So, it's finally here.

I've been waiting months and months to get to this point.

I watched Obama launch his campaign and tingled with the hope he promised at that point and just been blown away at how the campaign has ignited people's desire for hope and change.

All very cool.

Wish I could say I'll be on here live blogging the whole election results.. we'll see how I feel at midnight and how the first few results go...

Was just reading online that businesses in central Chicago are reportedly closing early in anticipation of the crowds descending on the Obama rally. All police leave has also been cancelled. Chicago's police chief Jody Weis said he was "extraordinarily confident" that everyone would behave themselves."We can't have foolishness. We can't have mischief," he said. (Thanks to the BBC live text for that update!)

It strikes me that if Obama were to lose tonight there'd be a whole parkful of angry voters. Surely we won't see a riot in Chicago? That'd be absurd... just thinking out loud.

Am off to see Quantum of Solace tonight, looking forward to that.