More anecdotal reports on turnout from around the country.
"Very heavy" in parts of Missouri where the big race is the Senate contest between Robin Carnahan and one of the GOP's biggest corporate sellouts, Roy Blunt:
"It's a very heavy turnout," said Rich Chrismer, director of elections in St. Charles County. He had predicted a turnout of 65 to 70 percent of the county's registered voters. Statewide, the secretary of state's office is estimating a 67 percent turnoutI've confirmed that Centenary Church is in a heavy Democratic voting area. So, that's positive.
Voting will remain steady, with "the big show starting at 4 p.m.," Chrismer said, indicating that is when the biggest crush of voters will arive at the polls and keep election workers busy until 7 p.m.
In downtown St. Louis, at Centenary Church, 55 Plaza Square, election judges said the first two hours had been just as busy as two years ago, when voters formed long lines to cast a ballot in the presidentail election.
"Higher-than-expected" in Minnesota where the Governor's race is the critical battle between Democrat Mark Dayton and right-wing Republican Tom Emmer:
Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie says Election Day is going "smooth as silk" with higher-than-expected voter turnout Tuesday morning.Gallup sees high enthusiasm, particularly among GOPers.
Ritchie had predicted a turnout of 60 percent but a surge of early morning voters and good weather throughout the state had him questioning at midmorning whether that was too low.
However, he noted that there was a similar surge in the morning of Election Day on 2008, but voting tailed off later in the day.
In Ramsey County, Elections Manager Joe Mansky says morning turnout was also higher than he expected and the county could beat his estimate of 52 percent by day's end.
