CBS, Slate Could Call Election Before West Coast Finished Voting

The New York Times' Jacques Steinberg reports that at least two outlets signal they will call the election before the West Coast has finished voting, should results be ready at that time:

At least one broadcast network and one Web site said Monday that they could foresee signaling to viewers early Tuesday evening which candidate appeared to have won the presidency, despite the unreliability of some early exit polls in the last presidential election.

A senior vice president of CBS News, Paul Friedman, said the prospects for Barack Obama or John McCain meeting the minimum threshold of electoral votes could be clear as soon as 8 p.m. -- before polls in even New York and Rhode Island close, let alone those in Texas and California. At such a moment, determined from a combination of polling data and samples of actual votes, the network could share its preliminary projection with viewers, Mr. Friedman said.

"We could know Virginia at 7," he said. "We could know Indiana before 8. We could know Florida at 8. We could know Pennsylvania at 8. We could know the whole story of the election with those results. We can't be in this position of hiding our heads in the sand when the story is obvious."

Similarly, the editor of the Web site Slate, David Plotz, said in an e-mail message that "if Obama is winning heavily," he could see calling the race "sometime between 8 and 9."

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Comments

[NoSillyName]

Why do they persist in doing this? My brother in CA actually decided to vote for Nader in the last election because he said it was all over anyway and it didn't matter that he didn't vote Dem.

Really stupid; let the whole country feel like they matter. Because they do!

[duze]

The election should be decided by the people, PERIOD. This process has to be changed.
Every congressional representative must be contacted and lobbied to elect a mandatory voting process in this country.

[Finchy13]

NO NETWORK OR MEDIA SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO CALL ANY RACE UNTIL AFTER THE LAST VOTING PLACE IN THE LAST STATE HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR AT LEAST 4 (FOUR) HOURS.......

WE AS AMERICAN CITIZENS AND VOTERS ARE BEING USED BY THE MEDIA TO IMPROVE THEIR RATINGS - AND I FOR ONE - DO NOT LIKE IT.

THERE SHOULD BE ELECTION REFORM AND A LAW PASSED THAT NO POLLS AND NO CALLS CAN BE MADE UNTIL A MINIMUM OF 4 (FOUR) HOURS AFTER THE LAST VOTING PLACE IN THE LAST STATE HAS BEEN CLOSED - PREFERABLY, IT SHOULD BE 8 (EIGHT) HOURS..................

[allicansayiswow]

don't worry, it won't be an early night. Issues in VA, PA,FL, and possibly OH will drag this thing out. It is so surprising to me that places like, oh Arkansas or Oklahoma don't seem to have any difficulties. Coincedence?

[merhoba]

This is why I went to absentee voting here in California. By the time I would get home from work to pick up my voter packet the race was already called. I think this should not happen. Hawaii and Alaska are three hours behind California. Something needs to be done about this practice.

[kennyfasugbe]

ANY NETWORK THAT CALLS THE ELECTION BEFORE ALL THE POLLS CLOSE NATIONALLY SHOULD BE ASHAMED, AND SHOULD BE BOYCOTTED BY EVERY ONE. THEIR RUSH TO THE FINISH LINE, WHICH IS ONLY TO GET THEM A COUPLE OF MORE RATING DOES NOT JUSTIFY MANIPULATING ELECTION RESULT JUST BECAUSE THEY HAVE ACCESS TO INFORMATION CONTROL THAT THE REST OF US LACK!

[shirleyfeeney]

As a resident of Los Angeles, I really hope that CBS doesn't do this. I remember this happening in a few elections back in the 1980s and then much of the Western US stayed home (I'm sure it happened prior to that, but since I'm 40 I can only go by my personal recollection).

It's not always best to be first CBS, but it does help to be accurate. Lines to vote are long enough here, please don't give our residents, WHO MUST VOTE ON LOCAL AND STATE BALLOT MEASURES, an excuse to not get out and vote.

No on Prop H8te

Obama/Biden!

[MrSolo]

CBS? Irresponsible idiots that they are. Regardless of who you're voting for, don't let the media steal your thunder. Go vote!

[DennyCrane]

Why does Katie Couric have such a phony looking smile?

[duze]

Because she is phony!

[gray1783]

Even if they call the election early, go vote West Coast!

Here's a site to encourage you. It has a list of free stuff you can get for voting along with some funny political cartoons:

http://www.dillardsisters.com

[Biffmeister]

The WAshington state governor's race was won by the Democrat four years ago by 133 votes (yes three digits). The same two are running again (it's close), and the Republican has run a McCain like campaign. He even wants to cut the minimum wage. "I'll say anything to win and put my big business friends in power" seems to be his mantra. Sound familiar?
Governor Gregoire has done an exceptional job. She's won over newspaper endorsements from the other side, and is also endorsed by most if not all major law enforcement groups.
If an Obama win is called too early some Democrats may not vote. Fortunately most of us have already voted absentee, but with things this close we can't take chances.
Don't screw this up for us MSM.

p.s.
To the rest of the country, with tongue only partially in cheek:
We're the last line of defense geographically before Alaska's governor.

[thebluecrayon]

Seems they should wait especially if the call is made on exit polls alone. We all know how reliable exit polls are (snark). Also there are many important ballot issues in states like Colorado and California. If people hear the race is over, down-ticket candidates and ballot questions won't get the votes they deserve.

I've waited this long. I can wait a few more hours.

[SoD1]

So are the * ACTUNG SARCASM* "impartial little talking-heads "Geniuses" in the U..S entertainment News media and cretins surrounding Nicole Wallace who call themselves "Experts" and "scientifically" Pollsters telling us all they have giving up already on the endeavor of completely RIGGING this Election in favour of Mccaint because they FEAR what might happen Otherwise? Are they telling us they are basically now focusing on "Damage Reduction" by limiting the Devastation the Republican Mob will receive and the LANDSLIDE, the ABSOLUT majority BLOWOUT ofthe Republicans Obama would Otherwise receive, through them practicing alone Voter Suppression and perpetuated Elections Frauds among others through DIEB'oldsche vote-flipping?
Ohhh can we have a "Pity-party" for the corrupted Mob??
You All must be as reassured I am now from the Christ-like Words of the conservative MMS.
Bye Bye FOR GOOD corrupted as pitiful Republicans Schmocks, become better Grandparents than you were "Politicians", hmm?

Enjoy your Retirement!
SoD1

[nvzephyr]

By 4:30 pst, we should know the story in Florida, Virginia, and Ohio. Hopefully there will not be any real suspense after that. I hope to be well into a cocktail before we cheer the results in New Mexico, Colorado, Nevada ... and Arizona.

[PansyRose]

Do not call the election until all polls are closed. What is CBS thinking of? Ratings more important than the democratic process I guess. How sad and pathetic!!!!!!!!!!!!