Several States May Signal Turning Points

Here are a few key states to watch for early signals on how the presidential vote is proceeding:

3 p.m. PST. Polls close in Kentucky and Indiana. Though it has only eight electoral votes, Kentucky is a swing state whose result could signal whether Bill Clinton can make the breakthroughs he hopes for in the border states of the South.

A loss or a narrow victory margin for President Bush in Indiana, a staunchly Republican state, could signal problems ahead for the President.

“If Clinton wins Kentucky, the election is over,” said Tad Devine, a Democratic strategist. “If Bush wins, it could be a long night before we know what is going on.”

4 p.m. If Bush cannot hold Florida, the election is essentially over; the state should also provide a good gauge of Ross Perot’s appeal. Watch to see if Clinton can reclaim Georgia--his best hope in the Deep South--and whether Bush can hold South Carolina and Virginia. Vermont and New Hampshire will provide the first read on Bush’s standing in the Northeast, where he has lagged badly.

4:30 p.m. North Carolina and Ohio. If Bush loses Ohio, analysts in both parties believe you can switch to “Wheel of Fortune”: The curtain would have closed on his presidency.

5 p.m. The polls close in 18 more states. Look at Michigan and New Jersey: Bush has trailed in both and cannot afford to lose either. But a win for the President here, like a victory in Ohio, would indicate that the GOP base is coalescing more than it appeared in the campaign’s final days.

Clinton is counting on victories in Pennsylvania, Missouri, Tennessee and Illinois. Texas should demonstrate the breadth of Perot’s appeal. If the three-way split allows Clinton to take Texas, the overwhelming likelihood is that the Democrat is on his way toward a landslide.

6 p.m. Eleven more states end voting. In Wisconsin, Bush probably has his best chance of winning back a state the Democrats won in 1988. Clinton has made a major push for Colorado, and he rates Louisiana as one of his top hopes for a breakthrough in the South.

8 p.m. If the race is still unsettled, California, Oregon and Washington will be decisive. Clinton has led in surveys in all three states. But he will have had a run of bad news tonight if the election hangs on balloting along the Pacific Coast.

FACTS AND FIGURES

What’s At Stake Nationwide

Up for election Salary Office Total today Term (rank-and file) President 1 1 4 years $200,000 Senate 100 34 6 years $129,500 House 435 435 2 years $129,500 Governor 50 12 4 years* Varies**

* Exceptions are New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont, with two-year terms

** Governors’ salaries range from $35,000 in Arkansas to $130,000 in New York

When and Where to Watch Tonight

(Coverage will begin at the times below. All listings are Pacific Standard Time)

4 p.m.: KCBS/Channel 2, KNBC/Channel 4, KABC/Channel 7, KMEX/Channel 34, CNN (Cable; check local listing)

5 p.m.: KCAL/Channel 9 & C-SPAN (Cable; check local listing)

8 p.m.: KCET/Channel 28

AN ELECTION NIGHT SCORECARD

A majority of the electoral vote, 270, is required to win the presidency.

Electoral votes / Clinton / Bush / Perot Alabama: 9 Alaska: 3 Arizona: 8 Arkansas: 6 California: 54 Colorado: 8 Connecticut: 8 Delaware: 3 District of Columbia: 3 Florida: 25 Georgia: 13 Hawaii: 4 Idaho: 4 Illinois: 22 Indiana: 12 Iowa: 7 Kansas: 6 Kentucky: 8 Louisiana: 9 Mississippi: 7 Maine: 4 Maryland: 10 Massachusetts: 12 Michigan: 18 Minnesota: 10 Missouri: 11 Montana: 3 Nebraska: 5 Nevada: 4 New Hampshire: 4 New Jersey: 15 New Mexico: 5 New York: 33 North Carolina: 14 North Dakota: 3 Ohio: 21 Oklahoma: 8 Oregon: 7 Pennsylvania: 23 Rhode Island: 4 South Carolina: 8 South Dakota: 3 Tennessee: 11 Texas: 32 Utah: 5 Vermont: 3 Virginia: 13 Washington: 11 West Virginia: 5 Wisconsin: 11 Wyoming: 3 Totals: