Thanks for the field report! I'm working one of the poll locations this afternoon and will report in when I get back! I'm hoping that Ventura County can offset Santa Barbara and LA County. Ventura County is Bush County for sure!
I think Santa Barbara County might surprise us this year. Gore won there by a narrow margin in 2000, largely on the basis of UCSB students. Lots of new homes up in Santa Maria and Orcutt country (north Santa Barbara County), and I expect them to be pro-conservative like many of the other bedroom communities.
Update. Gore won Santa Barbara Co. in 2000 by 1,900 votes. That is a margin that can be overcome by increased turnout!
The late returns (yes I am posting at 4:40 a.m.) indicate Bush carried Ventura County by near 6,000 votes (2.6%).
A job well done!