Today's Mythical "Surge" Moment

Michael Gerson, Washington Post: "Iraq -- the issue that dominated George W. Bush's presidency for 5 1/2 bitter, controversial years -- is on the verge of a miraculous peace."

New York Times: "Fifteen people were killed and dozens wounded by bombings in Baghdad on Tuesday, according to the police and hospital officials, part of an uptick in violence after a relatively quiet few weeks here."

Live Blog: Closing up the Shop

We'll come back with any changes, but I think we can call a moratorium on the Presidential/Senate updates. No significant changes since our last posting with Missouri and North Carolina too close to decide (and, for CNN, Indiana).

Al Franken is 600 votes short in Minnesota. That race plus Oregon and Alaska go to recounts --- Georgia is still undeclared because of possible problems with the count.

How did we do?

While Scott begins the post-election analysis, I thought I'd provide a little bit of commentary on Enduring America itself. The site's been up for little over a week and last night was our 'official' launch, but we're already seeing a great response from our readers. Yesterday (that is, between midnight and 23.59 GMT on November 4) we received over 1200 hits. Today we'd received another 1000 hits by the time the networks began calling the election for Obama, and at the time of writing we're enjoying our busiest day ever, with over 1500 hits already. We also received over 100 great comments during the election liveblog, and they're continuing to come in. The updates should ease off a little as the excitement of the election wanes but we're still planning on blogging here every day, so be sure to keep reading.

[Image by Patrick Moberg, via Wrestlevania and [mRg]]

The Media Highlight of the Day

I've done interviews for BRMB Radio, Smooth Radio, BBC WM Radio, LBC Radio of London, and Kerrang! Radio today but these are all preludes to my big event.

I'll be filming an item with Ryan Lucas, of the website The State of the United States, on political blogging and the elections for BBC Television's Midlands Today. It should be out at 6:30 p.m. British Time.

Just a Thought: Where are Those Riots?

As a follow-up to our item highlighting the scare story in the British and Irish Press, "If Obama Loses, Blacks Riot", just wondering if any of those intrepid reporters have found, "When Obama Wins, Blacks Riot".

I understand that Oprah may have caused a bit of trouble at the Obama rally in Chicago, but I don't think that counts.

This story is not prompted in any way by the discovery that "If Obama, Blacks Riot" has been our top-viewed story since our launch.