Live Blog: Wisconsin Primary

7:42 p.m. Polls close in Wisconsin’s open primary at 8:00 p.m. CST. Smart Politics live blogging of results with analysis will commence at that time.

8:00 p.m. John McCain is the projected winner of the GOP primary in Wisconsin, according to CNN, NBC News, and Fox News. MSNBC characterized the Democratic race exit polling as showing Obama with the advantage – a “significant” advantage.

8:04 p.m. Exit polls showed Obama leading Clinton among independents by a 2:1 margin.

8:07 p.m. McCain is giving his victory speech and states he “Will be the nominee of the Republican Party.” McCain takes a big dig at Obama by stating Americans will not be deceived by an “eloquent but empty call for change.”

8:19 p.m. NBC News projects Barack Obama has won – to no surprise at Smart Politics – the Democratic primary. Obama has now won 22 states plus the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It is Obama’s 9th straight victory over Clinton since Super Tuesday, including D.C. and the Virgin Islands.

8:23 p.m. CNN and Fox News have projected Obama the victor in Wisconsin.

8:27 p.m. Democratic (2% reporting)
Obama = 54%
Clinton = 45%

8:27 p.m. Republican (2% reporting)
McCain = 57%
Huckabee = 36%
Paul = 4%
Romney = 2%

8:33 p.m. Hillary Clinton is addressing her supporters in Ohio and takes several jabs at Obama, stating we need “work” not “words” and “solutions” not “speeches.”

8:37 p.m. Democratic (6% reporting)
Obama = 55%
Clinton = 44%

8:37 p.m. Republican (5% reporting)
McCain = 56%
Huckabee = 36%
Paul = 4%
Romney = 2%

8:43 p.m. Obama is addressing his supporters in Houston, Texas, encouraging people to vote (early voting has begun in Texas). Obama currently trails Clinton by 2 points in the latest CNN poll in the Lone Star State and by 5 points in the latest SurveyUSA poll.

8:47 p.m. Democratic (12% reporting)
Obama = 54%
Clinton = 45%

8:47 p.m. Republican (11% reporting)
McCain = 55%
Huckabee = 37%
Paul = 4%
Romney = 2%

8:55 p.m. Smart Politics will update the Wisconsin numers at 10:00 p.m. CST when the polls close in Washington (GOP) and Hawaii (Democratic caucus).

9:57 p.m. Democratic (66% reporting)
Obama = 57%
Clinton = 42%

9:57 p.m. Republican (65% reporting)
McCain = 54%
Huckabee = 38%
Paul = 5%
Romney = 2%

10:35 p.m. Democratic (81% reporting)
Obama = 58%
Clinton = 41%

10:35 p.m. Republican (81% reporting)
McCain = 54%
Huckabee = 37%
Paul = 5%
Romney = 2%

9:47 a.m. Democratic (100% reporting)
Obama = 58%
Clinton = 41%

9:47 a.m. Republican (100% reporting)
McCain = 55%
Huckabee = 37%
Paul = 5%
Romney = 2%