At the height of recent Republican dominance, 2002, Ruy Texeira and John Judis wrote a book titled The Emerging Democratic Majority. In the book, Texeira and Judis posited that, as Judis and Texeira wrote about the 2006 elections:

Just as important as these victories is who voted for Democrats in 2006. With few exceptions, the groups were exactly those that had begun trending Democratic in the 1990s and had contributed to Al Gore's popular-vote victory over George W. Bush in 2000. These groups, which we described in our 2002 book, The Emerging Democratic Majority, included women, professionals, and minorities. But in 2006 they also included two groups our book slighted or ignored altogether: younger voters (those born after 1977) and independents. These voters can generally be expected to continue backing Democrats.

The thesis forwarded by Judis and Texeira has been confirmed in this election. Women (56%), African Americans (95%), Latinos (66%), young voters (66% (among whites (54%)) and college graduates (53%) form the new Democratic majority. Older white voters remain Republican voters. And, as Texeira and Judis noted this has policy ramifications:

Via Yglesias, Fox News declares America a "Center Left" country:

Via Sirota, Ruth Marcus proves Broder still rules the Beltway World. Here's the thing, if the Beltway takes Obama's platform and declares it Center Right, hell even Far Right, I will not complain. But they won't. That is Far Left to these bozos. Their contempt for the American People is disgusting.

By Big Tent Democrat, speaking for me only

Update: The gap has been narrowing throughout the day. The latest report shows Coleman leading by 476 votes.

original post:

In Minnesota's senate race between Norm Coleman and Al Franken:

With 100 percent of the 4,130 precincts reporting, Coleman had an unofficial margin of 601 votes out of nearly 2.9 million cast. Recounts are required in races with a winning margin of less than one half of 1 percent.

The recount probably won't be completed until early December.

Here are some late-breaking election results, as of 1:00 am MT:

• CBS calls Indiana for President-Elect Barack Obama.

• The South Dakota abortion ban failed.

• The Colorado "personhood" amendment failed.

• No final results on Prop. 8 in California which would ban gay marriage.

• Marijuana reform passed easily in Massachussetts and Michigan. Mass. voters agreed to decriminalization of small amounts for adult possession and medical marijuana was approved in Michigan.

More...

We will live blog President Elect Barack Obama's victory speech.

The live blog is below the fold so it can be bigger. You can comment below as usual or send us messages.

Update: Transcript of Obama's speech is here.

Update 11:21 pm: McCain gives concession speech.

1100 pm: CNN, NBC and ABC News: Obama wins. He's over 270.

Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States.

CBS calls Florida for Obama.

I'll be bumping this to the top periodically all night. It's a widget and will update automatically. Click on the "President" link for live vote tallies.

Update: 11:10 pm: McCain called Obama and conceded. He will speak tonight, Sarah Palin will not.

Update: 11:00 pm: Obama wins the Presidency.

Update: 10:50 pm: Obama wins Virginia. [More...]

Update: Goodbye Marilyn Musgrave. Colorado went blue big time and Musgrave, one of the most conservative members of Congress got replaced by Democrat Betsy Markey. Five of our seven representatives in Congress and both our Senators are now Democrats. McCain/Palin didn't even win big Republican counties like Jefferson, Arapahoe and Larimer. That's really something.

Bump and Update 10:45 pm ET: The Denver Post also calls Colorado for Obama and Udall. Add 9 to Obama's CNN total, all he needs now is California. The "personhood" amendment is dead.

9:42 pm ET: The Rocky Mountain News reports Barack Obama has won Colorado. Rep. Mark Udall will be our next Senator. Hooray!

Obama won conservative Jefferson and Arapahoe counties by 10 points. He beat McCain in Denver by 4 to 1. [More...]

I don't want to interrupt the Obama celebration tonight with talk about McCain and Gov. Sarah Palin, so I'm starting this post early.

I'm so glad she will be going back to Alaska and I won't have to write about her any more.

Here are my reasons why McCain/Palin lost -- in no partiuclar order: [More...]

NBC calls Ohio for Obama. CNN calls it too at 9:34 pm.

A huge win if it holds up. Al Franken would be the 4th pickup (in addition to Hagen in NC, Shaheen in NH and Warner in Virginia.) The Udalls in Colorado and New Mexico would be the 5th and and 6th. Merkley in Oregon and Begich in Alaska would make 8 pickups in the Senate.