Around 10 p.m. CNN called the election for Barack Obama by giving him Virginia. This was followed by what has definitely been the loudest cheer yet from this crowd at Grant Park.

Here in Chicago things got really crazy very quickly. Around 10:15 someone went on stage for a sound check. So far that has been the only person to set foot on the stage.

As I type, John McCain is delivering his concession speech in Arizona, which he began delivering around 10:20 Chicago time.

“I wish the outcome was different, my friends,” McCain said.

McCain urged his supporters to support Obama and America in the following term. He also thanked his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, for her work and support in the campaign.

“This campaign was, and will remain, the great honor of my life,” McCain said.

McCain just finished, around 10:28 p.m. here in Chicago, 11:28 Eastern Standard Time.

We are probably minutes away from Barack Obama taking the stage here in Chicago. The crowd is ready to erupt like they haven’t all night.

With Obama’s victory almost all but certain now, thousands in Chicago are growing antsy and anxious to see the next president speak.

A loud cheer went up when the TV airing CNN quoted McCain advisors who admitted his chances of winning the race were all but gone.

People in the crowd are waving flags and hitting beachballs in the air. The atmosphere very much feels like people awaiting a rock concert. Kristi just left the media section to join the thousands shoulder-to-shoulder in the crowd.

I’ve been relatively suprised how calm things have been here. But I’m sure that when the man of the night takes the stage this crowd will erupt for their next president.

After talking with several Obama supporters as they entered the ticketed area with room for 70,000 people, it became evident: no one cares how far away they are from the stage, they just want to be here.

The park is just between Michigan Ave. and Lake Michigan. There is a ticketed area that has already been sold out, and then spillover area that can hold anyone who decides to show up. They were originally not going to let people in until 8 p.m., but they must have changed their mind when they saw the long lines. Everyone with and without tickets has been ushered into the standing-room only gated area where they will wait for Obama to speak. The earliest he would speak will probably be after 9 p.m. Chicago time.

Judith Elam, a woman wearing at least 10 Obama buttons over her Obama t-shirt, decided just two days ago to come to Chicago from Houston, Texas. Even though she and her friends don’t have tickets, she said she doesn’t even mind. She will likely be in a spillover area with other supporters without tickets, with the only view of Obama on a large TV in the distance.

“It’s going to be history in the making and I wanna be here in the city that he lives in and celebrate with him tonight,” she said. When asked if she thought he would win, she said, “I just know. I feel it in my spirit. It’s just time.”

Here are some other things people have been saying as they waited in line:

“It’s just… What a night. Absolutely historic, and I just wanted to breathe it in. It’s worth it just to watch the crowd. Can’t you feel it? The electricity in the air- people are excited.” -Therese Flanagan, Chicago

“We’re just glad to be here in the moment. (Campaigning for him) was worth it because I believe in my candidate.” -Keesha Mahone, Kansas City

“This is history in the making you know? It might be kind of close but I think he’ll push through and win. …It’s about time.” -Karin Magary, senior at Northwestern University

“I know I’ll look back at this and say I was there.” -Laura Checkley, San Diego

We’ve been hearing for weeks what a large number of constituents voted early in this election, but “early” had a different meaning for the several hundred students outside Assembly Hall at 6 a.m.

Bloomington’s third and 17th precincts, both in the North Lobby of the basketball arena, had lines almost a block out the door until about 7 a.m., when crowds got a little bit smaller.

Students I spoke with said they wanted to get their vote in early in the day for fear of long lines later (probably a good assumption given that it took this reporter 45 minutes to vote before the sun came up).

One thing to note is the good weather here in Bloomington and across the Eastern half of the United States. It should make waiting in long lines easier, and who knows, might drive up turnout.

Election day is almost upon us, and the IDS will feature up-to-the-minute updates Monday night and Tuesday. Be sure to check back throughout Tuesday for:

-Updates on local elections

-Blogging from Bloomington, Indianapolis and Chicago

-Audio, video and photos tracking local and national voting

-Live results after the polls close