ELECTION DAY –  AT 9:53 A.M. ET:  The RealClearPolitics average of polls, final edition for 2016, shows Hillary Clinton up 3.2 percent in a two-way race, 3.3 in a four-way race.   That's a dramatic gain from the under-two-percent leads she was averaging last week, but please note that it is based on the final reporting of some mainstream-media polls that tend to tip Democratic.

The RealClearPolitics final projection of electoral votes is more "iffy."  RCP projects 203 solid for Clinton, 164 for Trump.  That's with tossups excluded.  It takes 270 to win.  When tossups are assigned, based on where they seem to be heading, Clinton has 272, Trump 266.  That, my friends, is a close election.  A switch of one or two states could make Trump president.

It's widely expected that the GOP will retain the House, but might lose a small number of seats, reducing its huge majority.  The Senate is up for grabs.  Larry Sabato projects a 50-50 Senate, which means the vice president would break the tie.  Either Kaine or Pence. 

There is a great sense of uncertainty this election day.  Pollsters wonder whether their traditional models will hold in the age of Trump.  Others worry about a brooding anger on the part of the American people.  And any thoughtful journalist has to be concerned about the loss of confidence in the mainstream media.

We'll know the truth tonight...I think.

November 8,  2016