Dallas ? While the television networks were busy preaching caution Tuesday, the Web was already abuzz with projections about the next president.

“This could take awhile,” CNN’s Wolf Blitzer warned when the polls were closing. But blogs had been slicing and dicing exit poll numbers for hours.

In 2000, voters turned to television and news Web sites for up-to-the-minute information. Four years later, an army of Web pundits made their Election Day debut, underscoring that they’re not playing by the same rules as traditional journalists. Also in the mix were “The Daily Show’s” fake newscast and MTV’s rockin’ election special, “Choose or Lose.”

Buttoned-down talking heads are no longer the only source of election news. New media offered no-holds-barred commentary, premature predictions and, occasionally, bits of news.

Networks and newspapers that purchase exit poll data agree not to release information from a particular state until its polls close. But bloggers don’t buy the data and didn’t abide by those rules.

While cable news anchors were biting their tongues, blogs began posting exit poll information Tuesday morning. The data is distributed widely to news organizations, but Web sites would not say who leaked the information.

Overview Unofficial election results Douglas County precinct map Election Day 2004 feedback Kids Voting ResultsCounty Democrat unseats D.A. of 8 years Former mayor defeats Buhler in Senate race Embattled district judge stays on bench McElhaney survives short-lived deficit Record number of voters cast their ballots in county Douglas County kids choose Kerry Politicians, supporters share ‘crazy’ election-night revelry Voters approve Perry-Lecompton bond issue Township lacks candidatesState Moore fends off another challenge Ryun wins contentious 2nd District Congress seat Brownback easily defends his U.S. Senate seat Holland inches past GOP challenge Pine takes 3rd District Senate seat Wagnon wins State Board of Education race Seven incumbents lose; GOP pads majority in House Voters deny sales tax for K.C. arena Bush wins Kansas handily Kansans show they’re satisfied with Bush Counties see high voter turnout Election briefsNational Too close to call President ‘upbeat’ on election returns Kerry sentimental as race nears end Analysis: Emotions guided presidential voting Networks use care in reporting results New media throw caution to the wind Presidential race prompts late selloff State by state results: Midwest State by state results: West State by state results: Northeast State by state results: South California backs stem-cell research Voters in 11 states approve gay-marriage bans GOP wins key states in South World riveted by U.S. electionMultimedia Photo Gallery: Election Day 2004 6News video: Dennis Moore wins in a ‘landslide’ 6News video: Dennis Moore victory speech 6News video: Bob Johnson wins 2nd District County Commission position 6News video: Paula Gilchrist presumed Douglas County Treasurer 6News video: Ken McGovern wins sheriff’s office 6News video: Jere McElhaney on the 3rd District Commissioner seat 6News video: Penrod optimistic about Douglas County Clerk position 6News video: Ermeling hopeful in 3rd District Commissioner race 6News video: Francisco likely to win 2nd District Barbara Ballard talks about younger voters and their importance in this election. Barbara Ballard talks about being in Lawrence and Kansas on election night. Paul Davis talks about the importance of this election to the Kansas Democrats. Paul Davis chooses his most important race in Kansas. Paul Davis talks about the feeling among other Democrats in Kansas. Gov. Kathleen Sebelius addresses the crowd at Abe ‘N Jakes Landing.