Here is this week’s Capitol Watch, with our analysis on Tuesday’s election results.

I’m one of those people who likes to chew on things before passing judgment, but I wanted to take a minute to comment on the concession and acceptance speeches we saw on Tuesday night:

John McCain: I was bowled over by his eloquence and his statesmanlike demeanor. Johnny Mac gets big points for going out with grace and style.

Barack Obama: Honestly, I need to watch his speech over again because I was a little choked up (yes, even the heartless get a little weepy now and again), but it was everything I wanted to hear from our next President. It won’t be easy, but I believe he’ll bring this country together in a way unlike any I’ve seen in my short lifetime.

Mitch Daniels: I’m surprised they could build a stage big enough to hold his ego. He won. I get it. But the over-the-top video lead-in, followed by the “Pirates of the Caribbean”-like entry music was a bit much. And his actual speech? Welcome back, Governor Arrogance. A little humility goes a long way. Remember that you still have to work with House Democrats to get your agenda passed. Also, you are not a god.

Jill Long Thompson: It was obvious that Thompson took the loss hard, and her remarks were tinged with emotion, especially at the outset. She gave a nice speech, but it’s too bad she got off the podium and immediately started pointing fingers in her one-on-one interviews with the media. I’m a big fan of personal responsibility; own up to your mistakes. John McCain did in his speech, and Thompson should have, too. If you’re the CEO of a company, you don’t get to blame the administrative assistants when your latest product launch flops.

Okay, it’s almost time to count the votes. That means it’s time for predictions. So here goes.

PRESIDENT—Indiana is a real toss-up, with Barack Obama having the best chance to win it for the Democrats for the first time in 44 years. But it would really be only a historical footnote. If Obama means here, it means he would be putting together a landslide victory nationwide. Not necessary a Johnson, Nixon, Reagan type landslide. He can’t do that without Texas, which he isn’t gonna win. But at least an Eisenhower-Bush the First type of landslide. And that seems increasingly likely. Although some polls (not all) show John McCain creeping closer in the popular vote (Ask Al Gore how important that is.), he isn’t making much headway in the Electoral College. Obama has big leads in enough Bush 2004 states to pass 270, while McCain, despite his repeated Pennsylvania appearances, doesn’t seem likely to take away any Kerry 2004 states. And that assumes he holds Ohio and Florida, which is a huge assumption.

WINNER—Obama

GOVERNOR—This race ended in early September when Democrat Jill Long Thompson went off the air for over a month. You can’t win when you’re invisible. And, yes, I know people bring up the Greg Ballard example. He had no money and no visibility, but won because enough people were mad at Bart Peterson. But governor isn’t mayor. Knocking on doors doesn’t cut it in a statewide race. Long Thompson went off the air, of course, because she had no money. And that was because her campaign had been so lackluster up until then. She calculated that enough people were mad at Mitch Daniels that simply spreading the message “I’m not Mitch” would work. It didn’t. Polls have varied quite a bit in this race. But while at least some early polls showed Long Thompson with a chance, the recent ones only disagree on how far ahead Daniels is. Obama’s coattails will make this respectable for Democrats, but that’s about it.

WINNER—Daniels

STATE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT—Polls show Republican Tony Bennett leading Democrat Richard Wood. This will depend largely on coattails.

WINNER—Bennett

ATTORNEY GENERAL—Because of a personal, family-related conflict, I have not covered this race and will not offer a prediction.

7th DISTRICT CONGRESS—Andre Carson has quickly become a more polished campaigner. Meanwhile Gabrielle Campo has been largely invisible since her opening “I Can’t Answer Any Questions Today” news conference. She may be an up-and-comer, but not this year and not this race.

WINNER—Carson

GETTING RID OF TOWNSHIP ASSESSORS—It’s impossible to predict this race, because it’s really 43 separate races in the state’s biggest townships. Even here in Marion County, where eight of the nine townships will have this on the ballot (Decatur wasn’t big enough and is already losing its township assessor), it isn’t a single race. It will be decided separately in each township, which means you could have any possible combination of townships with and without assessors.

Gov. Mitch Daniels, who pretty much threw his own party’s presidential nominee under the bus last month, will introduce John and Cindy McCain at their brief airport appearance tomorrow.

Daniels had a campaign presence at but personally skipped fellow Gov. Sarah Palin’s wingnut get-togethers in Indiana, but way back when, insiders will remember he was a staunch McCain backer.

So, why is he suddenly showing up at the tail end of the campaign? A few thoughts:

No harm, no foul: Looking at the electoral map, McCain is probably going to lose on Tuesday. Daniels is likely to win and win big. What the heck does he care if he stands next to McCain and plays nicey-nice with the partisans?

One day to go: Daniels’ intro will be swallowed up by the larger story that McCain finally came back to Indiana, which will be swallowed up by the larger story that the election is on Tuesday. At best, it’s a media blip.

Full recovery: Daniels is feeling cocky enough to show up in Statehouse and statewide candidates’ television spots and mail pieces. His approval rating, after months of advertising and a politically impotent opponent, has rebounded. Where he was a drag on the ticket two years ago, he might actually be able to help McCain in the final 24 hours.

Boredom: Election eve is a stressful time for any politico. Maybe Daniels just wanted to get out of the house.

The Republican candidate for President, in the last days of the campaign, is rallying the faithful in Indiana.

The Democratic candidate for President, in the last days of the campaign, is running commercials in Arizona, Georgia and North Dakota.

The polling data and anecdotal evidence shows a significant number of Hoosiers are going to vote for Barack Obama for President and Mitch Daniels for Governor.

IPS is closing six schools, firing 400 teachers and is still asking for millions in tax dollars to make improvements.

The Republican and former Democratic Mayor of Indianapolis who fought a brutal race are teaming up against township government.

And the Washington Township assessor was forced to admit Friday consolidation would not be bad, as long as it wasn’t done while she was still in office.

What kind of world are we living in?