Our crew is set up at a Holiday Inn in Emmett Township where state Senator Mark Schauer will watch the results in his challenge to first-term U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Tipton). More including an exclusive exit poll below.

Back in 2006, Walberg unseated then-U.S. Rep. Joe Schwarz in the Republican primary and went on to beat his Democratic opponent.

Now Schwartz has endorsed Schauer, Walberg’s 2008 Democratic opponent.

Our exclusive WOOD-TV exit poll shows Schauer with a six-point advantage over Walberg — but that’s very close to the margin of error, so we’re not calling the race.

Aides to Senator Schauer tell us the one thing they do know is turnout has been good, including in Calhoun County, which is Schauer’s home base.

The 7th District includes most of Calhoun County as well as Branch County, Eaton County, Hillsdale County, Jackson County, Lenawee County and parts of Washtenaw County.

Schauer has been campaigning for months to tout his efforts to protect Michigan jobs and bring new ones into the state. He’s tried to paint Walberg as too conservative and out-of-touch. (Walberg told 24 Hour News 8 in an interview that he’s done in Congress exactly what the voters asked him to do: listen, reign in spending and work to limit taxes.)

The campaign took to the airwaves in a major way this fall with ads from the candidates and their parties digging up past votes.

But as with every race it ultimately comes down to the voters.

Keep it here for more. Your thoughts?

Tony