1. Where and when did you vote?
2. How long did you have to wait?
3. How was the overall voting experience for you?

Please keep your thoughts strictly to your voting experience. Any comments about why you voted, how you did or why someone else should vote a certain way will be removed.

BACK to Ohio.com

No use in delaying the announcement any longer – effective November 30th, this site is changing. Kyle and I were brought on to supplement the election coverage for Ohio.com and that period has come and gone. So has our time here.

It has been a tremendous opportunity and one I never took for granted. It was not one I ever sought out, but one that I am glad I decided to do after some initial reluctance. Things worked out far better than I thought they would both for myself and the site. I have had chances to do things, go to events, get access, and meet people that would never have been possible before this website launched.

We found out officially on October 30, the day after the Phillies won the World Series. Talk about a buzz kill. It was my decision to keep it quiet until now. I felt it best that way: continue on through the election and keep doing the best job possible without distraction. This won't be my last post here, but readers deserve to be informed about what is going on. Sorry, that is all I have; I have no idea what they will be doing with the site.

There are a few people I want to thank. She is no longer with Ohio.com, but Linda Lyell was the one who got this thing started. It was her idea and she got it off the ground. Jim Arnold helped get the site launch off the ground and helped us work through some of the early technical stuff. Amanda Reagan was charged with the tough task of selling ads. Dan Kadar has done a lot of behind the scenes work as well – filming many interviews and doing general site maintenance. The site couldn't have run without him. His name was never on anything, but it should have been. When we were having trouble gaining traction early on, many bloggers linked to us or wrote something nice about what was going on here. There are too many to name, but you aren't forgotten. I will always remember the people that stuck up for me when the controversy flared up one week in. It was people on both sides of the blogosphere, friends, family members, high ups at the ABJ, and other random people who were outraged that I might be fired after a week. Thanks to all the politicians who took their valuable time to do interviews with us. Governor Ted Strickland particularly. Others know who you are. In my opinion, that helped put this site above most others. My parents supported my move back into the Akron area, knowing that this was something of a dream job for me. That is not a surprise – they've always been there for both of their children in good times and bad. My mom must have given out hundreds of our business cards to people around the area. My dad was always there to bounce my ideas off of.

Not a lot of additional information right now, but State Senator Kevin Coughlin announced this afternoon he plans to run for governor. I first saw it here at Ohio.com.

Looks like John Kasich, should he decide to run, will not have a clear primary field.

Update: State Senator Coughlin is exploring with the intention of running for governor. The state party has been informed of the organizing for a 2010 governor campaign and that is what is going on as of now. Just wanted to clarify that.

"Mrs. Clinton came to her decision after additional discussion with President-elect Barack Obama about the nature of her role and his plans for foreign policy, said one of the confidants, who insisted on anonymity to discuss the situation. Mr. Obama’s office told reporters Thursday that the nomination is “on track” but Clinton associates only confirmed Friday afternoon that she has decided." – NYT

Wow. I honestly thought the rumors were just hot air. I'm really surprise and excited by this move. It is very Lincolnesque. Senator Clinton is going to do a great job and raise the profile of foreign policy issues in the Obama Administration. Her critics will say that she lacks the foreign policy experience, but I would argue that she makes up for it with the personal contacts she has around the world. This pick is also good news for the Democratic Party because it puts a complete end to any splits between Obama and Clinton camps. This is very good news.

The other panelists will be Tom Beres of WKYC-3, Mark Naymick of the Plain Dealer, and Dr. Rick Perloff of Cleveland State University. It runs from noon to 1:30 and an RSVP is required. If you do want to attend, you can contact the club or myself. Now I will spend the rest of the day figuring out what I am going to say.

11:31: That might be it for me now. I will probably stay awake to see what happens with the other states and races, but I have no spirit left to write about.

11:13: Ohio is creeping much closer, not that it matters a whole lot now.

11:06: Wow., does PA not even look that close.

10:59: Will be over in a minute.

10:35: Franken up 3%, 12% in.

10:29: Just had a cordial call with Kyle where I told him congrats. I remembered the bad feeling he had in 2004.

10:05: Wicker wins in MS. No 60 for Dems. It's something.

9:40: So this is how it feels. I'll tell you, not very good. I am a glutton for punishment, so I'll hang around. At least the Phillies won for me.

9:28: Don't know how much more I will have in me tonight.

9:19: FOX Says Ohio for Obama.

9:15: McCain down to +1 in VA. Not good.

9:00: First Bush state falls, NM. I see FOX calls for Ohio for Obama. Hmmm. COREECTION: They did not. 183-81.

8:47: Florida tightening..we'll see if it is enough.

8:35: VA looking decent for McCain..that is about it.

8:27: Sununu down to defeat in NH. That hurts.

8:10: Nervous about Florida. McConnell wins. Heard NBC/ABC called PA for Obama.

8:02: 77-39 Obama after the 8PM closings.

7:53: I'll say it again. I dont have faith in PA. Look for the first #s to be from cities, they usually are.

7:46: McConnell looking better….early reports from FL are mostly Obama areas.

7:30: McCain wins WV. Ohio shockingly too close to call. NC as well….McCain will win there, pretty confident about that.

7:22: I think McCain needs to win IN by 4-5% otherwise it could be a long night.

7:12: McConnell is going to come back and win right?

7:04: 8-3. We are winning!

6:51: Well, here we go. Fox News on one TV, NBC (not MSNBC) on the other. I'll be doing this on my new laptop, my old laptop is right here where I will be following specifically: NH, NM Senate, OH-15, 16, 13, PA-12, and VA, OH, PA, IN President.

This from Thurber's Thoughts caught my eye.

The Toledo Public Schools are having students write letters to voters in the district supporting their two ballot issues, 34 and 35, as a school assignment.

Maggie writes: So here we have an internal department of TPS using TPS equipment to produce a campaign piece and distributing it to local elementary schools. Teachers then have the kids, as part of a class assignment, copy what they've written on the board about supporting the ballot issues, and then mail out the postcards using the TPS bulk mailing permit…..What is important is that Toledo Public Schools forced elementary school children to participate in an electioneering stunt, making it part of a classroom assignment, and shamelessly used them as a pawn in their political campaign. And, according to what my neighbor Ed reported, no parent was asked ahead of time for their permission to use their child in such a despicable manner.

It is pretty disgusting to have kids spend their school time campaigning and writing letters for the district ballot initiatives. That is not what school resources should be used for.

Can those opposed to the levy use the TPS print shop and get some anti-school levy mailers done for them by students as part of a "school assignment?"

Last night, three of Akron biggest bands came together to play a benefit concert at Akron's Civic Theater for the Summit County Democratic Party and to support Barack Obama. Congressman Tim Ryan, Attorney General Candidate Richard Cordray, Akron City Council President Marco Summerville, Summit County Executive Russ Pry, and other prominent Democrats addressed the crowd in between musical sets. Best speech was given by Tim Ryan as he fired up the crowd. The theater was packed and people were excited to be there. It was a mix of people proud to be Democrats in Akron. These are my kind of people.

The Black Keys opened. They are really tight live and played a great set. In between songs they talked about their Akron roots. It was a perfect opening act. Chrissy Hynde played an acoustic set with another guitarist. She doesn't really need a band because her voice is so good. Chrissy got a little more political than The Black Keys and talked about the need to elect Barack. It wasn't any deep policy discussion, but was still an enthusiastic endorsement. I had no clue what to expect from Devo. They were really good and so energetic. They jumped all over, had coordinated costume changes, and sounded great. It was clear they were happy to be playing in their home town. The show ended with all the bands playing together. My sources tell me the show raised at least $60,000 and that number will go up as the final receipts are totaled.

Related: Have you noticed the Obama campaign's ads appearing on this website? The chart above only shows television dollars and does not include other advertising like online ads. It is good to see the Obama Campaign continue to make smart media buys by choosing our site.

My favorite Obama online ad is the one that has been at the top of DrudgeReport.com all week. That has to make so many Republicans feel like they have no where to hide.

Yesterday Avon Lake laid to rest Capt. Michael J. Medders, a hometown hero.

Middle school students lined the street in front of St. Joseph's church holding small American flags. Mourners slowly walked past soldiers and policemen standing in formation in the parking lot. The only sound was the cool breeze off the lake and the clicking of high heeled shoes on the pavement. Inside, the stain glassed windows were glowing bright from the sunlight that shined down. It was a beautiful day for such a sad event.

The remembrances of Captain Medders at the podium helped paint a picture of a well rounded man who touched the lives of many people. A group of four guys talked about their long time friendship with him and shared stories about the carefree times they had. Two of Mike's superiors in the Army told stories of his leadership on the battlefield, the ownership he took for the men he commanded, and his sacrifice to the nation. A two star General presented the family with a Purple Heart and Bronze Star. The service was powerful. Outside the residents of Avon lined the streets of the funeral procession to the cemetery. Two cranes held up a large American Flag over the street in front of the fire station. The community waited patiently to pay their respects and say thank you to one of their own.

Mike Medders was my brother's roommate and good friend from their undergraduate work at BGSU. The Mike I knew was the college guy who seemed to be the Mayor of Bowling Green because when we went out he knew everybody. He was easy to talk to, fun to be around, and funny. I know that he and my brother had good years in college. What he went on to accomplish with his life is remarkable and appreciated. He will be missed by many.

Story: After months of speculation about his political future, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg plans to announce on Thursday morning that he will seek a third term as mayor, according to three people who have been told of his plans. The extraordinary move promises to upend New York City’s political world. Right now, Mr. Bloomberg is barred by law from seeking re-election. But he will propose trying to revise the city’s 15-year-old term limits law, which would otherwise force him and dozens of other elected leaders out of office in 2009, the three people said.

Nice move by the Democrat turned Republican turned Independent turned who knows what next. Loving his job so much that he can't respect the law on the books, Bloomberg will try to change the law without a vote so he can get reelected, which he probably will. Term limits were enacted by New York voters in both 1993 and 1996. Moot point to Bloomberg. He knows better than them. Mayor Bloomberg, why not let the voters decide if they want to repeal the term limits they enacted?

From later in the article: The chances of passing legislation in the City Council are strong, according to interviews. In August, a New York Times survey of council members — two-thirds of whom are scheduled to be forced out of office in 2009 — found that a majority of them were willing to amend the term limits law.

Wow, I wonder what side they will come down on? Change the law to try and keep their jobs as well or not?

Bloomberg picked a great time to make his announcement – the week Wall Street is in turmoil. Once a political opportunist, always one. Maybe he should switch back to the Democrats for good; he would fit right in. He only made into office by switching to the GOP to follow the two successful terms of Rudy Giuliani. What if Giuliani had tried to do this after September 11? The election for mayor that day was delayed. I am sure that would have gone over real well, since, you know, he was a Republican.

The next 48 hours are going to be nervous for all of us who are following national politics. Uncertainty is nerve wracking for everyone. It has been a relief that John McCain has responded so poorly. His message is all over the place and he hasn't done anything to help resolve the crisis other than trying to cancel debates, call a timeout from campaigns, and take credit for success before anything has been finished. Pelosi is standing with President Bush and Paulson. The tannest man in the House of Representatives John Boehner is voting for the bill, but justifying why Republicans voted against it by accusing Pelosi of being too partisan in her remarks. Barney Frank is responding with quotes like, "because somebody hurt their feelings they decided to punish the country." Things are happening so fast that it tough to keep up. No one knows what to expect from the markets today. What we can expect is another dramatic move by Senator McCain to try and reclaim the issue as his polling numbers continue to slide.

Related: Congresswoman Betty Sutton issued a statement that reflected the views of those Democrats who voted against the proposal: "The recent financial crisis facing our country is the result of an arrogant and reckless Bush Administration which failed to provide reasonable oversight of our financial markets. Yet these same people who have failed to responsibly regulate Wall Street asked Congress to provide $700 billion without necessary judicial review or strong Congressional oversight to ensure that this money is used responsibly. "

Quick reaction: Democrats are trying to draw this out as long as possible; they know it helps Obama. If the majority party can blame Republicans along the way, then it’s a bonus. Once they get all three branches of government they can "fix" the problem. I personally do not believe that Speaker Pelosi is upset that the bailout package failed. How could she know it wouldn't fail? Certainly she knew how most of her caucus would vote (you would assume). She lost 40% of Dems on the vote (94 of 235 by my quick look). It could have passed without any Republicans on a party line vote. I don't see how Pelosi couldn't have known it would fail based on her speech before the vote. They may be now hoping to bring back a bill that contains all their left-wing programs that were written out of this one.

Just like he did on the surge, John McCain needs to act decisively. Now. Polls show the country was against the bailout…..but maybe minds change when they see the market. Virtually every House member considered to be in a "tough race" on both sides voted against the bailout.

From a non-political standpoint, it might be best for no bill now and for the market to decide for itself what happens next now that the effort to push it through at an epic pace failed. A real long term investor sees this as a great opportunity and has held some cash or bonds back to reallocate. Some view this as a store with a clearance sale in the windows. It is probably a good time to invest.

Hey, at least oil was way down.

ABC News: Senior Democrats on the Hill are worried that Sen. McCain will “demagogue” the bill, continue to voice opposition to it, use it to run against both Wall Street and Congress as well as to distance himself from the Bush White House. Democrats worry McCain will not only vote against the bill, he will provide cover for other Republicans to do so, leaving Democrats holding the bag for the Bush administration’s deeply unpopular proposal. A Democratic congressional leadership source says that Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson went so far as to assure Democratic leaders that McCain “won’t be a problem” — in other words that McCain will vote for the proposal.

Harry Reid is now saying that the bill won't pass unless Republicans join up. Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke says the risk of a recession is real unless the plan is passed (I thought we were already in recession?).

I really am not an economic expert. Most of us aren't. I wonder what the consequences would be if there is no bailout. At the same time, John McCain just said in his press conference that the cost comes out to about $10,000 per American household. Even I know that is a lot of money. I want to know if this will work. Can it be justified and how so? The way I see it, our government over the last two decades or so thought it was good idea to encourage banks to give mortgages to people who should not have received them. That is why we are where we are. Why should I pay for them? Why should my money go to people who bought a home and now can't pay for it? Or should it? If my money (and your money) doesn't go to help fix this problem, will things get worse? The market usually has a way of working out it's own problems without intervention from know-it-all politicians on Capitol Hill. Or fix it now and worry about the problems later? If there are any readers out there with some insight, I would love to hear it.

And of course there is the political aspect of this. There would be anyways, but in an election year the stakes are obviously much higher. McCain has the option of coming out against the bailout – claiming it doesn't meet his standards – and running against both Bush and Obama. It is a pretty big question in this election. It has to be tempting to him. Though he has to realize if nothing is done and he ends up being wrong, there could be a market crash (a real one, not a fake one like last week) and that would be the end for him and more importantly the country as a whole. Or it could just mainly affect the housing market and the people on Wall Street who took too many chances.

*Another good day for Dems on Wall Street, as the Dow falls about 160. Not quite as good as yesterday's news, but heartening results after stocks were slightly up in mid-day trading. There is always tomorrow for another big slide.