15:48: Becky Montacute —States are starting to close their polling stations, Virginia’s closing soon, with a huge 13 electoral college votes. Actual stuff will happen soon! 15:48: Emma Bean —@Pipsfunfacts: The libertarian candidate, Gary Johnson, was earlier the first openly gay candidate for the Republican primaries. His slogans included “No more Mister Nice Gay”. 15:48: Emma Bean —@PipsFunFacts: The colours associated with the two parties (Democrat Blue and Republican Red) only became standardised at the 2000 election. Before then some election maps reversed them and others used other colours entirely. 15:48: Becky Montacute —
I am a supporter of the Republican’s fiscal policy, while the Paul Ryan budget is better for America, it is not sufficiently better for the sleazyness and religious pandering of Mitt Romney to be excused. As such of the two, I prefer Obama over Mitt Romney.
Jack Mellish, 1st year Biomedical Science Student
15:48: Becky Montacute —It’s surprising to hear David Dimbleby call the election for Gary Johnson, especially when he then expressed whole-hearted support for Ron Paul’s policies including zero foreign policy and a return to the gold standard!
Dominic Hardwick, University of Manchester Alumnus
15:48: Becky Montacute —Massive cheer through the bar as David Dimbleby appears on screen 15:48: Becky Montacute —Planning on an all nighter? Want to know how to last right through to the final result? Brilliant advice from the Guardian:http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/nov/06/us-election-2012-survival-guide
15:48: Emma Bean —Fun fact (@PipsFunFacts): Democrats haven’t won the white vote since 1976. 15:48: Becky Montacute —Manchester Debate Union: political keen beans
15:48: Emma Bean —Fun fact about the 2012 election and US presidential elections generally, in collaboration with @PipsFunFacts: The winner of the electoral college has lost the popular vote 3 times in history
15:48: Becky Montacute —
View in Manchester SU bar now
15:48: Becky Montacute —Confused by the US electoral system? Check out this video from the Washington Post:
15:48: Emma Bean —Added treats planned for this evening include the aforementioned countdown of the best Romney gaffes, the best mash-up and parody songs, wierdest celebrity endorsements and best election-themed drinking games. Don’t say we don’t treat you.
15:48: Emma Bean —So in the hunt for at least the 270 electoral college votes needed to win the White House, averages from the three polls FiveThirtyEight, HuffPolster and Real Clear suggest Obama shall take 303 to Romney’s 235. How close can we go…
15:48: Emma Bean —Welcome to the Mancunion’s live blog! Prepare to strap in for hours of delightful coverage, with our own special brand of humour to go with all the facts you could possibly want. YAY
15:48: Emma Bean —#5 in our countdown of the best (worst?) Mitt Romney gaffs, the infamous aeroplane comments: ”When you have a fire in an aircraft, there’s no place to go, exactly, there’s no — and you can’t find any oxygen from outside the aircraft to get in the aircraft, because the windows don’t open. I don’t know why they don’t do that. It’s a real problem.” –Mitt Romney, suggesting it would be a good idea to crack a window at 35,000 feet, Beverly Hills fundraiser, Sept. 22, 2012
05:20: Jenny Ho —
“May the next four years be a reminder: we are a divided country. It’s hard to reconcile social values with fiscal needs, but we have to try. There’s no other way.”
Live in DC.
04:41: Jenny Ho —Thank you to:
Obama looks like he’s getting back into the White House with unemployment at 7.9%. He promised 5.3% at the end of his first term
Shy Tory
04:06: Jenny Ho —“MSNBC has Obama 243 Romney 203 DC has stopped speaking in full sentences just announced Dems control Senate.” — LIVE IN DC 04:06: Jenny Ho —“WI to Obama +10, NC to Romney +15, FL too close to call.” — LIVE IN DC 04:05: Jenny Ho —
The Kennedys are back in Congress
(CNN) – After a two-year absence, the famed Kennedy family once again has an elected representative in national politics.
Joe Kennedy III will serve Massachusetts’ 4th Congressional District, having handily defeated GOP opponent Sean Bielat, according to a CNN projection.
04:02: Jenny Ho —“Predictions here: OH NM CA IA CO. Obama so basically it should be settled.” — LIVE IN DC. 04:00: Jenny Ho — 03:55: Jenny Ho —“GOP mood pessimistic. Florida’s 16 votes apart. Insanity in DC.” — LIVE IN DC. 03:42: Jenny Ho — 03:34: Jenny Ho — 03:33: Jenny Ho — 03:25: Jenny Ho — 03:24: Jenny Ho — 03:20: Jenny Ho —“Also, color-coded map shows one must never leave the northeastern US because there be dragons beyond.” — LIVE IN DC. 03:15: Jenny Ho —“Colorado looks decent. FL will likely go to recount. Ohio also looks decent. Congressional candidates who had previously referenced varying kinds of good and bad rape are, shockingly, losing.” — LIVE IN DC. 03:07: Jenny Ho —LIVE IN DC: “Projections from FL look like this: this swamp went for Romney, this swamp next to it went for Obama… Also, CNN has all other states showing as states, but FL broken up into school districts.” 03:04: Jenny Ho — 02:46: Jenny Ho —
“I hope this doesn’t end up being 5 different state recounts.”
Thanks, Live In DC!
02:35: Jenny Ho —WASHINGTON D.C. LIVEQ: “How goes it in DC?”
A: “Well I was avoiding reality by sorting my closet but now I’m going to a watch party and I just hope my ovaries get to remain my property tomorrow 
”
– Russian Import, Live In DC (!)
02:31: Jenny Ho —We in Great Britain have seen what a successful Olympics can do for nationwide morale and the boost our economy has received as a result. Romney’s experience in delivering when it counts, as demonstrated in his rescuing of the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, can add impetus and momentum to US revival. Obama can only dream of having the same effect.
Gideon Clarke-Lee
02:25: Jenny Ho —Despair sets in as Obama wins Pennsylvania. Not another four years of change!
Shy Tory
02:22: Becky Montacute —
2am and the Labourites are still going strong
02:20: Jenny Ho — 02:12: Jenny Ho — 01:53: Jenny Ho — 01:20: Aryeh —
01:01: Emma Bean —