It was so close that at around 9:30 last night NBC called the election for Bloomberg and then had to reverse the call when it became too close to call. The NYT.com waded into similar murky territory, first running a banner that said “Bloomberg Wins Third Term as Mayor” and then changing it to “Bloomberg Projected to Win 3rd Term.”

It’s safe to say not a lot of people anticipated this outcome, least of all the Dems. I can’t be the only one who saw those retractions and wondered if someone named Bill Thompson was going to be our next mayor and whether I should be concerned about that. Lessons? $100 million can by you an election, but barely. Also, how many Dems are kicking themselves today (looking at you, Anthony Weiner) for not bothering to throw a hat in the NYC mayoral ring. Apparently the only people not buying into Bloomberg’s multi-gazillion dollar ad campaign were the voters. Why the close call? No doubt plenty of people will spend the day deciphering. But let’s go to Jon Stewart, shall we, who speculated the other night that “money bags” Bloomberg might just be a leetle too out of touch with the voters (video below):

“It’s an important election. But it all starts here, at your kitchen table.” Jon Stewart: “It’s a powerful message. Undercut by the fact that no one in New York City has a kitchen table.”