A question, fellow Dems

[kstewart33]

For the half hour leading up to the poll closing, both CNN and MSNBC were calling the race very close, "neck and neck" as one talking head said. I had to leave, came back 2 hours later, and Kerry wins it by 13 points. Moreover, I learned that both networks called this 'very close race' just a few minutes after the polls were closed!

What is going on? Why do these guys provide this grand illusion of a horse race when it wasn't a horse race, it was a whuppin.'

Disgusted with these networks. Their job is to objectively present the facts instead of teasing the audience to, what, keep their ratings up?

[elsiesummers]

1. I agree

two problems with the reporting

(1) You are right it was a landslide

and

(2) They act like New Hampshire is the end of the race - that it is all but decided - when it is one small state and the first primary and just the beggining.

Why don't they say that John Kerry has won the first two of 50 states?

[welshTerrier2]

2. exit polling

the limited amount of exit poll data seemed to indicate that Kerry was only ahead of Dean by about 6 points ... i really think they just didn't have much information to go on ...

and i must say, to accuse the networks of trying to "keep their ratings up" at the expense of accurate reporting is just totally shocking ...

these excellent newspeople on CNN and MSNBC are so dedicated to the truth that they would never let a little old thing like money come between them and the honor and integrity of their profession ... these giants of communication who record our nation's history in real time are above any such reproach ... surely you're not suggesting they violated their sacred trust ...