Is CNN Trying to Make This Race Closer?

To this viewer, it looks like they're doing their level best. And it makes sense; Fox News may be more sympathetic to John McCain, who is trailing in the polls, but CNN needs a tight contest just as badly.

A close race makes for a later night on Election Day, more viewers and more advertising revenue. Keeping people interested is essential for the business of television, much more than for newspapers or radio. People read newspapers for many different reasons, including movie listings and sports scores. People listen to the radio for weather, traffic and stock market updates. But for television news in the United States, the election is now the big draw.

Perhaps that's why the electoral maps shown are CNN are different from the maps in, say, The New York Times. On the Times's map, Obama can probably count on 286 electoral votes, enough to win the election without taking any of the toss-up states. Pollster.com says Obama could take over 300. On the online version of CNN's map, Obama probably wins 275 electoral votes. But early Wednesday morning on CNN's international broadcast, correspondents agreed that McCain could still upset Obama if he took all the undecided states. Which states were those?

Maybe one of them was Pennsylvania. Most polls taken in recent weeks - even those shown on CNN - have shown Obama with a double-digit lead in Pennsylvania, which is an important swing state. Yet a few days ago, CNN followed the McCain campaign to the state with the following logic: McCain is going to Pennsylvania, so he must think it's close... and we'll start saying it might be close. The polls said otherwise, before and after McCain's visit, but no matter.

It's true that nationwide polls are getting closer in these last days of the campaign, perhaps due in some part to CNN's cheerleading. But why do we care about nationwide polls, anyway? It's only the electoral college that matters. And the people who watch the electoral college the most closely - I'm talking about the bettors who are putting their money behind the candidates on the Iowa Electronic Markets and commercial websites - have given Obama an 80 percent or better probability of winning for weeks.

CNN's coverage of the campaign has tried exceedingly hard to be even-handed, always giving equal time to the candidates and to their own pundits, whose relentless spin has become tiresome and repetitive. But in their zeal to whip up a froth of interest in the election's final days, they have deserted their journalistic duty: checking facts to see who's right, who's wrong, what makes sense and what doesn't.

They have been especially soft on the Republicans in the closing days of the campaign. The Associated Press has found several examples of questionable dealings by Sarah Palin: Pipelinegate and Travelgate have joined Troopergate and Wardrobegate among her scandals. Yet Pipelinegate and Travelgate, arguably the most serious examples of malfeasance, have merited little more than a line on CNN's headline ticker.

Also, consider John McCain's new habit of equating redistribution to socialism. The nation already has a huge system of redistribution: a progressive income tax code and a wide array of entitlements for low-income citizens. Those parts of our government bring us much closer to socialism than letting the top marginal tax rate rise by a couple of percentage points, as Barack Obama has proposed. Yet CNN has not seen fit to provide the context Americans need to evaluate McCain's statements.

With its efforts, unconscious or not, to make the race closer, CNN is certainly tapping into a rich psychological vein. Americans love an underdog, and Americans like the suspense of a close contest as well. Perhaps, if they think the race is close, they will be more likely to come out and vote - not a bad result for a nation with perennially low participation at the polls. But they may also take CNN's coverage at face value, accepting a version of the campaign that serves corporate profits rather than the national interest.

Comments

[Mariposa27]

The people pulling the strings at CNN think that giving equal airtime to the candidates constitutes objective reporting. Everyone over there seems to be desperately stretching their stories to keep you tuned in and interested. This was especially apparent during the debates.

I was watching as they rated the first debate and John King, who had Obama up 3 points at the end of the debate, gave John McCain the three points at the end of the debate, while Obama was speaking, so he could later argue that the debate was a draw. I think I have it on DVR. If I can find it, I'll post it on Youtube.

There are so many other examples, but I'll limit myself to just one more. Last week a reporter on HuffPost posted two videos of the reporter West from Florida interviewing Biden. Later, CNN picked up the story, but neglected to compare the softball, sycophantic questions West had for McCain. Instead, they found the one supposedly neutral question, which was when is McCain going to fight back, to compare to Biden's reaction. After confusing so many points on the subject, Blitzer ended with, "Fair? you decide." How can people decide when you misrepresented the issue with omissions?

I watch PBS; I get to think for myself.

[rw97]

Absolutely, especially with the epitome of false equivalency Anderson Cooper.

[jadeba]

CNN is awful and has been for a long time. Agree that they try to gin up the close polls - give McSame much more leeway than Obama. They're the worst team in politics. Do like Jeffrey Toobin, though. The rest of them can go away. Sad to see Dana Milbank has joined their group.

If you want to learn anything you've got to go to LinkTV or FreeSpeechTV. I do love Keith and Rachel, though - try not to miss them ever on MSNBC. Liking Chris Matthews more and more these days. Tune in to him, too.

[jenny42]

I absolutely hate CNN and every time I try to listen to them, all I can hear is how Obama said this that was not true according their truth squad. Campbell Brown is desperately trying to make a name for herself and I see her as a fussy house wife that need to have something to discuss with her husband to make him interested in her again. AC 360 is was really takes the cake for me because he and Candy and Dana together are a BS feast. Obama can never do anything right. He can never win this election according to them. I don't understand why Candy is following Obama because she is like the angel of death for his camp. GO Home Candy!
Never any kudos for how successfully Obama has run this campaign. They wanted to be fair and balanced and would not allow Obama his 30 min infomercial, but they could give John McCain an opportunity to whine about O not having town meetings with him and making this campaign period dirty.
No mentioning about Palin's dealings with the Alaska Independence Party, but Anderson Cooper can hardly wait to play Jeremiah Wright's video. I think he gets a cheap thrill from this.
CNN disgust me.

[Riker]

CNN lost me as a long time viewer when Cooper started cutting to commercial breaks with provocative b.s. like: "Is Obama a Muslim? We'll take a look after this break." I used to like him, but he's like all the others (except for Cafferty). MSNBC is the only channel I now watch, along with almost everyone else I know. CNN better wake up before no one watches them.

[oncemanc]

"With the ratings successes of Maddow & Olberman, wouldn't you think they'd wake up and smell the progessive roses."

Well said corkonian. When CNN hired Glenn Beck for Headline News they thought they would be he clever and compete with Fox by being like Fox. Now that Beck will be jumping ship to his spiritual home at Fox early next year, CNN should hire Ed Schultz to fill his slot. This man is on fire on his radio show and is a strong voice for the left when he appears on Larry King. If Obama wins the Presidency, he will face an onslaught from the right-wing media blowhards starting on November 5 that will dwarf the assault that Bill Clinton faced from the day he was elected. Be prepared, and lobby CNN for Big Eddy.

[KickerBoard]

CNN is awful. Candy Crowley ran a story today ridiculing Obama's legitimate use of direct McCain admissions of economic incompetence ("one or two years old"). Of course, there has been no equivalent reservations about CNN's oft-regurgitated decade-old falsehoods about William Ayers. CNN has declined rapidly post Ted Turner - manly due to corporate reporter-bots like Crowley, Blitzer, John King and the like. Pathetic.

[rubinoff]

Hope someone from CNN is reading this or these pages need to be send to them and let them know over there, that they are "Not All That." lol


Can you only imagine the salary Larry King is making....­prolly could take care of a lot of households out here....an­d what does he do.....'ju­st sit there and ask questions," ...Wow...w­hat a gravy job.

[corkonian]

With the ratings successes of Maddow & Olberman, wouldn't you think they'd wake up and smell the progessive roses? There's an evolving audience out there who are finding that the progressive point of view (even though they may not know to name it that) makes sense. Wake up CNN!

[rubinoff]

Of course CNN is trying to make this race closer, how else would they justify their anchors big pay checks....­all one has to do is really listen to Wolf Blitzer, he's a signifier from way back, always trying to put words in a person's mouth....H­e's 'cagey' allrighty.­...lol

Once upon a time, we received 'real news' from over the air waves, now a days, it no more than tabloid entertainment, with their opinions, animation and drama.....­sad to say...no more than over the fence back yard gossip.

[birdie2]

I used to watch CNN and MSNBC about 50/50--no more-- I'm straight MSNBC and with Keith and Rachel's ratings going up, I'm obviously not the only one.

[karamelioness]

Why doesn't Jack Cafferty have is own show???

[rubinoff]

Yeah, if Jack Cafferty had his own show, I'd look at CNN, more.

[alicetilden]

I think the only way Jack Cafferty could have a show would be on MSNBC where it is actually allowed to speak the truth for more than 5 minutes. I love Jack but can't stand to watch Wolf to see him. Let's not forget the disgustingly hateful Lou Dobbs. That man makes me physically ill. All he promotes is backed by racist slander. He seems to only pander to frightened bigoted white people. Shame on you,CNN for giving this hater so much air time. Why don't they just hire Bill O'Reilly and admit their partisanship. Remember, they even hired that awful former Bush Press Secretary who died.

[murphysgirl]

I think they try to hard to be "fair and balanced." Cutting off Obama and Clinton's rally last night just to show more McCain footage was horrible. In 20 minutes they were going to show McCain's full interview on Larry King!!

I agree with some of the other people that they harp on this Bradley Effect thing too much. It's as if they want a justification for people to vote for McCain. I primarily watch MSNBC.

[trinidadgirl]

CNN has lost its belly. They chatter right through the day and asks assinine questions ad nauseum.
I use to enjoy them until Keith and rachel. now they appear weak and trite. No power and fire!

[dkerrice2861]

Funny how they turned down Obamas 30 min "Iinfomercial", but they sure are playing the crap out of McCains Nasty Wright ads!

[newpotusplease]

Yes, CNN is doing exactly this.

Dana Bash and John King are McCain loyalists. Dana made two commercials for McCain yesterday when when she reported from the field.

Candy Crowley is covering Obama and was derisive of the McCain quotes Obama referenced.

Wolf Blitzer constantly has this thing about Florida and Gov Crist-- there are all sorts of references to their friendship- Blitzer cut comments Crist made referring to Blitzer's mom and their great friendship.

and Larry King loves to say he is old friends with McCain.

Even Anderson Cooper cut away from Bill Clinton and Obama live event and went to 20 minutes of McCain followed by another hours of McCain with Larry King. It should be remembered that Larry King repeats at least 4 times on the west coast and 3 times on the east coast -- so this resulted in several hours of McCain

CNN Is Wrong!!!!!!

[Khill]

I don't think that CNN is so much as wrong as they are scared....­. they try so hard no to be biased that they come off just so....I also believe that they continue to talk about the McCain campaign because they like drama One night I was watching the AC360 and they were all yammering away about how jacked up McCain's campaign is Finally David Gergen the only one who makes since half of the time (besides Ed Rollins and Jeferey Toobin or whatever his name is) Was like and I'm paraphrasing "Everyone is talking about how bad the McCain campaign is when are we gonna start talking about the brilliant campaign that Axelrod and company have ran..." someone started to agree and then Roland interrupted with his "Wisdom" and they got distracted­.....and got back on McCain again I think that if Obama were on the slump and McCain was on the raise they'd start honning in on Obama because it seems to me that they love to point out failure...

[rubinoff]

newpotuspl­ease:.....­.ssssshhh, we the viewing public are not suppose to notice this about CNN..they think we are as 'dumb-downed' as they want us to be...only, we're not drinking their kool-aide.­....and let's not forget Lou Dobbs, he appears to sooo dislike hispanics.

Jack Cafferty is the 'only' one who speaks truth.

Sneaky little Blitzer is not worth mentioning, as well as, Anderson Cooper

I get tired of seeing those 'homely' women on the campaign trail (Crowley and Bash) uugh

I look at Olberman and Maddow....­not sure where Chrissy-po Matthews is coming from.

Oh, and let's not forget Joe Scarboroug­h....he has all the answers to everything (or so he thinks)...­if someone on his show says something he does not agree with, he'll quickly interrupt or change the subject, so why is he Not still in congress (of which he loves to brag on)? and poor Mika, just has to have a sound coming out of her mouth every nano-secon­d....lol

[johnnyybgood]

This author is correct, from someone who watches the Situation Room regularly, other than pundits Begalla, Carville, Brazile, and at times Cafferty, CNN pretty much gives McSame and Mooseburger Barbie a free ride. Which is why I am leaving CNN for MSNBC. But Im still gonna Tivo Carville and Begalla. And FF right over the McSame softballs.

[NotMcCain]

Don't forget Gergen. He's one of the very best.

Too bad all 5 people aren't on for even 15 minutes a day, while Blitzer, Dobbs, Cooper and their numerous "correspondents" (mostly McCain surrogates, whether officially for McCain or working for CNN) fill the airwaves with the most unadulterated pro-McCain cr*p.

I wonder what Ted Turner thinks. And saying you're "the best political team on television" doesn't make it so.

[Fabienne]

What's CNN?

[jjpound]

It's all about "Theatah", everyone on the cable news shows are doing everything they can to keep us on the edge of our seats filled with anxiety. Even Maddow did it last night saying she thinks McCain "can pull this off and win".
I too, disagree with the polls. In fact I think the polls are way out of line only in the wrong direction. Remember, people without landlines were not polled, people that have Vonage or some other form of via-computer phone line were not contacted, etc.. The crosssections of America are changing. The demographics are adjusting to new technologies. The phone polling from 50 years ago just isn't relevant anymore.
I believe we are going to see a lopsided win for Obama, and relative big margins in Senate and House races.
Now I may just be talking through my ass and this may be no more than wishful thinking, but why the hell shouldn't I think this way. Tell me I'm wrong.
jjpound