will now have to work with two established parties to get things done. How does this work?

Schultz: Well, one thing that the tea party has never been clear on is job creation and outsourcing. It seems like that's off limits when you talk to a tea party candidate. This change has come tonight because of lack of progress as the American people see it - but, whoever might win tonight that's a tea partier - what are you going to do to create jobs? Are you giving incentives to small businesses? Because Obama's been trying to do that and is getting blocked. So back to this three letter word, JOB? Do you have one, can you keep it, and is it safe from outsourcing? That's the key question.

Now with the House - if - and it is extremely likely - the GOP is able to take over - this means that the corporate money is going to be around for the next election cycle - the democrats aren't going to be able to match this kind of funding. The fundraising for 2012 is going to start tomorrow. And that's why it's going to be important for the soul of the democratic party to get a victory here tonight in Nevada. If the GOP takes out Harry Reid, which would be their second victory over a democratic leadership figure in six years - that would really shake the core of the democratic party.

Olbermann: Thank you. And to back up part of what was just said - 29% of voters reporting a layoff in their own family has occurred during this recession per our exit polling. That's part of what's fueling what's going on across this country. And now let's go to our correspondent Kevin Tibbles - on site at another key location - Giannoulias Headquarters in Illinois. So, Tibbles - what are you hearing at this point - are they confident the early lead will hold?

Tibbles: Well, they are encouraged, but cautiously so. There is a considerable amount of Chicago in these numbers and not necessarily a lot from other areas of the state. Certainly Giannoulias is not going to win by 14 points. But they are hopeful that Kirk, who is seen as more of a moderate, has not generated strong turnout in conservative areas of the state that will come in over the course of the night. But regardless this will be down to the wire and the governor's race will be as well, and the campaigns here are prepared for what may be a long legal battle.

Olbermann: This was an interesting race as the immigration bill didn't have a ton of effect. Kirk's opposition to it was not nearly as fierce as some of what we saw in other states. Are you seeing any benefit to either side from that not being so much of a focus?

Tibbles: Well it has really intensified the focus on jobs and away from the foreign stage near and far. But I'm not sure there's too much difference either way in terms of the state of this race regardless of the environment. Republicans landed a star nominee in Mr. Kirk and this will be a marquee race as a result.

Olbermann: Thank you. We have a call to make now, for the Governor's Race in New Mexico - Susana Martinez picks up the seat for the GOP:

23% in: Martinez 58-41

Final:

Martinez 53.7%
Denish 45.2%
Other 1.1%

Republicans: 18 (+7)
Democrats: 12 (-7)

We'll be back after the break with interviews with Michele Bachmann and Claire McCaskill.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Matthews: We continue with Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, who has been re-elected tonight. Ms. Bachmann, it's been so long since you've been on my program, and I have to ask you, if the Republicans take control of the House of Representatives, will you seek to use subpoena powers to investigate democratic members of Congress for Unamericanism?

Bachmann: I couldn't hear the question exactly...got a very happy audience out here, you said something about the Subpoena power?

Matthews: Yes, if the Republicans get control of the Congress, it looks like you will, will you do what you said on my show some time ago and use the subpoena power to investigate the democratic members of Congress for Unamericanism?

Bachmann: Well I think the first thing we're going to do is try to set the economy in order and bring back the jobs! That's what people are talking about, you've talked about it tonight, people are desperately looking for a job! And we have to make sure that no one suffers a tax increase and repeal the disastrous immigration bill and Dodd-Frank! So I'm urging Speaker Pelosi, this lame duck session, to see the overwhelming message coming from the American People and to not raise our taxes, stop the out of control spending and get our jobs back. So I hope that during the lame duck session we'll have an extension of all the current tax policy because the very sad story is that a minute after midnight on January 1st, every taxpayer will see a dramatic increase in taxes. No one can afford that right now. We need to listen to what the people have been saying and do what they're asking us to do.

Matthews: Well your colleague Mr. Issa who will chair the Oversight Committee, has said he will use the subpoena power to investigate democratic members of congress for unamerican activities. Will you support that?

Bachmann: Well, the plan I've been talking about this election is really 5 things and I would encourage this to be the agenda in 2011 and it's very simple. Number one, keep the current tax policy so no one has increased taxes. Number two, we need to ensure ObamaCare stays dead and squash any future attempt at so called health care reform such as the atrocious single payer proposal, Number three, we need to repeal the disastrous immigration bill and fully secure the united states border, Number four, we need to repeal Dodd-Frank, and Number five, we have to make sure we don't see a huge increase in our energy taxes. Those are the five things that will satisfy the american people and inject certainty back into the economy.

Matthews: Well let me ask you something are you hypnotized tonight? Because no matter what I ask you you give the same answer?

Bachmann: Well I think the American People are the ones that are speaking up tonight. We're coming out of our trance and we're coming out of our nightmare! I imagine the thrill of tonight may not be reaching you in that studio but the people are thrilled out here with the results so far!

Matthews: Well your signholder has already addressed that issue but someday we'll have you back on my show and ask you about those investigations for unamericanism, because I know you will never give up on your principles which is to invesigate everyone for everything!

Bachmann: Which is free markets and respecting the wishes of our founders

Matthews: Well thank you Congresswoman Bachmann, who seems to be in a trance, but we'll hand it back to you, Keith.

Maddow: Can we talk about what they're trying to do there with that sign? They're trying to say MSNBC is in the tank and NBC is in the tank for Obama, that's what they're trying to say.

Matthews: That's an ad hominem but the real question is these people like Michele Bachmann and Donald Trump that are going around making these extreme statements. With Donald Trump you have the wall with Mexico and the Wall with Canada thing. With Bachmann, she said on my program that her colleagues, right across the aisle, are going to be investigated McCarthy style for anti-american attitudes, that was the statement. So she either means it, or she doesn't, or she's being irresponsible. And so I tried to hold her accountable there. And she didn't answer the question, she did seem trance-like there. Every question I put to her was just irrelevant.

Olbermann: I think you did give her the benefit of the doubt with the word hypnotized and we'll leave it at that. Let's go to Chuck Todd for a moment here on the New York Special.



23% in:

Gillibrand 57.95%
Trump 40.03%
Other 2.02%

Todd: Yes you see the map filling in here and if you are Gillibrand you are looking at this and noting that at this point it is not a clean sweep of upstate for Mr. Trump. Gillibrand is ahead by a few points in Albany and Tompkins, and has a lead of - yes, literally - 37 votes in Clinton County. But if you're Mr. Trump, you're looking at what is so far a lead in the counties containing Buffalo and Syracuse. So a mixed bag upstate.

But come down to NYC and this is the real worry for Gillibrand. First Area of concern is Nassau County, as you can see Mr. Trump is ahead. Staten Island, pretty much as expected, Trump with a very solid lead there. Now you see all that red for Gillibrand in those 4 NYC boroughs, well, look at it closer:

Queens: Trump 36%
Bronx: Trump 17%
Manhattan: Trump 25%
Brooklyn: Trump 30%

You see the clear underperformance for Gillibrand here. Trump approaching 40% of the vote in Queens. His target in Brooklyn was 30% - he's getting it, and may go higher. A quarter of the vote in Manhattan. The Bronx is more typical but is still an improvement for the GOP.

The returns so far are disproportionately from the NYC area so that's why you see the large statewide lead for Gillibrand but it has been narrowing and it will continue to do so. Definitely still too close to call but if I were Axelrod I'd start saying goodbye to your mustache, because it really looks like Trump may pull this off.

Olbermann: Thank you for that information. That race has been and continues to be stunning.

Robinson: For all who say, look at the death of split ticket voting, you just have to look to New York to rebut them. All those voters, including Mr. Trump himself, who went in and voted for Mr. Schumer's landslide re-election, many of them also for Mr. Cuomo's landslide re-election, some of them even voting for the Democratic House Candidates, and then backed Mr. Trump over Ms. Gillibrand - As concerned as we may be about Mr. Trump's potential presence in the Senate, this apparent reduction in partisanship at least in New York could be a good thing for the health of the country.

Sharpton: Perhaps, though I highly doubt candidates split-ticketing their own ballots will become a trend, and Trump did run an unapologetically pro-choice campaign which really caught Gillibrand off guard and changed this race in a way that you really didn't see anywhere else.

Olbermann: Let's go now to Senator Claire McCaskill, who is not up for re-election tonight. Senator, let's look at the big picture first, it's pretty clear now that the GOP will take control of the House, the margin may be up for debate but it's going to happen, so when you look at that, and the Senate, presuming that it does stay in the hands of the Democrats, however narrowly, how on earth will they work together and accomplish things, these next two years?

McCaskill: Well I want to be optimistic, but one thing that is clear is that the Republican Party has put up a no moderates welcome sign, and that makes it hard to get to that common ground and find the compromises on the hard stuff. I do know this - I've listened to the Republicans talk about smaller government and cutting spending, but they have refused to talk about the programs they're gonna cut. And the rhetoric has to match the reality, and that's where it's hard. And I don't know how they can realistically tell the American people they're going to do something about the debt or deficit when they haven't been up front and honest about it.

Olbermann: You must have seen our interview with Congresswoman Blackburn earlier in the evening, where she described herself as in favor of philosophical cuts but couldn't name any specific one. Hold on here, we have two calls coming in. First off, no big surprise given the direction of the night, but Nikki Haley will hold the Governorship in the State of South Carolina.

71% in: Haley 51-47

Final:

Haley (R) 52.4%
Sheheen  (D) 46.1%
Other: 1.5%

Secondly, and this is big, and good news for the Democrats, Deval Patrick has held the Governorship in the state of Massachusetts!

69% in: Patrick 49-42

Final:

Patrick 47.2%
Baker 43.9%
Other 8.9%

Republicans: 19 (+7)
Democrats: 13 (-7)

The questioning will continue with Eugene Robinson

Robinson: Senator, your state is sort of in the middle of the country and Missouri's sort of in the middle of the political spectrum as well - it goes back and forth, so you know, what do you think we should learn from this evening, what should the democratic party take away?

McCaskill: Well first let me compliment Robin Carnahan, she's an incredibly strong leader, and she joins a bunch of us that have suffered tough statewide losses, including the man projected to win tonight, Mr. Blunt. So Robin is going to be still be around in the state for a long long time and I think the values that she talked about in this campaign will continue to resonate in Missouri.

But the real sort of disconnect here is I think the difference between what people are feeling at the kitchen table and what they're hearing from Washington. We've gotta communicate at that kitchen table. We cut small business taxes, and most Missourians don't even know it. We need to really take a look in the mirror and realize we need to a better job communicating. We've been trying to help prosperity in this country by cutting taxes, doing some bank regulation, I believe even the immigration bill will prove to be a long-term plus, but I'm not sure those independent voters in Missouri really realize how hard we've been fighting for them.

O'Donnell: Senator McCaskill, it's Lawrence O'Donnell, you talked about the no moderates welcome sign at the Republican Party, what about the Democrats? There's been talk about trying to purge the moderates from the democratic party and get more done with an ideologically coherent group of Democrats.

McCaskill: Well, I couldn't disagree with that more. There is a very strong and vibrant caucus of moderates among the democrats in the Senate and it will remain. We've just added Joe Manchin to that group. And I think we can help promote the values that my party cares about without having to lose the support of the center of this country including the independent voters in the state of Missouri. So I think it would be a big mistake to start demanding ideological purity like the Republicans do, they're going to have some real internal problems.

Olbermann: And I can see the glint in your eye as you say that, and we've had that thought too. Thank you for joining us.

And our coverage will continue after these messages.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Olbermann: We continue, and we now call the Florida Gubernatorial Election for the Republican Rick Scott, defeating the Democrat Alex Sink in an important hold for the GOP.

92% in: Scott 51-48

Final:

Scott (R) 50.4%
Sink (D) 49.0%
Others 1.4%

Also in the Georgia Governor's Race, the Republican Nathan Deal will hold the seat for the GOP.

71% in: Deal 57-41

Final:

Deal (R) 53.6%
Barnes (D) 44.3%
Others 2.1%

Republicans: 21 (+7)
Democrats: 13 (-7)


Two important states, Democrats thought they had a shot at both of them, but neither worked out. Republicans just five wins away from a majority of Governorships. Panel?

O'Donnell: Well, Georgia, that's a state that Democrats used to win handily, when we had more moderate democrats, Rachel may have not liked them, but Sam Nunn used to win Georgia, no problem. We had moderate Democratic, conservative democratic seats in Texas, Lloyd Bentsen, Oklahoma, David Boren, these seats are gone forever. And the results tonight really show a new polarization in the country.

Maddow: I will note though, that Democrats are not pushing out the moderates in the same way the GOP is. No liberal democrat came in and ended Sam Nunn's career. But the South has become dramatically more republican and that has created a situation where it becomes more difficult for Democrats to hold the House Majority, because there's only so many seats in the Northern states where they dominate. But with the GOP, they are actively pushing out the moderates, and as Claire McCaskill said earlier, they're going to regret it.

Matthews: And whatever you think of the more extreme candidates out there, the Sharron Angle's if you will, the Tea Party movement is a movement, and it's going to be a part of our lives as the years go on. The establishment GOP got some key victories in the primaries, but they were very narrow. In Delaware you had Christine O'Donnell coming within 300 votes of winning the nomination over Mike Castle. Jane Norton just barely winning over Ken Buck. Lisa Murkowski just barely winning over Joe Miller. And here's the thing - all the Republicans who voted for McCain voted for Republican this time, and then you take their ability to radicalize some of the people in the center, and that could be the downfall of Obama in 2012.

Sharpton: Democrats just need to remain strong. Tonight is a bad night, no question about it. And the redistricting implications with some of these Republican victories could be quite a tough situation, states like Florida where Scott just won are definitely going to be drawing Republican-favored maps. But we can't let ourselves get bogged down in this, and this also plays into why I'm begging Hillary Clinton to not primary Obama in 2012, because we must not show weakness or provide extra openings to the tea party.

Robinson: The silver lining, I will say, is that solidly democratic places do seem to be staying there, we aren't seeing a huge erosion. New York Special may be the one exception, but even there I think Gillibrand may just pull this out.

Olbermann: Well, it's not a solidly democratic state, but at least on a tone of Obama states flipping, we now have a call in the Wisconsin Governor's Race, where the Republican Scott Walker has defeated the Democrat Tom Barrett.

34% in: Walker 58-40

Final:

Walker (R): 52.4%
Barrett (D): 46.3%
Other: 1.3%

Republicans: 22 (+8)
Democrats: 13 (-8)

Maddow: Disappointing result there. Mr. Walker, openly running against education, against the teachers unions, and he wins by six points. And apparently, since it hasn't been called yet, there are a few Walker voters out of there that are still voting for the heavily embattled Senator Russ Feingold.

Robinson: Well, there was some speculation about whether the immigration bill might still be playing okay in some areas of the country, and there was some speculation about the upper midwest. Obviously we aren't seeing it in all the races, but if some people in other races, the Mark Dayton's, the Pat Quinn's, do pull out their races, that could be a sign that in places far away from the border, immigration still looks like a bipartisan win.

Sharpton: And remember, Trump has had to finesse this issue, he couldn't just say, Wall with Mexico, he had to say Wall with Canada as well. And he's tried to focus his campaign more on economic stuff and Gillibrand's apparent, at least according to him, trustworthiness issues.

Olbermann: Thank you, and we will return shortly with Former Virginia Governor Douglas Wilder. Meanwhile, voters in the states of California, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho have just over 15 minutes left to cast their ballots.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Olbermann: We're back now with the Former Virginia Governor Douglas Wilder, who has taken  some time to be with us tonight, and we thank you for doing so, sir

Wilder: Thanks, Keith, good to be with you guys

Olbermann: Now, the four key, sort of bellwether races for the democrats in Virginia. All four tonight have gone to the GOP. Just to review the losses, Periello in the fifth, Boucher in the ninth, Nye in the second, and Connolly in the eleventh. Is this just a natural swing in Virginia from election to election or is there something more going on here? Assess your state for us.

Wilder: Well, Virginia is a growing state, and I was amazed at what happened in 2008, and I was correct in predicting that what happened in Virginia would influence other states, and it did in 2008 as Obama won big nationwide, and it perhaps has tonight in the other direction. And as you know, the race for the presidency is going to start tomorrow, tomorrow morning, and people are going to be looking to see what has happened. And this doesn't look good for Democrats in Virginia. We've lost the gubernatorial race, we've lost these congressional seats, the only Democrats that are winning is one individual in the upper reaches of Northern Virginia, and then Bobby Scott, who is in a district that I drew, that is obviously more favorable to a minority candidate. This doesn't speak well for us. And we have got to get a better message. We've gotta get it out, make it simple, let people know why they need to vote for change. But the Republicans have to show they can govern. They'll have to reach across the aisle, because the public is looking for results, not who is in charge. Americans don't mind spending and taxes, they know there are costs to govern, but they want to know where it's going. I hope that the result tonight in Virginia is not going to be what we see two years from now, but unless we improve our messaging, it very well could be.

Robinson: Well, you talk about working across the aisle, let's look at the democratic party. Their Health Care Bill which failed, did so because it became partisan. Ben Nelson, the deciding vote against it, legit said he liked it but was opposing it because it was partisan. The immigration bill, some say Democrats gave up on a bill that could have gotten more republicans too soon, out of a desire to unify their caucus above all else, and we've seen how that bill has become partisan. Were these strategic mistakes by the democratic party?

Wilder: Well perhaps, but a big problem is how tough it's been to work with the Republican Party. So many of them came into office with a goal of making Obama a one-term president, and honestly they may have succeed if Hillary Clinton tries to primary him, which is why I hope she doesn't. But now, you know, the Republicans aren't just the minority anymore, they actually have power, they'll have control over at least one part of the legislative branch, and in our divided government, they will have to get off the Wall with Mexico Train and show they can govern, and the Democrats lone hope may be that they simply cannot.

Olbermann: Thank you, and we now come in with a big call in the Senate Race in the state of Wisconsin - Senator Russ Feingold has been defeated.

41% in: Johnson 56-43

Final:

Johnson (R): 51.2%
Feingold (D): 47.7%
Others: 1.1%

Democrats: 44 (-5)
Republicans: 43 (+5)
Independents: 2

This result is not good news for the Democrats, and it's particularly bad I think, for Progressives, that left side of the party, that Russ Feingold, with all that money spent against him, was indeed picked off.

Maddow: Not unexpected, though

Robinson: No, it was predicted, and we kind of saw it coming, but still, he's been around for a while, it's kind of a shock. Pretty established Senator. Aside from that race though, there is sort of an interesting pattern. I mean, Deval Patrick has survived in Massachusetts, Richard Blumenthal had no issue in Connecticut despite all the money spent against him, if this is a wave, which I think it is, it's not one that sweeps away all before it, and changes democratic constituencies into tea party constituencies.

Maddow: Well in some of these states, we are seeing a downticket effect. Marco Rubio winning so solidly in his senate race probably pulled Rick Scott over the line for Governor. Russ Feingold had to deal with the great antipathy for the Democratic Governor. Jim Doyle, not on the ballot again, choosing not to run for a third term, but his approval rating was 27%, he faced some really difficult choices in Wisconsin, with a 7 billion dollar budget deficit. He was a Democratic leader in a very embattled place, and yes that put Scott Walker into office, but it also affected the Senate Race.

Matthews: And you know, I sort of thought this could be a huge wave, that would sweep from Scranton all across the midwest and mountain west. But you have Sestak, running this courageous race against Toomey, and Sestak's never been a popular person in the Democratic Party, but he's got this race in a virtual tie, still slightly ahead, and whether he wins or narrowly loses, it's an incredible resistance to what is going on tonight. It really does show that guts matter.

Olbermann: Two notes about the Wisconsin Race. The Chamber of Commerce put only about $50,000 into that race, but Ron Johnson, the Winner, put in over $8 Million of his own money, and as you can see, it worked.

Maddow: Wow

Olbermann: And with that, we'll be back shortly with the 11:00 Poll Closings.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

11:00 ET

Olbermann: We can now formally say the GOP will control the House of Representatives. Let's look at this hour's results.


MSNBC - https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc-news/watch/nbc-news-gop-will-control-the-house-804213827517

Idaho

District 1: Labrador (R) wins 49%-43% (R Pickup)
District 2: Simpson (R) wins 69%-25%

Walt Minnick made a hard attempt to keep his seat. He voted No on the immigration bill, the failed health care reform bill, and even the 2009 stimulus. The Tea Party Express endorsed his candidacy for Re-election. But ultimately, the Republican DNA of the district was just too much to overcome a second time. Meanwhile, no surprise in District 2.

Running Total of the House so far: 216 Republicans (+63), 144 Democrats (-63)

Washington

District 1: Inslee (D) wins 58%-42%
District 2: Larsen (D) wins 52%-48%
District 3: Beutler (R) wins 53%-47% (R Pickup)
District 4: Hastings (R) wins 65%-35% (Seat #218)
District 5: Rodgers (R) wins 62%-38%
District 6: Dicks (D) wins 57%-43%
District 7: McDermott (D) wins 83%-17%
District 8: Reichert (R) wins 53%-47%
District 9: Smith (D) wins 54%-46%

Washington brings another pickup for the GOP in the 3rd District, and also formally puts the GOP in control of the House.

Running Total of the House so far: 220 Republicans (+64), 149 Democrats (-64)

Oregon

District 1: Wu (D) wins 55%-42%
District 2: Walden (R) wins 74%-26%
District 3: Blumenauer (D) wins 70%-24%
District 4: DeFazio (D) wins 53%-45%
District 5: Schrader (D) wins 50%-47%

Status Quo in Oregon.

Running Total of the House so far: 221 Republicans (+64), 153 Democrats (-64)

Arizona Continued

District 1: Gosar (R) wins 50%-44% (R Pickup)
District 3: Quayle (R) wins 51%-42%
District 5: Schweikert (R) wins 51%-44% (R Pickup)
District 7: Grijalva (D) wins 49%-46%
District 8: Kelly (R) wins 48.8%-48.2% (R Pickup)

Three pickups for the GOP in the competitive Arizona Races, including the defeat of Congresswoman Giffords in the 8th.

Running Total of the House so far: 225 Republicans (+67), 154 Democrats (-67)

California

District 1: Thompson (D) wins 63%-31%
District 2: Herger (R) wins 57%-43%
District 3: Lungren (R) wins 50%-44%
District 4: McClintock (R) wins 61%-31%
District 5: Matsui (D) wins 72%-25%
District 6: Woolsey (D) wins 66%-30%
District 7: Miller (D) wins 68%-32%
District 8: Pelosi (D) wins 78%-17%
District 9: Lee (D) wins 82%-12%
District 10: Garamendi (D) wins 55%-41%
District 11: Harmer (R) wins 48%-47% (R Pickup)
District 12: Speier (D) wins 76%-22%
District 13: Stark (D) wins 72%-28%
District 14: Eshoo (D) wins 69%-28%
District 15: Honda (D) wins 68%-32%
District 16: Lofgren (D) wins 68%-24%
District 17: Farr (D) wins 67%-30%
District 18: Cardoza (D) wins 56%-44%
District 19: Denham (R) wins 65%-35%
District 20: Costa (D) wins 51%-49%
District 21: Nunes (R) wins unopposed
District 22: McCarthy (R) wins 99%-1%
District 23: Capps (D) wins 56%-40%
District 24: Gallegly (R) wins 60%-40%
District 25: McKeon (R) wins 62%-38%
District 26: Dreier (R) wins 55%-36%
District 27: Sherman (D) wins 64%-36%
District 28: Berman (D) wins 70%-22%
District 29: Schiff (D) wins 62%-34%
District 30: Waxman (D) wins 63%-33%
District 31: Becerra (D) wins 84%-16%
District 32: Chu (D) wins 71%-29%
District 33: Bass (D) wins 86%-14%
District 34: Roybal-Allard (D) wins 76%-24%
District 35: Waters (D) wins 79%-21%
District 36: Harman (D) wins 60%-35%
District 37: Richardson (D) wins 68%-23%
District 38: Napolitano (D) wins 73%-27%
District 39: Sanchez (D) wins 63%-33%
District 40: Royce (R) wins 67%-33%
District 41: Lewis (R) wins 63%-37%
District 42: Miller (R) wins 62%-32%
District 43: Baca (D) wins 66%-34%
District 44: Calvert (R) wins 56%-44%
District 45: Mack (R) wins 52%-42%
District 46: Rohrabacher (R) wins 62%-38%
District 47: Sanchez (D) wins 52%-40%
District 48: Campbell (R) wins 60%-36%
District 49: Issa (R) wins 64%-31%
District 50: Bilbray (R) wins 57%-39%
District 51: Filner (D) wins 59%-41%
District 52: Hunter (R) wins 63%-32%
District 53: Davis (D) wins 62%-34%

1 Pickup in the California 11th District for the GOP. The other districts are all holds.


Running Total of the House so far: 245 Republicans (+68), 187 Democrats (-68)

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Moving along to the Senate, in the State of California, it is too early to call. We can say that the incumbent, Barbara Boxer, against whom eleventy-billion-dollars has been spent, has a lead - but it's too early to call.

In the state of Washington, it is also too early to call, though we can say the Incumbent Senator Patty Murray has a lead.

In the state of Oregon, the Winner is the Incumbent Democrat Ron Wyden!

Wyden (D): 56.3%
Huffman (R): 40.1%
Others: 3.6%

In the state of Idaho, the Winner is the Incumbent Republican Mike Crapo!

Crapo (R): 71.2%
Sullivan (D): 24.9%
Others: 3.9%

Let's look at the races that remain too close to call:

NV (1% in): Angle (R) 63%-33%
CO (48% in): Bennet (D) 48.4%-47.9%
IL (66% in): Giannoulias (D) 48.5%-46.4%
PA (78% in): Toomey (R) 50.1%-49.9%
NY-S (41% in): Gillibrand (D) 55%-43%

Democrats: 45 (-5)
Republicans: 44 (+5)
Independents: 2

If Independents caucus as they currently do:

Democrats: 47 (-5)
Republicans: 44 (+5)

---

Looking to the Governor's Races, in the State of California, it is too early to call, though the Democrat Jerry Brown has a lead over the Republican Meg Whitman.

In the state of Oregon, it is too close to call.

In the state of Idaho, we project the winner is the Republican Butch Otter!

Otter (R): 59.1%
Allred (D): 32.9%
Others: 8.0%

The races that remain uncalled:

Vermont (76% in): Dubie (R) 50%, Shumlin (D) 48%
Ohio (74% in): Kasich (R) 50%, Strickland (D) 46%
Illinois (66% in): Quinn (D) 50%, Brady (R) 45%
Connecticut (63% in): Foley (R) 52%, Malloy (D) 47%
Rhode Island (73% in): Chafee (I) 36%, Robitaille (R) 33%, Caprio (D) 24%, Block (Moderate) 8%
Maine (64% in): Cutler (I) 39%, LePage (R) 36%, Mitchell (D) 22%
Minnesota (51% in): Dayton (D) 48%, Emmer (R) 39%, Horner (I) 12%
Iowa (41% in): Culver (D) 49%, Branstad (R) 47%
Nevada (1% in): Sandoval (R) 64%, Reid (D) 30%
Arizona (1% in): Brewer (R) 63%, Goddard (D) 33%

Republicans: 23 (+8)
Democrats: 13 (-8)

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Olbermann: So the House margin, with just a few seats outstanding - certainly granting a mandate. At least 245 seats for the GOP.

Matthews: Certainly. That's large, and it gives room for the GOP to do a lot, at least in the House. Any corporate or Business Tax Cuts will fly through, repeal of Dodd Frank will fly through, I'm not sure about a full repeal of the immigration bill, we'll see, but anything on the classic republican agenda of cutting taxes and regulations will fly to the Senate very fast, and it'll be a real fight over there.

Robinson: This will serve as a real test for the Democrats on the immigration issue. Are they in love with this reform? Does their base love this reform? And can they keep their onus on defending it, and not going off into tangents on stuff like Single Payer Health Care. Because if they don't have every democrat fighting to keep it, it could be chipped away with time.

O'Donnell: The other thing is this GOP majority is going to have to try to fulfill its promises to cut spending, which could be a really hard aspect. We had Blackburn on earlier, she couldn't describe what she would cut. And whatever happens in the Senate, whether it's controlled by the Democrats or by the Republicans, they're going to look at the House and say "Send us your spending cuts, we'll take a look at them", so Boehner will have to go first. Question is, are he and his caucus prepared to do so?

Olbermann: That margin, as we see it now, does that suggest any possible challenge to his speakership is gone because you don't want to upset any potential big accomplishments with that majority?

Matthews: Certainly. And I never put much stock in those rumors, and this gives Boehner quite a cushion. You can even go more conservative on suspension bills, because you'll only need about 40 democrats on those, vs the over 70 you'd need with a bare 218-217 majority. So this is huge for the bulk of whatever Boehner is going to pursue, and whether they're doing things under open rules or not, he should have no trouble making most votes go his way on the floor.

Sharpton: But I think it's important to point out, he has over 80 new people in, a lot of them tea partiers, he's gonna have to be a smart leader.

Olbermann: Let's go now to Chuck Todd. So on these remaining Senate races, with let's say the 'church counties' still to report - what are we waiting on?

Todd: Well, some crucial things still going on. First off, let's go to Pennsylvania. Now Toomey has pulled slightly ahead after an all-night Sestak lead. Sestak folks have to be a little bit nervous because all of Philadelphia is basically in. But that being said, there are votes left in Montgomery County and our decision desk says this could be decided by less than 1%.

Over here in Illinois, the Giannoulias lead is continuing to narrow, Kirk's House District coming in very strong here, but we still have questions about the exact turnout levels in the downstate areas he must dominate. Again, our decision desk says this could very well be decided by less than 1%, we may have to let all the vote come in here.

Over in Colorado, Bennet has an enduring, if very slight lead. Only about half the vote in though, still a long way to go here, and there are clearly lots of votes left to count for both sides.

And now I want to come over to this race we've been following in New York:



Upstate filling in pretty nicely for Mr. Trump, as you can see Clinton County has now gone over to his side. And very key - he is carrying Westchester. You can see Albany there going for Gillibrand, that is her house district area, and then we have two very liberal counties in Tompkins and Monroe siding with her by underwhelming margins. Otherwise, it's a complete sweep of upstate for Mr. Trump, and plenty more of upstate to still fill in, along with Suffolk County on Long Island. Gillibrand is riding simply on her margins in New York City to keep a lead in the overall count, and while it's fine, if a bit narrower than usual in Manhattan and the Bronx, it's still just O.K. in Brooklyn, where Trump is receiving 29% of the vote. The potential issue for Gillibrand continues to be in Queens - Trump is receiving a stunning 41% of the vote there. Will it be enough for Trump to upset the heavily Democratic Lean of the State - we will see...

And quickly on the Governors Map, first off, unlike in the Senate contests, there are some opportunities for Democratic Pickups. California, Hawaii, potentially Connecticut - we'll have to see what develops, but don't be surprised if you start to see that GOP gain number come down as the night continues. The GOP shouldn't have an issue getting a majority of Governorships, the question is, how big will that majority be.

O'Donnell: On California, I just want to point out - this shows that Money doesn't decide everything, if it did, Meg Whitman would be dominating in that race.

Olbermann: Let's go to Lester Holt for more on the exit polling.

Holt: Keith, want to make an interesting observation between 1994 and what we are seeing today. This could be 1994 on steroids in terms of people's feelings.

Back in 1994, only 23% of voters said their financial situation was getting worse. Tonight, 40% feel that way.

In 1994, 58% said the economy was bad. Tonight, 87% say the economy is bad.

56% said the country was on the wrong track in 1994, 64% do today.

And we've heard about this anger at Government. Well in 1994, 19% were Angry at the Government. Tonight, 28% are. And I want to highlight - in New York, where Trump could pull off a stunning feat, 35% are angry at the government.

And 38% of voters nationwide say they are casting their vote as a protest against Barack Obama - only 27% said the same for Clinton in 1994.

Olbermann: Thank you, intriguing numbers certainly.

We'll be back after a short break.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Olbermann: We can now call the Governor's Race in the State of Iowa. Chet Culver losing his seat to the Republican Challenger Terry Branstad.

51% in: Branstad 49-47

Final:

Branstad (R) 52.3%
Culver (D) 43.8%
Others 4.9%

We can also now call the Rhode Island Governor's Race for the Independent Candidate Lincoln Chafee. This represents the first governorship the GOP has lost its hold on tonight.

84% in: Chafee (I) 37%, Robitaille (R) 33%, Caprio (D) 23%, Block (Moderate) 8%

Final:

Chafee (I): 35.8%
Robitaille (R): 33.7%
Caprio (D): 22.6%
Block (Moderate): 7.4%
Other: 0.5%

Republicans: 24 (+8)
Democrats: 13 (-9)
Independents: 1 (+1)

But not withstanding that Rhode Island result, tonight has been full of switches to the GOP on the Governor's races, in Tennessee, Oklahoma, Wyoming, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico, Iowa, and of course perhaps the most impactful ones, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.

With that, let's go to Howard Fineman at the listening post for some thoughts.

Fineman: Well this has been a good night for Haley Barbour. Haley's been quietly going around collecting support for a presidential campaign, I understand he was on Morning Joe trying to deny interest but in fact he's studied the heck out of it. He's head of the Republican Governors Association, and he's had these heart to heart talks with all the Republican gubernatorial candidates, many of whom are winning. One thing I think that's important to highlight, that if the Republicans pick up Ohio, they will have this continuous string of Governorships from New Jersey, all the way up through the great lakes, which is absolutely crucial in the presidential race, not to mention Florida, not to mention South Carolina which is crucial in the primary, so Haley Barbour, out of Mississippi, who got some good reviews with Katrina and so on, and now with the successes tonight, perhaps more to come in the races that haven't been called yet, is going to be a very strong contender for the nomination should he decide to run, even though a lot of people maybe don't have them on their list of Governors who may run, he definitely will be on a lot of minds and have a lot of friends after tonight.

Olbermann: One person who will not be on that list, because they didn't win, and they didn't win by a lot, is Carl Paladino, who had the honor of losing to Andrew Cuomo in New York. Paladino is conceding the race, and we're going to listen to him now:

Paladino: I'm humbled. Just wanted to say a few words tonight after a hard fought campaign. I want to thank my family and friends for staying tough for us during this campaign. My Wife and Daughters were at hard work during the campaign, and I thank my son for taking over the company on such short notice. And my son-in-law Luke for putting up with all this. With this campaign we've galvanized new york voters with the policy goals that reflect the values of all new yorkers - lower taxes, less government spending, transparency in state government, and the end of insider political dealings in Albany.

Last year, with the unexpected and remarkable ascent with the tea party, we saw regular people spill into the streets. We're frustrated with Big Government and we're tired of our politicians spending like drunken sailors and giving us weak elected representatives. We're tired of backroom deals and government suffocating the promise of the individual, and yes, I joined the tea party movement for the same reason I joined the United States Army - I love my Country.

I'd also like to thank Donald Trump for supporting my campaign, especially considering, as you know, that he did not vote a straight republican ticket. And I'm glad we were able to put in a strong showing in places like Buffalo and thus help out his campaign in the process. That race isn't over yet, and if there's someone still in line to vote, please, stay in line - we have to take out the toxic woman that is the unelected Senator, Kirsten Gillibrand.

Olbermann: At the risk of hearing the latest attack line on Ms. Gillibrand or some story about a drunken sailor, that is where we will leave this vinette into New York Politics. Of course, the Special Senate Race remains too close to call, we will come back to that, but Carl Paladino will not be getting anywhere beyond that stage of concession. We're now joined by the term-limited Governor of Pennsylvania, Ed Rendell, and Governor, we thank you for your time tonight.

Rendell: Thank you, Keith

Olbermann: Obviously, your seat, your chair, was not retained by the party. Your reaction to that?

Rendell: Well, unfortunate. Our guy, Dan Onorato was a good guy with good progressive policies, he ran a great campaign, but he just got swamped by money, especially in the last week, and it was just too much to overcome. The good news is that Joe Sestak is waging a great battle, it's very close, we still have votes out in Montgomery County, a suburban Philadelphia County, and he'll run very well there, so that's still up in the air, clearly up in the air.

Matthews: Let me ask you about the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, you're a philly guy, you do incredibly well in the Philadelphia Party, not so well in the T. What can the Party do become more statewide, so a guy like Sestak, can win?

Rendell: Well, it's gotta perform, but I wouldn't take too much out of this election, we were facing some of the worst economic conditions in our country's history and when that happens the party out of power just gets clobbered, look at John Lynch, two years ago he won by a 2-1 margin, and now tonight, I know he won tonight, but just by a handful of percentage points, it just is, it's out there and it's very difficult to overcome it. I think you can win by performing. In my first term we invested money in roads and bridges, infrastructure, economic development, our economy improved, and I went from carrying 15 counties, mostly in the Southeast, in my first run, to carrying 33 counties in my re-election, including some rural areas. But we invested in those areas like nobody else ever had, and the people rewarded us. I would've loved to run for re-election. As tough as it was, and I would have had a tough fight, I would've loved to make the case that the things we've done, the investments we made in education, in infrastructure, and energy, have changed the face of Pennsylvania.

Olbermann: Let me bring in a call here, we can now wrap up the Governor's Race in the State of Arizona, no great surprise, but the Democrat Mr. Goodard being defeated by the incumbent Jan Brewer.

18% in: Brewer 61-35

Final:

Brewer (R): 54.3%
Goddard (D): 41.4%
Others: 4.3%

Republicans: 25 (+8)
Democrats: 13 (-9)
Independents: 1 (+1)

Matthews: So, what is the Democratic Party going to be a building party, not a check-writing party?

Rendell: Well, the party...

Matthews: Well, you know, the party used to build things, they built the big cities, the subway systems, it wouldn't be there with this current mentality, just cut some taxes and get out of the way. You've been the champion for that, but as a country we're just getting beat by China.

Rendell: Well in Pennsylvania, we revitalized American Manufacturing, like Steel and Cotton and Asphalt. That's what we have to do in the country as well. The problem is, Chris, we're sometimes afraid, and most of the guys that voted against health care and immigration lost. We've gotta get out there, and say, we can rebuild this country. Jobs are the #1 thing that matter to Pennsylvanians.

Matthews: Indeed, people love the scent of a job site.

O'Donnell: And we have, the Governor in New Jersey, vetoing the tunnels between New York and New Jersey. We haven't done this in a hundred years, and that's the Republican notion of where we go from here.

Rendell: Well, Christie may have a point, the time it takes with all the environmental impact statements, it is honestly disgraceful, it causes the prices to go up. We've gotta target our money well, now I think he should have gone ahead with the project, but he is right that we have to spend our money well. But whatever we do, we can't just spend the next two years posturing for the next election, that's not going to work.

Maddow: As I was saying earlier, when you ask Democrats, what do they think they can make progress on with these election results, they say it's education, they say it's energy, bizarrely, they say it's removing the bush tax cuts for the wealthiest americans, and they say it's infrastructure. Those are the areas Democrats are going to focus on, trying to get something done, and then you listen to Republicans talk about those areas....

O'Donnell: Well, they want to abolish the Department of Energy, let's start there.

Maddow: Cap and Trade, it's a Republican Idea. Cap and Trade was a Republican Idea. The people who promoted it, now denouncing it, as unconstitutional and socialist. I mean the idea that, that Republicans would come around on energy is just impossible to imagine at this point.

Rendell: Well, Rachel, I feel your pain, but here's the plan. Cap and Trade, we obviously don't have the votes for, but let's do renewable energy, invest in renewable energy, make the tax credits permanent, up the R&D for it, boost the economy in the process, we can do that and get votes for that.

Maddow: Well the Tea Party has just denounced the idea of green jobs as a marxist myth.

Olbermann: Well, you just got Ron Johnson elected in Wisconsin, a climate change denier, who spent 6 million of his own money, to get himself in the senate.

Rendell: I feel your pain, but I think we can make some progress. We can stake out some goals that maybe are achievable. You have Jim Inhofe saying infrastructure is the second most important thing government can spend money on. So we can't stop trying.

Olbermann: Thank you Governor. We'll be back after this break.