Yes, the returns don't start coming in for about another half hour, but man, another Patty Murray rally (this one at the Westin, as opposed to the last one at Neumo's) that's conspicuously missing a packed house:

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  • Kelly O

The SECB pretty much has the ballroom at the Westin all to itself.

There are two giant TV screens, one blaring CNN, the other blaring MSNBC. The effect is unpleasant. The ballroom is deserted but the SECB doesn't think the dueling cable news channels are the reason. The bigwigs are hanging back, hiding out in hotel rooms, and waiting for some real results to come in before they make their way down the ballroom. So for right now it's almost exclusively media in the ballroom—from the lowliest local bloggers to the reporters from the biggest national media outlets. Earlier in the day it looked like the Murray was going to be significant... but with Dems holding on in PA, WI, and WV, Murray's race is suddenly less significant.

Wait... this just in... NBC is projecting that Russ Feingold is out. The GOP picks up a Senate seat in Wisconsin. Now we take you back to the Westin...

It's all media here. So there's no one in the room who isn't being paid to be here. Gene Godden is rumored to be in the ballroom somewhere—teeny, tiny Gene Godden—and the SECB hears that Richard Conlin and Tim Burgess are on their way. So the party is just about to get staaaaaaarted, heeeeeeeey!

UPDATE: An SECB investigation has determined why this bullshit ballroom is freaking deserted. The drinks at the Westin's six dozen no-host bars are fucking expensive. Some of the prices:

A glass of wine: $10.50
A beer: $8
A martini: $10

Damn! Why are the drinks so expensive? The SECB asked two dapper gentlemen stationed behind one of the bars and neither had an answer. The small number of folks who aren't being paid to be in this ballroom—the folks who can't charge their employers for their drinks—are leaving the party in droves. (Before Richard Conlin arrives?) The SECB hears that people are heading to the Starlight for more reasonably priced drinks.

The SECB would join them but, you know, we're being paid to be here. And we can expense these $8 Stellas.