NY23: A Nation Awaits the Historic Result

The media have descended in droves on the Hotel Saranac -- built in 1927 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places -- which will be the scene of tonight's anticipated Doug Hoffman victory party. While the TV hotshots are setting up in the ballroom upstairs, we bloggers have taken over the A.P. Smith Restaurant next to the lobby. Kerry Picket of The Washington Times and Hooah Mac of Red State are here.

Dave Weigel of the Washington Independent just showed up. He says he's guessing Hoffman to win by 11%-12%. Two tables away from the National Desk, Jimmy Vielkind of New York Observer and Liz Benjamin of the New York Daily News are chatting with Jeremy Peters from the New York Times. Just a few pictures to set the scene:

Note the rich wood paneling and chandeliers in the historic banquet room where I'll be poaching free buffet food later tonight. Life is good.

A CNN reporter prepares for her historic broadcast.

A hotel maintenance man removes a historic chandelier to prepare for the historic occasion.

The National Desk, 7 p.m., in the historic A.P. Smith Restaurant.