Party Poopers: The Examiner declares both major parties’ D.C. election-watch parties “bad.” That’s understandable from the losing Republicans, but apparently not even the Democrats could get excited enough to throw a good victory bash. -4

Gurley Votes: How to explain the mysterious 57,000 votes cast in the chairman’s race Tuesday for little-known Calvin Gurley? It’s not necessarily a racial divide, the Post reports. +3

Polling Intrigue: ANC commissioner Kathy Henderson is under suspicion, this time for allegedly interfering with polling Tuesday. -1

We’ve Been Had: Washington restaurateurs pull all sorts of menu tricks to get at your dining dollar. -1

Wednesday’s Needle rating: 16 Today’s score: -3 Wednesday‘s Needle rating: 13