As at 22:05 ET, via Reuters:

A presidential candidate must get 270 electoral votes out of a possible 538 to win the U.S. election. The 538 members of the Electoral College, not the popular vote, actually elect the president of the United States. More…

John McCain would have to win (the die-hard Democrat states of) Oregon, Washington or California to score the presidency now.

Related links:

“President Obama” – Slate

We’re Calling It: Obama More…

In the US, the major television networks are like the gatekeepers of electoral results; as polls in various states close, network talking heads jostle to make ‘calls’ on potential electoral outcomes. These calls are quite often wrong (“Kerry wins in 04!”), More…

Comment, analysis and other election-related offerings from the FT and FT.com:

Jurek Martin: Good evening Mister President

Tuesday could be a long night – or a very short one – but the game plan is simple. More…

If Intrade’s website crashes today, certain members of the FT’s NY office (including this reporter) would be at least partially responsible. Compulsive refreshing…

Charts of the odds on Obama and McCain as at 14:10 ET, More…

FT Alphaville’s perennially underslept reporters Sam Jones and Stacy-Marie Ishmael will provide running commentary on the 2008 Race to the White House, the outcome of which will be decided today. Please email interesting election-related links, More…

Barack Obama and John McCain on Monday night wound up their presidential campaigns in a whirlwind of rallies and speeches even as new data underlined the scale of the economic crisis awaiting the winner: More…

Is the willingness of Americans to donate millions to their preferred campaign a contrarian indicator for the US economy?

Here’s Wallstrip’s take on the matter (click for the video):

Related links: More…