Decision Time

s the first returns of the night started to trickle in (A little before 7:00 EST Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky won the distinction of being the first to have his reelection announced on the basis of exit polls) President Clinton appeared headed toward victory.

The final PoliticsNow poll put Clinton ahead with 51 percent of the vote, Dole in second with 38 percent, and Perot in third with 11 percent. The poll had a margin of error of 4 percent.

Consistent with polls last week saying that a slight majority of Americans, 51 percent, prefer one party in control of the White House and the other party in control of Capitol Hill, voters seemed poised to elect a majority of Republicans to both the Senate and the House, though Democrats maintain there are too many close races to make an accurate prediction.

Despite predictions that voter turnout could be the lowest since 1988, many precincts were reporting heavier-than-expected turnout early tonight.