Blog Buzz: Problems at the Polls, Firsthand Accounts of Election Day 2008, Will John McCain or Barack Obama Win? And Sarah Palin Troopergate Drama

Our daily look at stories and topics that are lighting up the Internets:

Pandemonium at the Polls

Even though a record 27 million people voted early this election, bloggers report that long lines are plaguing polling places across the country. And that's the least of the problems cropping up at the polls—voters in Virginia are being turned away and several precincts have ballot shortages already; in Philly and Pittsburgh, voters say there are "busted voting machines." The Election Protection group has already received 9,000 calls and E-mails reporting problems. Conservative bloggers are especially irked over reports that GOP Election Board members are being removed from polling stations in Philadelphia because of their party status. Other bad news from Pennsylvania: Men dressed as Black Panthers are said to be intimidating voters at a Philadelphia polling station, and voters in Lancaster have received phone calls falsely informing them that their voting stations were moved. In the same vein, members of the George Mason University community received a fake message purportedly from the university's provost telling them that Election Day had been moved to November 5.

Election Day 2008: Firsthand Accounts

Blog readers are sending in firsthand accounts of their voting experiences from polling stations across the country (and the world, such as one soldier's absentee ballot story from Baghdad). Readers write about long lines and unprecedented turnout and enthusiasm, as well as being the odd man out in predominantly blue or red places. Others explain why this is such a historic day for them.

And the Winner Is...?

Several conservative bloggers think that John McCain still has a chance—Weekly Standard looks at possible paths to a McCain victory, and a HotAir blogger thinks McCain could win the Electoral College but not the popular vote. A RedState blogger thinks McCain will "squeak through," and apparently Team McCain thinks so, too. Liberal bloggers still predict a big Barack Obama win. Greg Sargent at TPM outlines the Democratic candidate's main paths to victory.

Palin's Impeccable Timing

Sarah Palin drama manages to creep into the blogosphere even on Election Day. Alaska's personnel board has released its report of the Troopergate investigation that clears Palin of any wrongdoing. Liberal bloggers point out that three weeks ago, a "bipartisan, independent investigation [by the Alaskan Legislature] that wasn't operated by people who answer to the governor" found that she did violate state ethics. They also criticize the timing—the night before the election—saying that the campaign denied voters the chance to "actually examine the evidence and arrive at their own opinions." Conservative bloggers says the report "completely vindicates" Palin and "her record as a reformer remains intact." The hasty release of her medical records—actually just a letter from her doctor—also meets with disapproval from Andrew Sullivan.

—Gretchen Hannes