I'm at the headquarters for Regina-Wascana Conservative candidate Michelle Hunter tonight for our continuous coverage this evening and its a pretty terrific atmosphere. So much so that it's compelled me to fire up the new netbook and write this.

It's my third federal election at News Talk Radio and I have to say after you've done this a few times you know what to expect. Or at least, I thought I did. Ms. Hunter is defying those expectations simply by showing up at her own campaign headquarters. On election night most candidates stay away for a few hours on election night, not showing up to the party/campaign headquarters until 9:00pm or later, once the outcome is close or a foregone conclusion.

I expressed my surprise to Ms. Hunter when she came up to offer me a beverage (I wont say what kind) and she said quite plainly that she owed it to the campaign workers and volunteers that have helped her make it this far. She's well aware that they put up a good fight in what they all knew was going to be a very tough riding, going up against a Liberal inccumbent that was elected by about the closest thing to a landslide the Liberals had back in 2006.

The folks here are in great spirits, good-natured, cracking jokes and cheering on fellow Tory candidates as the early results are broadcast.

Early results in Saskatchewan may not be heavily in her favour, but it's pretty clear that Hunter and her crew are celebrating, one way or the other,