Networks Prepare for Short Election Night

[Drunken Irishman]

Network news executives said they are preparing for an unusual Election Night challenge: How to be honest with the audience, and still keep them tuned in, if the race between John McCain and Barack Obama is effectively decided before most Americans have finished dinner.

The quandary is highlighted by Virginia, a state that has not voted Democratic for president since 1964 but where Obama is now leading in polls. There is no realistic McCain electoral college strategy that does not depend on winning the Old Dominion.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1008/14660.html

[Connie_Corleone]

1. I think they can keep people's attention.

It would be an historical event.

[drm604]

3. They can concentrate on the House and Senate numbers

and talk about whether or not the Democrats will have a filibuster proof Senate. That drama could drag on for a while.

[grace0418]

9. Exactly, how about they spend some time talking about how the amazing story

of our new president.

[drm604]

2. K&R

Happy happy happy!
:bounce: :toast: :beer:

[Ediacara]

4. There is no realistic McCain electoral college strategy that does not depend on winning the Old Domi

No kidding. They're playing defense in red states and making one last desperate push in Pennsylvania (which has Obama ahead by double digits). Which means that McCain has no realistic electoral college strategy. Someone should tell Chuck Todd.

[ronnykmarshall]

5. I hope they don't call the race before the west coast closes.

If they call the race for Obama, Californians might not vote. We need every liberal vote to defeat prop 8.

[BluegrassDem]

10. They'll have to call the race before the west coast closes if Obama wins all the tossups

If Obama wins OH, VA, FL, PA, NC, IN, MO, MI, WI, and MN, that's well over 270 EV's before the west coast even comes into play. They can't hide those results. If Obama wins all those states, they'll call the election as soon as it happens.

[Ediacara]

14. Obama will win at, or soon after 9:00 eastern

That's when NY closes, as well as a lot of midwestern states. But, if they haven't called any of the swing states (that closed several hours earlier), they should start getting an accurate idea of what's going on by that time.

[yardwork]

16. If Obama wins all those states it will be clear that it's a landslide.

I hope that happens but I'm not counting on it. I'm going to volunteer this weekend.

[cynatnite]

20. I've got my fingers crossed for you folks in CA. n/t

[jillan]

21. Same here in Az - we have the same ballot measure here - again.

Even tho it received a spanking in 2004 - they put it on our ballot again.

Haha - pity the poor person who called me last week asking for my support.
I have a feeling she took a little break from her phone calls after our conversation.

[ronnykmarshall]

23. Gimme a little sample of what you said.

I'm waiting for a Yes on 8 asshole to call me.

[jillan]

31. Where do I start :)

Basically - what right did the state of Arizona have to tell people who could or could not be married? And then I told her about this great couple I know. Two guys, both in their mid 60's who have been together for over 30 years - that they are so much fun and are such a great couple - that I don't know many couples that are that much in love. What right did she have to tell them they could not be together? I went on along those lines, and then ended the call with -
this will once again be defeated, just like it was last time, and that she was wasting her time.

In 2004, this marriage amendment was smacked down (I don't remember the % off the top of my head) in a very red state that went for Bush. That just shows you that even repukes think this is bs.

[kath]

24. Do tell. Puh-LEEZE??

[Jim Lane]

33. I think an early call would help defeat Prop 8

The usual pattern is that people are less likely to show up to vote for a doomed cause. Some Obama voters would get lazy and stay home, but a higher proportion of McCain voters would shrug and not bother voting. Some Obama voters might actually be more likely to get to the polls because they'd know their vote would be part of a historic win.

[carnie_sf]

36. And to pass proposition H

in San Francisco

[MarjorieG]

6. The elections will be question marks. Hope all the provisionals counted, and questions audited.

That takes time, but with all the purged names, I want those contested races/voters answered. If we win, I want as big and legitimate a mandate as possible.

[azmouse]

7. It's a trap!!! Oh noes!

:evilgrin:

Huh. I guess the networks don't know that McCain has 'already stolen' the election....

[liberal N proud]

8. Honesty has never been something the m$m has worried about before

Why are they suddenly worried.

Maybe they know they just will not have anything to show except a couple of acceptance speeches form Obama and Biden and concession speeches if they provide them from McCain and what's her name.

[Shakespeare]

11. It's really simple. They'll shift the night's lead story to the house/senate races.

They'll play up the drama over whether we'll get 60 in the senate, etc.

I don't think they're really THAT worried.

[yellowdogintexas]

12. the answer is to not give out one single state result until California closes its polls

That should just about do it.

Polls close at what time out there anyway? 6 pm? which is 9 Eastern?

They could talk about local results, governors, just not plug in the presidentials until polls close out west.

[fizzgig]

17. i've been saying that for years

[leftynyc]

19. CA closes at 8PM

so that's 11 eastern. I think their fear is that if Sen Obama wins VA (polls close 7PM eastern) that a lot of drama will be sucked out for the next 4 hours until CA closes.

[davidpdx]

41. Not only California, but Oregon and Washington have

important races as well. US Senator in Oregon and Governor in Washington.

[Chan790]

27. It works to our benefit this time...

voter turnout is suppressed among supporters of the candidate who has already lost. A landslide victory for Obama which is confirmed early will keep GOPers and right-leaning indies and low-info voters home. OTOH, supporters of the candidate who has already won tend to turn out anyways so they can feel like they're part of a winning effort.

[Chichiri]

13. I was right. It's all about Virginia.

That's what I'm going to be watching most on 11/4.

[Marsala]

29. It's about Florida, Ohio and even North Carolina, too

If any one of them goes blue, the election is basically over.

[Medusa]

30. We will know a LOT when those East Coast polls close

but the thing is---if they call it for O than that may supress votes in the West and we still need those votes!

So I wish they'd just STFU until the West Coast comes in. And then let's get the party started. :toast:

[yardwork]

15. This would have the effect of helping Obama win more western states.

If the election appears to be Obama's before the western states have closed polling, then it will depress turnout among Republicans.

It's weird to me, but a significant number of people vote for the person they perceive to be the winner. It's why it's so hard to turn the momentum at this point in the election. As more and more people see that Obama has a very good chance of winning, more and more people will decide to vote for Obama.

[ailsagirl]

18. I don't like all these stories because "it ain't over 'til it's over"

And I'll never forget the sick feeling in my gut, both in 2000 and 2004, when they stole both elections right out from under us. So, I'm keeping a good thought but will not celebrate until I know it's a sure thing-- and that probably won't be until inauguration!!

:patriot:

[jwirr]

22. It wouldn't hurt if they recognized that for most of us this election the

house and senate are also of great importance.

[Alter Ego]

25. LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA CAN'T HEAR YOU

I don't want to hear this. I get so nervous when I hear shit like this.

I just want to fucking win and have it be over with.

[carnie_sf]

37. I've got a bottle of Jameson's in the fridge

for the occasion

[cliffordu]

40. What you said.

[scheming daemons]

26. At 11pm Eastern time, California, Oregon, and Washington will be called.....

...and that will put Obama over 270.


It will be "known" before that... but not OFFICIAL until then.

[Fly by night]

28. Here's an idea: they could show "UNCOUNTED", "Stealing America" & "Murder, Spies & Voting Lies".

Kinda make up for lost time and AWOL journalism over the past four years.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

32. Easy.

Make the contest about whether or not President Obama will have a 60 senator supermajority.

That will depend on a race in Oregon. It'll keep viewers up all night.

[windoe]

34. Just broadcast the party....

music, dancing in the streets....

[Jennicut]

35. I really hope its called early. Then I can relax for the rest of the night.

[TACstrat]

38. They won't have any problem filling the time ....

They won't have any problem filling the time ....It will be one of the greatest moments in American History.

They will spend hours talking about the civil rights movement, questioning whether Obama's election fulfills MLK's "I have a Dream" speech, and discussing how far we've come and how far we have to go.

They will play footage of Rosa Parks, MLK, and Jackie Robinson (to name a few).

They will talk about Dred Scott and how in 1857 the Supreme Court ruled free slaves were still "property" and therefore did not have a right to vote. Now, 150 years later, an African American is President.

They will point out that it was 40 years ago when MLK said he had been to the mountain top and had seen the promised land ... and they will point out that it took the Isrealites 40 years to enter the promised land after Moses stood on the mountain top and saw the promised land.

They will ask "What is the next ceiling to break"?

It will be a momentous evening, and the entire world will be glued to the broadcast.

[LSK]

39. well they can broadcast how the Dems gain a filibuster-proof Senate

[marlakay]

42. They made so much money on this long primary

with clinton and obama, they can just live off that for awhile. After this election they aren't going to have anything to talk about...they are probably freaking out.