And if any other news service had actual New Hampshire voting results earlier than we did, I want to hear about it.

Posted January 8, 2008 12:22 AM by Teresa Nielsen Hayden

Thanks for staying up late, James. So, on the Republican side, McCain got twice as many votes as Romney and four times as many votes as Giuliani, and no else got any votes at all. On the Democratic side, Obama, Edwards, and Richardson went Win, Place and Show.

Of course, this means nothing.

Posted January 8, 2008 12:22 AM by Lizzy L

The Balsams is a huge sumptuous old hotel from the days before air conditioning was invented, and the well-to-do took refuge from summer weather in the coastal cities. New Hampshire is always the first primary election in the country, and The Balsams -- or is it technically Dixville Notch? -- is generally the first precinct that reports in.

I've been in the balloting room at The Balsams. It's not all that big, but the walls are lined with a truly fabulous collection of political memorabilia. If you're ever up that way, have a look.

Patrick has a large rock on a shelf above his desk that's from Dixville Notch proper.

Posted January 8, 2008 12:30 AM by Teresa Nielsen Hayden

Notice that Obama got more than twice as many votes as the other Dem. candidates put together. We'll see how that compares to the rest of the state when all the votes are tallied.

Posted January 8, 2008 12:32 AM by Teresa Nielsen Hayden

I've repeated the broadcast.

Thanks, and now you won't have to deal with the robocalls for another few years.

Posted January 8, 2008 12:37 AM by Terry Karney

Photos soon.

P.S. The bar off the lobby in The Balsams knows how to make Gibsons.

Posted January 8, 2008 12:48 AM by James D. Macdonald

History, and a good bartender too!

Posted January 8, 2008 12:58 AM by LMB MacAlister

Reported by Jeralyn from TalkLeft

In Hart's Location, Democrat Obama received nine votes, Hillary Rodham Clinton received three and John Edwards received one. Among Republicans, McCain received six, Mike Huckabee received five, Ron Paul received four and Mitt Romney one.

Posted January 8, 2008 1:19 AM by Lizzy L

How can this be? All the articles I've been seeing say that the voting is tomorrow, Tuesday.

Posted January 8, 2008 1:32 AM by Madeline F

It is tomorrow already in Dixville Notch; they have a traditional of opening their voting right after midnight on primary/election day.

Posted January 8, 2008 1:38 AM by tavella

Madeline F @ #9: Look at the timestamp... 12:02 AM. It is tomorrow already. Er. As it were.

(Dixville Notch makes a point of being the first of the first, so folks gather to cast their votes at midnight. I was unaware that they did it at The Balsams, which sounds quite lovely, indeed.)

Posted January 8, 2008 1:38 AM by protected static

James@6: at a recent fen party, the host was wandering around with a neon blue martini, purportedly the result of using blue gin. I suggested that if he only had an onion rather than an olive, it could properly be called a William Gibson.

Posted January 8, 2008 2:03 AM by Ambar

Best remark of the night, after the results were posted (one Ron Paul supporter to another): "We tied Hillary! I'm good with that!"

Posted January 8, 2008 2:16 AM by James D. Macdonald

Well, dang. 17 voters? All coordinated and willing to stay up past midnight. Dang.

I clicked the Dixville Notch link to get more info, and it says that last election the vote was 19 Bush 7 Kerry. Are there 9 recalcitrant Republicans locked in a bunker somewhere, against the chance of future scarcity?

Posted January 8, 2008 2:34 AM by Madeline F

It's interesting that NPR this morning hasn't got the kind of detailed coverage that Jim provides.

Posted January 8, 2008 7:05 AM by Fragano Ledgister

The weather today in the northeast is nicely symbolic. Springtime in America, indeed.

Posted January 8, 2008 7:35 AM by Jon H

I predict Hilary has made her last visit to Dixville Notch.

I'm sure I've said it before, but I love it here.

Posted January 8, 2008 8:24 AM by Nathan

Heh -- I note that Dixville Notch hasn't forgotten that Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich EXIST, even if noone voted for them.

I LOVE the idea of having 17 booths, one for each voter. Talk about individualizing the political process, which I suppose isn't all that radical in New England, home of Town Meetings.

Posted January 8, 2008 8:39 AM by Connie H.

Jon@16: I Hope it's not too symbolic, since what we have up here at the moment isn't actual spring -- merely a January thaw, which typically lasts only a day or two before the weather slams everybody back into the sub-zero deep freeze until March.

Posted January 8, 2008 9:52 AM by Debra Doyle

Madeline F @ 14

I clicked the Dixville Notch link to get more info, and it says that last election the vote was 19 Bush 7 Kerry. Are there 9 recalcitrant Republicans locked in a bunker somewhere, against the chance of future scarcity?

Nah, their heads exploded from too many robo-calls.

Posted January 8, 2008 10:02 AM by Bruce Cohen (SpeakerToManagers)