Looking at just how devastating the Republican defeat was in Tuesday's presidential election, it's interesting to see how low Sen. John McCain's percentage of victory was in several reliably red western and southwestern states.

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Hanging out at the Board of Elections with the campaign volunteers, TV anchors who have nothing new to say for hours on end because results are slow to come in (again!) and the infrequent candidate who drifts in between parties is just plain boring.

There’s nothing to write about because the time between when the polls open and a majority of votes are tabulated is an information dead-zone. There’s no witty banter or interesting and revealing insights that desperately need ink. It’s just a waiting period.

Last night I found the ultimate way to deal with that time with a group of people, munchies and a DJ – just hang out and have a good time. No serious conversation or heated arguments, just one woman roller skating around the room, another dancing with her daughter, a woman moving her electric wheelchair to the beat, men strutting in-between and everyone flashing their t-shirts for photos.

Photographers do and reveal the most during the dead-zone on Election Day. They capture moments in images that, collectively, explain and underscore the importance of casting a ballot.

So thanks for all of the great images and enjoy a well-earned rest. Until next year….

It wasn’t a dream.

After eight years of a misguided, reckless foreign policy and the abuse of presidential power, not only are Americans about to get rid of President Bush but they voted for their hopes instead of their fears and elected the nation’s first African-American president.

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Just gathering anecdotal info from CityBeat staffers and photographers, voting is going well so far. Long lines have been reported in Clifton, Northside, College Hill and the West Side, with voting this morning at the Main Public Library downtown taking 90 minutes. Basically, as expected, every precinct is seeing more voters than normal but there are no major problems reported (other than a lack of parking at certain schools and churches).

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Well, that's what Brian Busken of Busken Bakery calls it.

Maybe McCain cookies will go on sale Wednesday?

Even the most die-hard political junkies are probably tired of the presidential campaign by this point, nearly two years after most of the contenders kicked off the race for the White House.

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The next president of the United States, Barack Obama, officially has announced a campaign rally for Sunday evening at UC's Nippert Stadium. Gates open at 6 p.m., and he's scheduled to speak at 9. Check out the Obama web site for details.

It's fitting that he makes his final area appearance of the campaign on the UC campus, where he held such a stirring rally in February before the Ohio primary. 

If you have time, do yourself a favor and go see Obama live tomorrow. Then help him win the election on Tuesday.

If you're still undecided, check out CityBeat's endorsement of Obama here.

If your eligibility to cast a vote is challenged at the polls for any reason during this election season, don’t be intimidated. Insist on receiving and casting a provisional ballot before you leave.

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Politics is often a game of strategy, and an area anti-tax group is well-known for taking the offensive on most issues it advocates. A recent dispute over a referendum on a payday loan law, however, has the group facing stinging criticism for getting its facts wrong and overstating its own influence.

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Anyone who watched Barack Obama's 30-minute TV advertorial last night want to comment on it? Seems like it got pretty big ratings. Seems like Obama was everywhere. Seems like he came across as a virtuoso.