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USA Election Odds: Staying up for the election? Try not to snooze at the following moments

US Politics RSS / Ari Last / 04 November 2008 /

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Whether you're betting on it or you simply enjoy the spectacle that is the political arena, American Election Night is bound to have you enthralled. And for those of you who plan to forgo sleep in order to follow the events of Tuesday Night, below is a guide of what should prove to be the key moments of what is sure to be a night of high emotion and drama.

23:00 PM (GMT) - Polls close in Indiana

Indiana has only voted Democrat once in 60 years and while Betfair punters currently have the Republicans as favourites to retain the state with odds of [1.71], it was only a few days ago when the opposite was true. 11 electoral votes are up for grabs and a win here would give Obama a huge lift early on.

00:00 AM - Polls Close in Virginia

A swing states with 13 seats on offer. Like Indiana, Virginia hasn't voted Democrat in 60 years yet unlike its fellow Republican stronghold, Virginia looks like turning this time around. Betfair punters have Obama to win at [1.17] but last minute nerves amongst voters could grant McCain gain an unexpected win.

00:30 AM - Polls close in Ohio, West Virginia & North Carolina

Many viewers might fancy switching off and going to bed when the winner of Ohio is announced. Not since 1960 has the state backed a loser and with Barack Obama trading at [1.25] to win on Betfair, it looks likely that the polls closing here could kick off the Democratic election celebrations.

Despite what the markets say, John McCain is confident of causing a late surprise and if he manages to pick up wins in West Virginia and North Carolina as well, millions of nails across the globe will exist no more.

01:00 AM - Polls close in Florida, Pennsylvania & Missouri

Both candidates have worked hard in Pennsylvania. 21 votes are on offer making a triumph here truly significant. Betfair punters have chosen their winner already. Barack Obama can be backed at odds as short as [1.1] yet the Republican camp have not stopped believing that they can turn it around. There is more chance though of them picking up the votes from another "toss up" State - Missouri. Although with only 11 votes on offer - the news that Betfair markets are predicting a McCain win there won't raise spirits too high.

Florida is another state whose results could prove key. A month ago the Republicans were favourites here yet things have since changed. 27 electoral votes on top of those deemed safe, would give Obama who is currently being backed at [1.34], one foot in the White House, making the result from the Sunshine State a critical moment to be awake for.

02:00 AM: Polls Close in Arizona

There is more than a good chance that by now the race will be well and truly over. Yet the results from John McCain's home state will still make for excellent viewing, especially if Barack Obama manages to pull off what would be a remarkable triumph. Betfair punters have McCain as a shoe in on his home turf with odds of [1.25], yet the fact that Obama will spend some of his final campaigning hours in the state goes to show that he retains some confidence in claiming the 10 Electoral votes on offer. An alternative but equally exciting scenario is that if votes have gone McCain's way elsewhere, victory for him in Arizona would be met locally with utter jubilation.

03:00 AM - Polls close in Nevada

According to the markets and most commentators, by this time in the morning Barack Obama will be moving his furniture into the White House. Yet if, and it's a big if, results have conspired against him, the five Electoral College votes up for grabs from the last "toss up" state to close could be hugely important. Nevada is certainly leaning Blue at the moment, yet its history of voting Republican ensures that Democrats would be foolish to regard the state as a done deal, and the result here could end up being the defining moment of election night.

06:00 AM - Voting complete - Alaska closes

Alaska will most certainly vote Republican as despite her best efforts, Sarah Palin should still be able to rely on the state which she governs to aid her cause. Who wins Alaska's three votes will in all likelihood prove inconsequential but it is the culmination of what has been the most expensive election marathon in history which makes 5:00 AM a moment you won't want to miss.

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