Midterm coverage was a roller-coaster ride of dips and dives

NEW YORK (AP) — After hours of television commentating, swinging needles on election meters and reams of statistics from obscure counties called up on computer screens, CNN's Jake Tapper had a revelation about Tuesday's midterm elections.

"Actually," he said, "this is pretty much what we thought was going to happen."

The House of Representatives appeared on the brink of switching from Republican to Democratic control. Republicans looked like they would expand their advantage in the Senate. Some close races broke blue, others broke red.

Polls had suggested those results for months. Networks quoted exit polls that showed two-thirds of voters had made up their minds more than a month ago.