Jonah, there’s no such thing as exit poll data “for real”. As I said right here at 5.22pm Eastern time on Election Day 2004, “the key word in the phrase ‘exit poll’ is ‘poll’: that’s all it is.” So before we all get as high on the exit poll crack as the Obama party will be on John the goat’s testicles, remember the Corner on Election Day 2002:
“Big turnout in New Hampshire—not a good sign… Early down arrows for Dole… Talent losing in MO… Townsend (arrgh!) looking good in MD…”
And that’s just Rich.
The GOP swept NH, Dole won NC, Talent won MO, and Kathleen Kennedy Townsend lost MD for the Dems.
Polls are open. People are voting. Pundits at a loose end should find a goat to sacrifice and read his entrails. It’ll be as accurate.