Update: This Election Forecast Contest was originally going to be a one-day challenge, but the response has been so great we decided to keep it going until the polls open Tuesday morning. So get your predictions on the record!
On Sunday, I normally use this space to look back at the week's highs and lows. But this Sunday is all about looking forward. Even Joe Lieberman is making predictions, assuring us that McCain "will live to 85 at least." So, I dusted off my crystal ball and filled out the election ballot the Washington Post sent me. Here are my predictions for what will happen Tuesday night, but don't look at them until you submit yours to our HuffPost Election Forecast Contest. Tell us the final outcome of: 1) the electoral vote, 2) the popular vote, and 3) the party breakdown of the new Senate and House. Our tiebreaker will be the final tally in Minnesota's three-way Senate race. The winner gets an iPod already loaded with the top songs of the '08 race.
Rules: Leave your answers in the comments section below. In the event of duplicate submissions, the one with the earlier timestamp gets credit. Popular vote totals in presidential race and Minnesota race should be expressed in percentages, Senate and House composition answers in numbers of Democrats, Republicans and others (Senate prediction should total 100, House prediction should total 435). Deadline is 6:00 am Eastern time on election day. Good luck!
If you are in the San Francisco area, I will be speaking at the Web 2.0 Summit on Friday, November 7th.
Follow Arianna Huffington on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ariannahuff
Senate 56 Democrats 42 Republicans 2 Independents
House 258 Democrats 177 Republicans
Minnesota
Franken 43% Coleman 39& Barkley 18%
Obama will win Virginia, Indiana, North Carolina, Colorado, Florida and Ohio and come close in Missouri and Kansas (possibly winning there)
Elizabeth Dole will lose to Kay Hagen
Following swing/battleground states Obama -- Colorado, North Dakota, New Mexico, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Florida, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Ohio
Following swing/battleground states McCain -- Montana, Missouri, Indiana, West Virginia, North Carolina and Georgia
Popular Vote -- 52% Obama; 43% McCain
Senate -- Franken wins in Minnesota; Kay Hagan beats Dole; and Shaheen beats Sununu
Dems end up with 60 seats overall in US Senate
Popular Vote : OBAMA: 60%, McCAIN: 36%, Other: 4%
Senate Dems: 57%; Senate Repubs: 41%; Independents: 2%
House Dems: 263; House Repubs: 172
406 to 132
2) the popular vote
54 to 45
3) the party breakdown of the new Senate and House.
58-42-2 (will go with Dems)
4) Franken 45 Coleman 41 Barkley 14
Our tiebreaker will be the final tally in Minnesota's three-way Senate race.
Popular vote: Obama 53.1. McCain 45.9
Senate: 57 Dem on election night plus GA runoff win = 58 Dem; 40 Rep; 2 Ind (Leiberman & Sanders)
House: 258 Democrats; 177 Republicans.
MN: Franken 41%; Coleman 38%; Barkley 21%
Popular Vote: McCain 49%, Obama 51%
Senate: Democrats 58, Republicans 41, Independent 1
House: Democrats: 258, Republican: 177
%: Obama 53.7%, McCain 44.8%
Senate: Dems 57, Reps 40, Ind 2, (plus one runoff in Georgia which goes to Martin eventually)
House: Dems 253, Reps 182
Minnesota: Franken 43.5, Coleman 42.3, Barkley 14.2
2) 52.4% Obama x 45.8% McCain, 1.8% Other
3) Senate: 57 (D) x 41 (R), 2 (I); House: 258 (D) x 177 (R)
4) Sen. (MN) Franken 43% x Coleman 41%