Obama's early lead
... and what it doesn't mean.
Barack Obama has racked up his first victory, said Alex Koppelman in Salon. The citizens of Dixville Notch, N.H., always vote at midnight as Election Day starts. By a vote of 15 to 6, Obama won the town. Dixville Notch overwhelmingly backed President Bush four years ago, and this was the first time voters there had backed a Democrat since 1968.
"That would seem to be an ominous sign for John McCain, said The Economist online, except for the fact that, for whatever reason, Dixville Notch's population has shifted, and Democrats now outnumber Republicans. Still, it's worth noting the results in this tiny town, which always gathers to cast the nation's first votes—it's "sort of endearing, like the Whos down in Whoville."
Sure, it's a tradition worth noting, said Ed Morrissey in Hot Air, as long as you remember that it doesn't mean anything. And it's especially meaningless when you consider that we always figured "New Hampshire would be blue this year."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"There's no historical relationship" between candidates' performances in Dixville Notch and the rest of New Hampshire, said Nate Silver in the FiveThirtyEight electoral prediction blog, never mind the rest of the country. "Still, you'd rather be up 15-6 than down, wouldn't you?"
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Scientists want to fight malaria by poisoning mosquitoes with human blood
Under the radar Drugging the bugs
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Crossword: March 31, 2025
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
Sudoku medium: March 31, 2025
The Week's daily medium sudoku puzzle
By The Week Staff Published
-
The JFK files: the truth at last?
In The Spotlight More than 64,000 previously classified documents relating the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy have been released by the Trump administration
By The Week Staff Published
-
'Seriously, not literally': how should the world take Donald Trump?
Today's big question White House rhetoric and reality look likely to become increasingly blurred
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will Trump's 'madman' strategy pay off?
Today's Big Question Incoming US president likes to seem unpredictable but, this time round, world leaders could be wise to his playbook
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Democrats vs. Republicans: who are the billionaires backing?
The Explainer Younger tech titans join 'boys' club throwing money and support' behind President Trump, while older plutocrats quietly rebuke new administration
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
US election: where things stand with one week to go
The Explainer Harris' lead in the polls has been narrowing in Trump's favour, but her campaign remains 'cautiously optimistic'
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is Trump okay?
Today's Big Question Former president's mental fitness and alleged cognitive decline firmly back in the spotlight after 'bizarre' town hall event
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
The life and times of Kamala Harris
The Explainer The vice-president is narrowly leading the race to become the next US president. How did she get to where she is now?
By The Week UK Published
-
Will 'weirdly civil' VP debate move dial in US election?
Today's Big Question 'Diametrically opposed' candidates showed 'a lot of commonality' on some issues, but offered competing visions for America's future and democracy
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published