Colorado & Denver News

  Editors Note: cbs4denver.com will be blogging the latest news from Election Night in Colorado and across the country into Wednesday morning. Check back here for constant updates. (all times Mountain)

3:06 p.m.: Highlights of the statewide ballot initiatives (Updated):

 --PERSONHOOD: Would define a person "to include any human being from the moment of fertilization." DEFEATED.

--AFFIRMATIVE ACTION: Would ban preference based on race or gender in state hiring and admission to public universities. TOO CLOSE TO CALL.

--TAXPAYER BILL OF RIGHTS: Would eliminate surplus refunds under the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights to provide more funding for schools. It also would eliminate mandatory inflationary increases for education spending. FAILING.

--RIGHT TO WORK AND UNION DUES: Would bar "closed shops" in unionized workplaces. No one can be forced to join a union but currently unions can force non-members to pay dues if 75 percent of workers agree. FAILING.

--PAYCHECK DEDUCTIONS: Would bar governments from deducting money from employee paychecks for politically active groups such as unions and other professional organizations. DEFEATED.

--NO-BID CONTRACTS: Would bar some government contractors, including unions, from making contributions to political parties. TOO CLOSE TO CALL.

--SALES TAX: Would raise the state sales tax one-tenth of 1 percent in each of the next two years, with the estimated $186 million raised annually to finance services for the disabled. DEFEATED.

--LIMITED GAMBLING: Would allow Black Hawk, Cripple Creek and Central City to hold their own elections on whether casinos could raise betting limits from $5 to $100, operate 24 hours a day, and add other games. APPROVED.

--SEVERANCE TAXES-ENERGY: Would eliminate a credit that allows oil and gas companies to deduct property taxes from severance taxes. The change would bring in an estimated $321 million in the first year with most going to college scholarships, plus communities affected by energy development, wildlife habitat and clean energy projects. FAILING.

--SEVERANCE TAX-HIGHWAYS: Would maintain the severance tax rate but distribute more revenue to highways, an estimated $89 million in the first year. DEFEATED.

--BALLOT MEASURES: Would change the citizen initiative system to require more signatures for proposals to amend the State Constitution and lower the bar for proposals that would change a state law. TOO CLOSE TO CALL.

-- LEGISLATIVE AGE: Would lower the age requirement for serving in the legislature from 25 to 21. FAILING.

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Source: Secretary of State, Legislative Council of the Colorado General Assembly

Wednesday

1 a.m.: AP calls Montana for McCain.

12:10 a.m.: CBS News projects Obama wins Indiana.

11:50 p.m.: Highlights of the statewide ballot initiatives:

--PERSONHOOD: Would define a person "to include any human being from the moment of fertilization." DEFEATED.

--AFFIRMATIVE ACTION: Would ban preference based on race or gender in state hiring and admission to public universities. TO CLOSE TO CALL.

--TAXPAYER BILL OF RIGHTS: Would eliminate surplus refunds under the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights to provide more funding for schools. It also would eliminate mandatory inflationary increases for education spending. FAILING.

--RIGHT TO WORK AND UNION DUES: Would bar "closed shops" in unionized workplaces. No one can be forced to join a union but currently unions can force non-members to pay dues if 75 percent of workers agree. FAILING.

--PAYCHECK DEDUCTIONS: Would bar governments from deducting money from employee paychecks for politically active groups such as unions and other professional organizations. FAILING.

--NO-BID CONTRACTS: Would bar some government contractors, including unions, from making contributions to political parties. TOO CLOSE TO CALL.

--SALES TAX: Would raise the state sales tax one-tenth of 1 percent in each of the next two years, with the estimated $186 million raised annually to finance services for the disabled. FAILING.

--LIMITED GAMBLING: Would allow Black Hawk, Cripple Creek and Central City to hold their own elections on whether casinos could raise betting limits from $5 to $100, operate 24 hours a day, and add other games. PASSING.

--SEVERANCE TAXES-ENERGY: Would eliminate a credit that allows oil and gas companies to deduct property taxes from severance taxes. The change would bring in an estimated $321 million in the first year with most going to college scholarships, plus communities affected by energy development, wildlife habitat and clean energy projects. FAILING.

--SEVERANCE TAX-HIGHWAYS: Would maintain the severance tax rate but distribute more revenue to highways, an estimated $89 million in the first year. FAILING.

--BALLOT MEASURES: Would change the citizen initiative system to require more signatures for proposals to amend the State Constitution and lower the bar for proposals that would change a state law. TOO CLOSE TO CALL.

-- LEGISLATIVE AGE: Would lower the age requirement for serving in the legislature from 25 to 21. FAILING.

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Source: Secretary of State, Legislative Council of the Colorado General Assembly

11:00 p.m.: Markey gave victory speech in CD4.

10:37 p.m.: Obama sends text message to supporters thanking them for all their help making history.

10:25 p.m.: Several reports of fireworks and gunfire were reported across Denver in apparent celebration shortly after Barack Obama was projected the presidential winner at 9 p.m. Denver police spokesman Sonny Jackson says the reports were not confined to one part of the city.

CBS4 observed celebrations on the streets of Denver's African-American dominated Five Points neighborhood.

9:59 p.m.: Obama: "America ... tonight is your answer."

9:57 p.m.: Obama takes stage in Chicago.

9:56 p.m.: Obama expected to talk at the top of the hour.

9:55 p.m.: Amendments 50 and 54 passing. All others losing.

9:48 p.m.: CBS News projects Obama wins Nevada.

9:43 p.m.: CBS News projects Udall wins Colorado Senate race.

9:35 p.m.: CBS News projects Electoral College: Obama 333, McCain 155.

9:32 p.m.: Tidbits on Colorado voters, based on Associated Press voter polls in the past week:

VOTER SENTIMENT: Colorado voters chose the economy as the most important issue facing the country, more than the war in Iraq, terrorism, health care and energy policy. A majority said they oppose the war and disapprove of how George W. Bush has handled his job as president. A majority of voters support offering most illegal immigrants working in the U.S. a chance to apply for legal status rather than deporting them.

OBAMA VOTERS: Sen. Barack Obama had strong support among women, moderates, independents and Hispanics. Of people who said they were worried about the direction of the nation's economy in the next year, more supported Obama.

MCCAIN VOTERS: Voters who said they want a candidate who shares their values or has the right experience tended to pick Sen. John McCain. So did born-again or evangelical Christians, and those who said they approve of the way Bush has handled the presidency. McCain fared his best among voters age 65 and older and was strongly favored by voters who identified terrorism as the most important issue facing the country.

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SENATE RACE:

UDALL VOTERS: Women, moderates and independents tended to favor Rep. Mark Udall, a Democrat.

SCHAFFER VOTERS: Former Rep. Bob Schaffer drew support from evangelical Christians. His strongest base of support was in eastern Colorado, an area he represented when he was in Congress.

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AMENDMENT 48

WHO SUPPORTED IT: Republicans and white evangelical Christians tended to support it.

WHO OPPOSED IT: Democrats and independents were more likely to oppose the proposal.

HISPANICS: Hispanics appeared to be split on the issue.

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The survey of 1,254 Colorado voters was conducted for AP by Edison Media Research and Mitofsky International by landline telephone statewide over the past week. Results are subject to sampling error of plus or minus three percentage points, higher for subgroups.

9:30 p.m.: CBS News projects Obama wins Colorado. Read more about his win in the Centennial state.

9:21 p.m.: Read more about Udall win in Colorado Senate race and watch his speech.

9:18 p.m.: McCain speaks in Arizona. "We've come to end of a long journey." He called Obama to congratulate.

9:16 p.m.: CBS News projects McCain wins Arizona, AP projects Colorado for Obama..

9:13 p.m.: Obama wins Florida according to CBS News. Obama 323, McCain 145.

9:11 p.m.: CBS News projects Virgnia for Obama. Electoral College: Obama 296, Mccain 145.

9:10 p.m.: CBS News projects current Electoral College: Obama 283, McCain 145.

9:07 p.m.: CBS News projected Obama wins California, Washington, Oregon, Hawaii. McCain won Idaho. Also in Senate, Risch (R) won Idaho.

9:01 p.m. : CBS News projects Barack Obama elected president.

9 p.m.: Obama wins California, Oregon, Washington, CBS News projects. AP calls Florida, Virginia for Obama.

8:58 p.m.: Rocky Mountain News calls Markey win in CD4.

8:53 p.m.: CBS News projections: GOVERNOR NORTH CAROLINA-PERDUE (D). Also, AP projects Obama wins Virginia.

8:50 p.m.: CBS News plans special report at 9 p.m. What will the say?

8:40 p.m.: CBS News projects McCain wins 3 of Nebraska's 5 Electoral College votes.

8:35 p.m.: Udall gives victory speech before CBS News projects race.

8:30 p.m.: CBS News projects McCain wins South Dakota. Virginia, Florida, Missouri, Indiana still close to call.

8:25 p.m.: DeGette gives victory speech, easliy cruising to CD1 re-election.

8:20 p.m.: Clearly, Denver was able to solve voting problems from last couple of elections. No long lines, no breakdowns.

"It has gone much better than 2006," said Denver elections spokesman Alton Dillard, harkening back to a year when Denver used vote centers where anyone could go to cast a ballot, instead of to designated precincts. A malfunction with the electronic poll book triggered long wait times that year.

8:15 p.m.: Jared Polis gives acceptance speech for CD2 at Democratic HQ.

8:05 p.m.: Other CBS News projections: SENATE: IOWA - HARKIN (D), MONTANA - BAUCUS (D). GOVERNOR: MONTANA - SCHWEITZER (D), UTAH - HUNTSMAN (R), MISSOURI-NIXON (D).

8 p.m.: CBS News projects Obama wins Iowa. McCain wins Utah and Mississippi. Obama leads 206, 135 in Electoral College.

7:57 p.m.: All other Colorado Congressional races going as expected.

7:43 p.m.: With 31 percent reporting, Betsy Markey (D) 93,247 61% to Marilyn Musgrave (R) 59,938 39% in CD4.

7:37 p.m.: CBS News projections: Obama 199, McCain 124 in Electoral College.

7:35 p.m.: CBS News projects Senate races: KENTUCKY - MCCONNELL (R), MISSISSIPPI - COCHRAN (R)

7:32 p.m.: Obama projected to win New Mexico, CBS News projects.

7:29 p.m.: Obama winning in Jefferson County 44-44.

7:27 p.m.: results pour in from Colorado. go to cbs4denver.com/electionresults.

7:26 p.m.: Jeff Greenfield on CBS News says McCain has virtually no way to win, even if he wins all the remaining middle states.

7:23 p.m.: Obama wins Ohio, according to CBS News projection. Louisiana wins McCain.

7:17 p.m.: CBS News projects McCain in Georgia.

7:15 p.m.: from AP: No long lines reported as polls close in Colorado. Those waiting in line will be allowed to cast their ballot.

7:11 p.m.: CBS News projections show Obama 174 to McCain 100 in Electoral College.

7:07 p.m.: Other CBS News projects: KANSAS -ROBERTS (R), NEBRASKA -JOHANNS (R), TEXAS -CORNYN (R), WYOMING 1-ENZI (R), WYOMING 2-BARASSO (R), MICHIGAN -LEVIN (D), RHODE ISLAND  -REED (D), SOUTH DAKOTA -JOHNSON (D). GOVERNOR: NORTH DAKOTA -HOEVEN (R).

7 p.m.: CBS News projects Obama wins New York, Michigan, Rhode Island, Minnesota, Wisconsin. McCain projected to win Kansas, Texas, Wyoming and North Dakota.

6:41 p.m.: CBS News project Sessions (R) wins Alabama Senate race.

6:37 p.m.: CBS News projects McCain wins Alabama.

6:36 p.m.: Colorado polls close at 7 p.m. More than half of the state's results should be available shortly there after.

6:35 p.m.: CBS News projects Pryor (D) wins Arkansas Senate seat.

6:33 p.m.: Current Electoral College count by CBS News: Obama 102, McCain 45.

6:30 p.m.: CBS News projects Arkansas for McCain.

6:27 p.m.: CBS News projects Pennsylvania for Obama.

6:25 p.m.: That's a Hagan win for Dems in North Carolina and Shaheen wins New Hampshire for Dems.

6:20 p.m.: CBS News projects Dole loses Senate seat for GOP in North Carolina and Sununu loses Senate seat for GOP in New Hampshire.

6:15 p.m.: From AP: In Their Words: Colorado voices at the polls Tuesday:

"I just liked his plan better, especially his health care plan. I have an aging parent so that's important to me," said Yvonne Hobrecht, 49, of Lakewood, after voting for Barack Obama at Alameda High School.

"I just like his values a little bit better than Obama, and I disagree with some of Obama's economic policies," said Dan Shipp, 43, of Lakewood, after voting for John McCain and GOP senatorial candidate Bob Schaffer. "I actually like Mark Udall, and I like some of the things that he believes in in regard to sportsmen and outdoors, but just his liberal attitude towards things in general -- we just take a more conservative view."

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"I'm not very optimistic," said McCain supporter Tom Stipe, 58, of Arvada, speaking of the possibility of an Obama win. "I think you're looking at a post-Christian America. I think Obama has some very serious socialist values."

Stipe said he voted for McCain largely because of concerns over the economy and worries about national security. He specifically cited Russia's military ties to Venezuela and to Cuba.

"We may be looking at a repeat of the Cuban missile crisis in the next six months. I know what McCain would do. I'm not sure what Obama would do. Invite them for coffee first?"

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Lena Ironwing-Player, 38, voted for the first time, convinced that Obama can improve the nation's economy.

"He needs to help the little guy. The big guys are doing just fine," said Ironwing-Player, who lives in Leyden, a Denver suburb.

And if Obama loses? "I won't be happy," she said. "We'll just have to have a beer and get over it."

6:08 p.m.: Florida, Virginia, Ohio, Indiana and Pennsylvania too close to call. Analysts show Obama winning Florida's I-4 corridor and out performing Kerry's 2004 numbers in rural parts of Virginia and Indiana.

6:07 p.m.: CBS News also projects the following Senate races: DELAWARE - BIDEN (D, MAINE - COLLINS (R), MASSCHUSETTS - KERRY (D), NEW JERSEY - LAUTENBERG (D), TENNESSEE - ALEXANDER (R), OKLAHOMA - INHOFE (R). CBS News governor projections: DELAWARE - MARKELL (D), NEW HAMPSHIRE - LYNCH (D).

6:04 p.m.: CBS News projects Obama wins Illinois, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Maryland, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Delaware and the District of Columbia. McCain wins Tennessee and Oklahoma, CBS News projects. Pennsylvania was too close to call.

5:53 p.m.: CBS News projects McCain wins South Carolina.

5:50 p.m.: Some have asked or called us today at CBS4 to ask what a provisional ballot means. Voters cast a provisional ballot if they requested a mail-in ballot, but go to a polling place on Election Day or didn't find their names on the poll book. Voters fill out their identity information and cast a ballot. Elections officials later check the person's information to see if they were registered and didn't vote another way. If all that clears, then the voters ballot is added to the count.

5:40 p.m.: CBS News also projects Rockefeller (D) winner of Senate race in West Virginia and Manchin (D) the winner of governor in West Virginia.

5:35 p.m.: From CBS4 Mountain Newsroom reporter Stan Bush earlier today in Grand Junction:

Some Democrats are saying John McCain's appearance today in Grand Junction is a sign that his campaign in Colorado has not gone well.

In a written statement Gov. Bill Ritter said, "This last minute visit by Senator McCain to the Western Slope isn't going to convince Coloradans that he is the right leader when it comes to refueling our economy and investing in energy."

Mesa County is one of the most conservative counties in Colorado. Republicans outnumber Democrats 3 to 1.

Senator McCain spoke to a crowd of roughly 4,000 people this afternoon, most of whom had already cast their ballots for the Republican.

In his 13 minute speech, McCain spoke on the economy and on national security, but didn't mention his Democratic opponent, Illinois Senator Barack Obama, once.

The GOP hopes this last minute rally will give them a much needed boost before the polls close.

Read more on McCain visit.

5:30 p.m.: CBS News projects McCain wins West Virginia. Polls also just closed in Ohio and North Carolina.

5:24 p.m. Votes also being counted in Virginia and Florida. Both too close to call early.

5:08 p.m.: CBS News also projects Republican Graham winner of the Senate race in South Carolina and Democrat Warner the winner of the Senate Race in Virginia. Daniels (R) also projected to win Governor of Indiana.

5 p.m.: CBS4 News calls Vermont for Obama and Kentucky for McCain. Indiana results pouring in with about 100,000 votes counted and a tight race.

(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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