In a close U.S. election, first clues to winner could come early

In a close U.S. election, first clues to winner could come early

By John Whitesides at Reuters

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/05/us-usa-campaign-guide-idUSBRE8A417J20121105

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"We'll be focused on some of those Ohio precincts," Axelrod said on "Fox News Sunday," as well as on the early Virginia results. "If those start breaking our way it could be an earlier evening than people anticipated."

Romney's political director, Rich Beeson, said the campaign also will be looking for trends in the early numbers from the sprawling suburbs of northern Virginia and the heavily Democratic areas of northeastern Ohio.

They also will be watching the early results in New Hampshire and Pennsylvania, which are in the next wave of poll closings at 8 p.m. EST. New Hampshire is another swing state where polls show a tight race, and Romney has made a late bid to put Democratic-leaning Pennsylvania in play.

Beeson predicted a Romney win and said, "People won't have to look very long to know that."

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