So when the insta-polls came back for Obama, what were the pundit's reactions?

[Teaser]

Most of them seemed to be calling the debate for McCain on points.

I shut down after that. Were they disappointed?

[Liberal Veteran]

1. There were several cases of whiplash as they reversed themselves....

...after the polls started coming back.

[Jersey Devil]

2. Same thing they did at the first debate

They were gushing about how 'forceful' McCain was until the polls came in then stopped on a dime and did a 180. The so-called pundits want a horserace to the end to justify their continued existence.

[BlooInBloo]

3. Kos has a nice round-up of pundit reactions...

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/10/16/2292/3792/449/632119

[Kerrytravelers]

14. I love Conservative Kathleen Parker's reaction.

Kathleen Parker says that the candidates "essential selves," cool Obama and tense McCain were on display, and described what she thought was a peculiar moment:

...when McCain suggested that Obama’s understanding of free trade was limited because he hasn’t traveled south of the border. "Free trade with Colombia is something that's a no-brainer," McCain said. "But maybe you ought to travel down there and visit them and maybe you could understand it a lot better."

Como? This was just plain weird, especially coming from the fellow whose running mate defines foreign policy experience in terms of Vladimir Putin’s head popping into Alaskan airspace.

-----------

Have you seen the Colbert interview with her this week? She wouldn't say who she was voting for... which doesn't bode well for McCain.

[Thrill]

4. The problem with Pundits is they think throwing insults and being condesending

is what wins debates

[Vinca]

5. I had to turn them off after the debate. It was obvious Obama

was going to be favored by the public polls. People want reassurance and an optimistic message, not an angry, smirking, nasty wiseguy.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

6. Andrea Mitchell was complaining it wasn't fair, as was John King.

Mitchell said McCain won on points, then changed it to "probably" won on points, but that the viewers didn't see that.

John King said he didn't trust the polls.

[Jennicut]

9. The polls are only correct when its the way they want them to be.

Seriously, the public has cut off the pundits influence this year by instantly slapping the truth back in their face. I think in four years, snap polls will be outlawed by the MSM.

[TheZug]

10. Mitchell is so anti-Obama, you really have to wonder.

I think she thinks the Schwartzen are only good for menial labor.

[Jennicut]

11. She IS married to Mr. "I broke the stock market" Greenspan

Hard for her to not be in love with Rethugs

[demokatgurrl]

15. Oh, those stupid stupid viewers

if only they would see things the way "WE" do, the way we WANT them to. Why can't they listen to us? :cry:

[grace0418]

7. I know. When I left my friend's house, none of the pundits were glowing for Obama and a few

were praising McCain to the heavens. Then I get home and see the polls were 60-90% in Obama's favor.

[saltpoint]

8. A lot of the media are in the habit of nodding yes to anything that

comes out of John McCain's mouth. It will take them a while to get used to the fact that McCain's getting his fanny whupped across huge swaths of the electoral map.

History is running a brand new flag up the pole. Heads up, you pundits.

[MaryEllen9399]

12. don't forget though the MSM wants a close race nt

[saltpoint]

13. They'd be delighted to have a close race, but the race isn't close.

The media's difficulty with their wishes is that the electorate has more or less rejected McCain/Palin and is drawn to the light of Obama/Biden.

The media will have egg on their faces if they stick with their "horse race" meme too long.