Early Voting Offers a Glimpse Into End Game

And early balloting could be helping Sharron Angle in Nevada.

And at WSJ:

Danger flags are up for Democrats in Nevada. But in Iowa, where many expected a drubbing, the party looks strong. Maine looks good for Republicans, but North Carolina doesn't.

From Washington State to Florida, Americans are already voting, 2.5 million of them so far, and early trends suggest that while Republicans are looking strong overall, predictions that Democrats would stay home for the midterm elections may be a bit overblown.

"If you thought the Democrats were just going to give up on this election and not vote at all, that's not what we're seeing," said Michael McDonald, a public-affairs professor at George Mason University in Virginia, who tracks early voting.

To be sure, the figures could be deceptive. State and county officials can provide the number of ballots returned by registered Republicans or Democrats, but can't say whether voters stuck with their party. But national polling suggests the parties in recent weeks have solidified support among their voters. And early-voting trends in 2008 elections presaged statewide results.

The trends could of course change before Nov. 2, election day. For the moment, party officials are anxiously eyeing the returns from early voting, which began this month in some states, and adjusting their get-out-the-vote efforts as the returns come in. That may be particularly important to Democrats, who acknowledge GOP voters are more enthusiastic this year but say they will use early voting to lure their voters to the polls.