McCain Camp Protesting News "Calling" State Winner

[Suzie Zoo]

Have none of you ever taken staistics courses? Have you never watched an election return before? Obviously not if you think this is different from reporting in any other election over the last 30-40 years.

I don't think the majority of people are complaining about the statistical aspect of it. At least, I'm not.

 

[DarthKTrava]

I think everyone is complaining about the prematurity of these projections and the effect they may have on those who are still able to vote and whether or not they will feel that their vote won't count since these projections are leaning one way or the other...

 

[sha_lyn]

I don't think the majority of people are complaining about the statistical aspect of it. At least, I'm not.

I think everyone is complaining about the prematurity of these projections and the effect they may have on those who are still able to vote and whether or not they will feel that their vote won't count since these projections are leaning one way or the other...

What really gets me is that NPR is calling state DE with only 2% of the vote for Obama at 51% to 48%, but MS has 57% of precincts reporting and it is McCain 57% Obama 43. It certainly appears that if Obama is ahead, even with 2% of a state reporting "they" will call it for him but they won't call a state for McCain unless over 65% of the precincts have reported.

 

[gmboy95]

As U2 Says....."its a beautiful day"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[DarthKTrava]

What really gets me is that NPR is calling state DE with only 2% of the vote for Obama at 51% to 48%, but MS has 57% of precincts reporting and it is McCain 57% Obama 43. It certainly appears that if Obama is ahead, even with 2% of a state reporting "they" will call it for him but they won't call a state for McCain unless over 65% of the precincts have reported.

I know they aren't calling NC for either as there's only about 2% between them. Although Obama has that slight lead.... and the senate basically went Dem here.

 

[MUFFYCAT]

Have none of you ever taken staistics courses? Have you never watched an election return before? Obviously not if you think this is different from reporting in any other election over the last 30-40 years.

I need to take a stats class. I know it's always been like that , I always wondered how they could tell the winners with the low percentage reporting.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

I don't blame him... and I think that anyone who cares about the integrity of the voting process should agree.

Calling a state after its polls close doesn't affect the integrity of the voting process one bit. The polls are closed. Not one vote can be affected. Of course if they're wrong they're going to end up with egg on their face when the votes are counted. But the call doesn't affect the count any. Lord knows I'm the last guy to defend Faux, but as long as the polls were closed I don't see any legit reason for the McCain camp's reaction.

Originally Posted by Jen_in_NH View Post
It just baffles me - all the races in NH have been called already, most with less than 30% reporting What about the other 70%? I think I'll wait til morning to believe it all.

Polling and Statistics as well as what counties have reported. For instance. I knew Obama had won a couple of states even when he was way down early simply because i know where each candidate's votes come from.

Didn't the news do that in the Reagen/Dukakis contest?
Reagen was winning every state before the west coast polls closed
so the people there didn't feel the need to vote. I thought they weren't now allowed to the announce the winner until all the polls closed.

That was Carter in 1980. Not only did the networks call it, but Carter conceded. I really wish they wouldn't tell those of us out west anything before the polls closed out west, but in today's internet age and chat rooms, I don't know how you stop that flow of information. The rule is that they will not call a state before its polls close.

 

[sha_lyn]

Calling a state after its polls close doesn't affect the integrity of the voting process one bit. The polls are closed. Not one vote can be affected. Of course if they're wrong they're going to end up with egg on their face when the votes are counted. But the call doesn't affect the count any. Lord knows I'm the last guy to defend Faux, but as long as the polls were closed I don't see any legit reason for the McCain camp's reaction.



Polling and Statistics as well as what counties have reported. For instance. I knew Obama had won a couple of states even when he was way down early simply because i know where each candidate's votes come from.



That was Carter in 1980. Not only did the networks call it, but Carter conceded. I really wish they wouldn't tell those of us out west anything before the polls closed out west, but in today's internet age and chat rooms, I don't know how you stop that flow of information. The rule is that they will not call a state before its polls close.

IMHO you contradict yourself. IE if a "winner" is called before polls close in the western states then of course it can affect votes.

 

[DebbieB]

IMHO you contradict yourself. IE if a "winner" is called before polls close in the western states then of course it can affect votes.

It was called right after the polls closed in the west.

 

[sha_lyn]

It was called right after the polls closed in the west.

Actually I was talking about a winner being called in each state, not the winner overall, and if you look at the tie I posted, the polls in the pacific time zone had not closed.


ETA: polls in Hawaii and Alaska haven't closed yet.

ETA: I se Hawaii has closed. Why do they clse the polls before 9PM their time?