More anecdotes from the polling places roll into my e-mailbox.

From Worcester County:

Just got back from the polls here in Leominster in Worcester County. When I brought my ballot up, the cop on duty said with a grin, “There’s no secret who you’re voting for,” and nodded to my National Review sweatshirt. We had a short, smiling, nonpolitical exchange that didn’t end in gunfire. I took that as a positive sign. Outside I spoke to a woman I know who was standing on West Street in the snow holding a Brown sign with three other Brown supporters (I didn’t see a single Coakley supporter standing in the snow as of 9:30 this morning). She says she’s been out since seven this morning and that she’d estimate shows of support (honking horns, etc.) from the passing cars to be in the 60 to 70% range. Great if true.
I’m an old Reagan ‘84 volunteer who’s tuned out state and local politics out of disgust over the past twenty-plus years, but twenty-five years ago Leominster was pretty conservative. It’s less so now, but I was heartened by yesterday’s bellwether polls that gave Brown a double digit lead in Fitchburg and Gardner. It’s been a long time, but if memory serves both Fitchburg and Gardner as well as nearby Clinton were the only three towns in the immediate area that were Mondale country. If Fitchburg and Gardner have gone Brown, that pretty much guarantees Leominster and bodes well for all of Worcester County. If the graveyards don’t empty for Coakley, maybe I can start feeling…well, not good, but at least a heckuva lot less shame about politics here in Massachusettes (sic, Martha).

In Lowell:

I have lived in the heart of liberal Massachusetts almost my whole life. This is the biggest enthusiasm gap I have ever seen in Mass. in favor of the Republican:When I voted this morning, I saw a dozen signs outside the polls in support of Scott Brown. I did not see a single sign for Martha. I have received 2 to 5 phone calls a day for a week now in support of Scott Brown. I have yet to receive a single phone call for Martha. I have received 1-2 glossy mailers a day for a week now in support of Scott Brown. I have yet to receive a single mailer for Martha. I have received a knock on my door by a volunteer personally campaigning for Scott Brown. I have yet to receive a single one for Martha.
I saw several bumper stickers on my way to work today in support of Scott Brown. I have yet to see a single bumper sticker for Martha.
I realized this morning that I don’t even know what Martha’s campaign logo looks like because I haven’t seen it yet (I don’t watch TV commercials anymore thanks to technology, so maybe that is part of it). If I had an outlook on life like the Obama’s, I might be tempted to say that for the first time in my life, I am proud to be a Massachusetts resident.

From Cambridge:

I live in Cambridge, about 1 1/2 miles northwest of Harvard University. This morning at 8:30, I went out in falling snow to vote for Scott Brown. In 2008, there was brisk turnout, and while I did not have to wait very long, there was a small line. (When my wife voted later in the day in 2008 at the same polling place, there was a line down Massachusetts Avenue.) Today, turnout was definitely several notches lower. There were people coming in and out of the polling place regularly, but there was really no line. For a special election, though, I would say turnout is moderate. This is not surprising, given the high education level of residents in Cambridge, and the fact that they are more likely to vote in any election than people elsewhere. Hopefully turnout will remain low enough in Democrat strongholds for Brown to pull it out. I am hopeful!

From Dorchester:

My brother voted in Dorchester today at 6:45AM. He had to wait at least 15 minutes to vote which is a lot that early in the morning. He said there were a lot of women.
My mother was at a polling station in Dedham and she said it’s been non-stop. I think this can only help Brown. Dedham is a town that I’d classify as “light-pink” especially for Mass. standards.

And from Boston:

I live and vote in the North End — downtown Italian neighborhood with a very strong Dem tilt. This morning at around 7:30 my wife and I were the only two voters at the polling station. You can compare that to November, when at the same time in the morning we waited in line outdoors for 20-25 minutes before we got to the booths. There were no signs up outside, no supporters of either candidate to be seen…honestly, our first thought was that voting was taking place somewhere else this morning.
Thanks for the updates — neither of us actually believe Brown will win, but we’ll be anxiously waiting in hopes that he does.

The state is predicting 40 percent turnout.