Hints, but No News, Before 8

MANCHESTER, N.H., Jan. 26 — The last polls in New Hampshire close at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, and if history is a guide, almost all of the state's 301 precincts will have reported results by 10 p.m.

But a sophisticated television viewer may be able to discern the outcome of the Democratic primary by early afternoon. That is when the first results of surveys of voters leaving the polls are available.

The television stations and networks are committed not to announce winners and losers until after 8 p.m. But much can be learned from inflections in the announcers' voices and hints in their reporting. Television announcers are not likely to suggest a close fight, for instance, if the exit polls show a blowout.

The New Hampshire secretary of state, William M. Gardner, said Monday that he expected 184,000 voters, the most since 1984, the last year when the Democratic primary was contested and the Republican one was not.

more: http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/27/politics/campaign/27ELEC.htm

we will have clues on this thing by mid-afternoon, also Drudge usually drudges up exit poll results and posts them on his site.