11.34 Jack says "I remember studying in college John Major's election victory in '92 as a demonstartion of how market research - which had Labour MILES ahead - is inadequate as a predictor of human behviour. Major won, but the polls had him losing by 6-7%; but when asked, people would not admit they were Conservative...but they did - in privacy - vote that way.

Analogy to America? Well, who, to a pollster, would admit they were a racist?

23:07 We've had some real issues over a flippant observation. McCain has a certain mannerism with his arms. Sort of like both arms with every gesture are being prodded up with two sticks. Kermit like. Think about it and let us know.

23:07 We've had some real issues over a flippant observation. McCain has a certain mannerism with his arms. Sort of like both arms with every gesture are being prodded up with two sticks. Kermit like. Think about it and let us know.

22:59 The Paxman debate now rages. They seem to be calling things already...madness...remember the 'hanging chads'

10:41 It's difficult. Really difficult. How can we sit here eating hot dogs and munching Us related snacks (cheeseits are winning)

10:45 We have Ugly Naked Guy over the road from us. It's official. Plums out and visible to us all so great excitement has reached H&G towers. It may just be about the downy hair we can revoltingly see but could it be a predictor of the lightly afro'd potential leader of the free world ?

10.37 Is that what Obama is about? The end of lying, the end of hypocrisy, the end of corruption? I would be very surprised if he is.

22:18 First time the 'Wasilla' factor is mentioned. We await a Jackie Onasis style montage of expensively dressed Alaskan Vice President hopefull waving frantically while also speaking. Almost a patting of head while rubbing stomach that could win her the top spot in US politics. Sorry. Second spot. For the moment.

22:25 We've taken a break from the 'real' coverage to branch into The Daily Show. Which we feel is a) funnier and frankly b) more accurate. Go Stewart !

22.27 Watching yesterday's Today Show and noting today's Guardian: what happens to satire should MLK/Rosa Parks/JFK/Jesus win? Disappointment awaits us. Like New Year 2000, something landmark and noteworthy happened, but nothing will be different. For New Year 2000, we based an exultory party on the birthdate of a fairytale figure no more real than Santa Claus (and no less human-created). Is Obama so different?

Does the world change because a black man has a chance to control America?

Fuck I hope so.

10.10 Dana Bash (CNN) should not be on TV. Or any visual medium. Anyone would think CNN was British judging their allowing ugly people like her on TV.

DISCLAIMER: H&G are in an emotionally heightened state and therefore judgemental today. You know, judgemental and intolerant, like Sarah Palin's God.

10:06 Bill Schnieder, the Peter Snow of America, spells out the terribly basic rules of democracy. ie that people vote and that someone counts the votes. We fear that this kind of coverage spells a worryingly 'basic' approach to coverage. Will there be Dimblebyesque insight or will it be hours of 'my fellow Americans'. We suspect the latter......

And today, and in deference to the joy of our last minute by minute blog on sport..tonight...it's the election night !

Stay tuned political fans and more soon....

And we ask one question to start things off.

10:01 Could Wolf Blitzer have been successful if he had not been christened Wolf Blitzer ?