I recorded election night coverage in 2012. On MSNBC, here is when the various states were called during the night:
8pm EASTERN TIME— Immediately called for Obama — IL, MA, MD, CT, RI, DE, DC. NJ was special case due to Sandy recovery but we can expect it to be called quickly tonight. Called for Romney — TN, AL, OK and MS
PA — “too early to call but Obama has a lead”
FL — too close to call 42% of vote in (early votes) — Obama 1,887,551 and Romney 1,813,977 difference 73,574
NH — too close to call
ME — state called for Obama but no call yet on ME-02
MO — too early to call but no advantage for either candidate
Recapping earlier states that closed:
OH — 7% in Obama leading by 103,024
NC — 23% in and Romney leading by 12,068
VA — too close to call 12% in Romney leading by 82,890
9pm closings- immediately called for Obama — MI, NY, NM. Called for Romney — TX, LA, KS, NE overall but no call for NE-02, ND, SD, WY
WI- too early to call but Obama leading
CO — too close to call
AZ — too early to call but Romney leading
MN — too early yo call but Obama leading
As of 9:02pm, here is where the states stood:
FL — 72% in. Obama 3,151,598 Romney 3,135,300 difference 16,298
OH — 26% in too close to call Obama 866,597 Romney 681,064 difference 185,533
NC — 61% in too close to call Obama 1,372,667 Romney 1,403,226 difference 30,559
NH — 11% in too close to call Obama 48,364 Romney 34,907 difference 13,457
MO, WI and CO — all too close to call
9:11pm — Obama has 128 electoral votes Romney 153 EV
9:15pm — PA called for Obama with 7% of vote in Obama 274,207 Romney 126,161
9:18 — OH too close to call with 32% in
FL — 78% in Obama 3,407,189 Romney 3,406,040 difference 1,149
9:28pm — Wisconsin called for Obama
9:47pm CO too close to call 49% in
9:50pm — NH called for Obama with 18% in Obama 72,426 Romney 58,767
9:54pm — FL too close to call with 84% in Obama 3,680,909 Romney 3,665,301
10pm — closings called
IA — too early to call but Obama in lead
NV — too early to call but Obama in lead
UT, MT called for Romney
10:01pm — OH 47% in Obama 1,418,141 Romney 1,313,110 difference 105,031
NC — 82% in too close to call Obama 1,775,127 Romney 1,907,807 difference 132,680
VA — 62% in too close to call Obama 1,151,615 Romney 1,241,544 difference 89,929
CO — 50% in too close to call Obama 665,226 Romney 627,117 difference 38,109
10:01pm — AZ too early to call but Romney in lead
MN 5% in too early to call but Obama in lead
MO — 16% in too early to call
10:01pm Electoral votes Obama 162 Romney 162
10:19 National popular vote 34% in Romney 51% 27,200,181 Obama 48% 25,874,142
10:20pm OH 55% in — too close to call Obama 1,650,825 51% Romney 1,560,291 48%
10:25pm — VA too close to call 68% in Obama 1,274,281 Romney 1,342,365 difference 68,084
10:34pm — AZ called for Romney 48% in
10:43pm — MN called for Obama 22% in
10:48pm — MO called for Romney 40% in
11pm poll closings — CA, WA, HI called for Obama; ID called for Romney
OR — too early to call but Obama in lead
11:01pm —
IA — too early to call 42% in but Obama in lead
FL — 90% in too close to call Obama 3,924,921 Romney 3,888,516 difference 36,405
OH — too close to call 66% in Obama 1,968,001 Romney 1,888584 difference 79,417
NC — 98% in — to close to call Obama 2,152,173 Romney 2,242,321 difference 90,148
VA — 76% in too close to call Obama 1,456,823 Romney 1,481,554 difference 55,732
CO — 66% in too close to call
11:02 electoral votes — Obama 243 Romney 188
11:04pm — NC called for Romney 98%in
11:09pm — Iowa called for Obama
11:12pm — Oregon called for Obama
11:12pm — OHIO called for Obama 75% in
meaning OBAMARE-ELECTED
11:20pm national popular vote Obama 39,572,784 274 EV ; Romney 40,608,558 203 EV
11:51pm — CO too close to call; NV Obama leading; VA Obama leading; FL Obama leading
AK not called yet either
National popular vote 67% in — Obama 46,036,649 49% Romney 46,227,656 49%
11:55pm — MSNBC projects that Obama’s winning margin will be “1 to 1.5% when all votes are counted”
12 midnight —
12:07am — national popular vote 71% in -Obama 47,528,060 Romney 47,736,036
12:10am — CO called for Obama 72% in
Romney concession speech starts just before 1am Eastern time
Switched channels from MSNBC to CNN — CNN had already called NV and VA for Obama but still had FL and Alaska uncalled
