Howard Dean's Media Landslide Pundits Call a Winner, a Bit Prematurely

[Feanorcurufinwe]

Forget the fact that no voters have yet gone to the polls. Why risk frostbite trudging around New Hampshire? Dean is a slam dunk, a done deal, a shoo-in for the nomination.

That, at least, is the dominant buzz among the pundit class, which has all but written off the eight other contenders or relegated them to long-shot status. Turn on the television at any moment and the message is clear:

"If he wins the Iowa caucuses," Al Hunt declared on CNN's "Capital Gang," "he may indeed be unstoppable."

Brit Hume on "Fox News Sunday": "You look at the field, you can't figure out who can beat him."

Washington Times Editorial Page Editor Tony Blankley, on CNN's "Crossfire": "I think he's going to win, because he's too smart for them."

Carl Quintanilla, "NBC Nightly News": "The man to beat as New Hampshire approaches."

<snip>

Others sound a note of caution. "The press overvalues two things in politics: money and endorsements," Time columnist Joe Klein says. "Both are kind of important, but so much of this is driven by other factors, and Dean hasn't really been tested yet. Questions about Dean's disposition and character are going to have to be answered. Things can turn around incredibly quickly, especially in a situation where the public hasn't tuned in yet."

Oh right -- the public.

History suggests that sometimes the media get too far out in front. On the eve of the 1984 New Hampshire primary, a front-page New York Times story declared: "Walter F. Mondale now holds the most commanding lead ever recorded this early in a presidential nomination campaign by a nonincumbent, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News Poll." Mondale's 57-percent-to-7-percent margin over Gary Hart meant little, though, as Hart trounced Mondale in New Hampshire and the former vice president barely hung on to win the nomination.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A34348-2003Nov12.html

Why bother having those pesky elections when we have the media to pick our candidate for us?

[AP]

1. Now read this in conjunction with the other article here today about how

Clark is the subject of premature obituaries in the press, and you have to ask yourself why the media which chose Bush in 2000 is trying to chose the Democratic nominee in 2004.

[LuminousX]

2. the media wants to race to the main event

Face it, they are lazy. They know only half the country cares about who the Democrats pick so the media wants to speed the process up so they can get on to election 2004.

[eissa]

3. As a Dean supporter, I agree with you.

I, too, feel anxious and upset when I hear these pundits all but declare the race over before it has even begun. Yes, I would love to see Dean win the nomination, but I don't like it when the media interferes in this manner. Let the public decide for themselves before declaring a winner. Geeez...didn't these idiots learn anything from 2000?!

[wtmusic]

4. Nobody called a winner

Last time I checked it was OK to offer an opinion, and that's all they are.

In the Blitzer interview when repeatedly asked to pick a running mate Dean refused, saying it was premature and that it was up to the voters to choose a candidate first.

[AP]

6. Why's Blitzer acting like it's the running mate selection stage?

Because CNN and Bush want to treat Dean's victory like a foregone conclusion.

It's like when Bush started acting like he was President before anyone knew what was going to happen with the recount. Remember when he started having those press conferences at that elementary school? Same thing.

[MercutioATC]

5. Actually, Dean himself agrees with you..

He said last night that not a single vote has been won by ANY candidate and it's much too early to be making plans based on gaining the nomination.

[AP]

7. This isn't about what Dean wants.

It's about what Bush and the media want.

[w4rma]

13. If Bush wants Dean he's being advised by idiots.

It's pretty dumb to go up against the Democrat who runs the most competent campaign, has the most enthusiastic supporters and has broken all Democratic fundraising records.

Even his message resonates with rank-and-file Democrats. In fact, Dean says so much that is exactly on target that I now consider it par for the course for him. Other candidates keep getting sidetracked on pet issues that aren't resonating.

[SahaleArm]

14. The candidate is not relevant to Bush-Rove.

That there is a strong front-runner (> 25%) is of much more importance. Right now there are too many candidates for Bush to attack. If he can get one to come out ahead now, and the Democrats get locked in, then he can open up his warchest. It's probably best if the Democrats can drag this out as long as possible.

[MercutioATC]

15. That's an excellent point.

I really hadn't considered that.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

8. n/t

n/t

[polpilot]

9. If they don't pick the winner early then they're left out. Dean's won &

they simply want to go on record. I agree with all their statements. You don't?

Dean '04...The Winner!

[Feanorcurufinwe]

10. Oh yeah, Dean already won, we can all go home now.

lol

[AP]

11. The winner they're picking early is Bush.

Do you really think the RW machine was going to sit on the sidelines and let the Democrats pick a decent nominee on their own?

We're in the age of Total Information Awareness Control.

This isn't like reading tea leaves. It's all right in front of your face. You really have to be closing your eyes, sticking your fingers in your ears and singing la la la la if you don't realize it.

[FrenchieCat]

12. Media sluts are "Legends in their own minds"......

For them, it's blood sport, and they want to feel that they know how it ends. Wish they could know how it ends in Iraq, cause that is where the real blood is spilling.

Here's a list of articles that make the case in the motivation and methods that are being and will be used:

http://makethemaccountable.com/podvin/media/031112_AComfortingMyth.htm Right Wing media agenda for Wes Clark

http://www.arktimes.com/max/110703brantley.html Right Wing manipulation on the candidacy of Wes Clark

Another story on who's running the show of electing the Democratic candidate for the Democratic party.It's a one act play called: Dean for president: A Democratic tragedy in one act? http://www.tmsfeatures.com/tmsfeatures/subcategory.jsp?catid=1104&custid=67

http://www.politicsnh.com/archives/pindell/2003/september/10_8pp.shtml
the Push Poll against Wes Clark

http://www.politicsnh.com/archives/pindell/2003/september/10_8pp.shtml
Who do the GOP want the Democrats to run in 2004....follow up to a push poll story from previous week

[AP]

16. Notice who ISN'T publishing these stories.

Where's the NYT, WP, MSNBC, Slate, etc. etc. report saying what's obvious to these small town reporters?

[no name no slogan]

17. Reminds me of Gary Hart in 1984 (n/t)