ELECTION DAY - AT 8:32 A.M. ET:  It's election morning here in the East, where most of the headline-making action will take place today.  The polls are opening.  Voters are making their way to polling stations.  In New Jersey, many of the dearly departed will be making their usual election-day appearances in the voting booths, proving that there is indeed life after death.

There are no new last-minute polls.  Maybe there'll be some in the next few hours.  The key races shape up this way:

- Virginia:  Unless something goes radically wrong in turnout, GOP gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell looks like a shoo-in for governor.

- New York City:  Again, unless something cuts his turnout, two-time Mayor Mike Bloomberg, an independent, looks certain to win a substantial victory.  In the heavily Democratic city of New York, this means that no Democrat has been elected to the mayor's chair in 20 years.  Free at last, free at last, thank God almighty, we're free at last.

- New York 23rd:  Right now it's the most famous congressional district in the country.  There's a good chance that Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman will pull off a victory against Democrat Bill Owens, but that is not a certainty.  The district has been trending moderate Republican, and went for Obama in 2008.  The last poll showed 18% undecided.  Watch this one.  Hoffman did himself no good in an anemic appearance on Fox News last night.  He looked ready for the undertaker.

- New Jersey:  Probably the most exciting race.  Republican challenger Chris Christie is neck-and-neck with much-disliked incumbent Governor Jon Corzine, with a third-party moderate acting as spoiler, and probably taking votes from Christie.  If Christie wins in this blueish of blue states, it will be a major blow to the Dems.  But - and this is critical - voter fraud is a major issue.  ACORN's allies are active.  Look for possible charges of fraud during the day.

We'll be watching developments all day, blogging through the returns tonight. 

November 3,  2009