Dan Rather is throwing out homespun sayings at a rate of about two per minute. "Just because a chicken has wings doesn't mean that chicken can fly," for example. (I may not have gotten the quote exactly, but you get the idea.) I have no idea what he meant.
I've really enjoyed NBC and MSNBC though. The analysts have personalities, and the panels have been pretty balanced--those are two things I like in election coverage. They put together a nice production overall.
I'm about to call it quits, but I have been studying the numbers for the last hour or two. It is hard to imagine Ohio switching to Kerry unless there is some sort of fraud allegation that hasn't yet been made. New Mexico and Nevada are leaning toward Bush. We'll probably wake up to see them in his column.
Now then, if NV and NM go to Bush and Ohio somehow goes to Kerry, then Bush would have to pick up Wisconsin to force a tie. Iowa (which has suspended their counting for the night, but Bush leads with Republican areas yet to be counted) would not be enough.
Wisconsin plus Ohio would be enough for Kerry at this point, and it looks like he'll get Wisconsin. That's why there will probably be some kind of challenge in Ohio, or at least the exploration of his options. For Kerry, it's that important.
Ohio.
Unless there turn out to be major accusations of wrongdoing in Ohio (and no one has reported anything like this yet), this one is over.
By my estimation, the final result will look a lot like it did in 2000. NH will turn blue while NM and IA will turn red. (Though technically all three of those are too close to call--my predictions.)
I love this stuff no matter who wins. I've been glued to the TV to see Reagan, Bush, Clinton, and Bush hit the magic 270. It never gets old. It never will. It is just fascinating to watch.
I'm going to watch until Tom Brokaw signs off. This will be the last election that he covers as an anchor. Get some sleep, Tom! Thanks for the memories.
Leave a comment