Millions of Americans have already cast their ballot in early voting sessions, and a surprising number of the more than three million who have already voted, are Democrats.
Republicans have been gaining ground with their push to bring out early voters, that is, compared to the numbers a couple of years ago, but figures from the first preliminary patterns in 2010’s early votes gives Democrats a lead in a few states and larger counties.
"If people thought the Democrats were just going to roll over and play dead in this election, that's not what we're seeing," says Michael McDonald of George Mason University. McDonald, who tracks national early voting patterns continues, "They've got to be feeling a little bit better with the numbers that they're seeing."
It is estimated that more than 30 percent of votes will be cast early this year, and campaigners are pulling out all the stops to lock-in support from voters.
For the first time in a US midterm, traditional hit-the-pavement campaigning is seen alongside social media campaigning online through Facebook and other social network sites. Twitter has been running hot with election messages from both sides, YouTube videos are proliferating and good old-fashioned emails are flying through cyber space.
As yet no official results are available, but in Nevada, Maryland and North Carolina, Democrats have been casting their votes in heavier numbers than Republicans, although in this uncertain political climate, its really impossible to tell who they are actually voting for.
