MSNBC presents outdated poll as evidence the race in battleground states is "tightening"

[MagickMuffin]

Summary: MSNBC anchors presented "new" Arizona State University-Southwest poll numbers for New Mexico, Arizona, and Nevada as evidence the race is "tightening" in those states. However, the poll was conducted over a period of 26 days and was concluded on October 17, two weeks before the results were released, and a newer poll contradicts the ASU-Southwest poll's conclusion in New Mexico.

On October 31, MSNBC Live anchors Contessa Brewer and Tamron Hall both highlighted a presidential poll as evidence the race is "tightening" in some Western battleground states. Brewer, Hall and anchor David Shuster all described the poll as "new." In fact, the poll they cited was completed two weeks before, and was conducted from September 22 to October 17. Notwithstanding the anchors' characterization of the poll as "new" and its results showing the race in New Mexico as tied, a newer poll shows Sen. Barack Obama leading there.

Shuster presented Arizona State University-Southwest poll numbers for New Mexico, Arizona, and Nevada that he said "suggest it's getting closer in many states, at least some of the poll numbers." He then said, "This is an organization that has never polled in New Mexico before, according to our own political unit. But this number is getting some attention because it shows Barack Obama and John McCain tied at 46, and again, this is a state where NBC News' political unit has been projecting New Mexico in Barack Obama's column for over a month." However, a Rasmussen Reports poll conducted on October 28, 11 days after the ASU-Southwest survey was concluded, shows Obama leading in New Mexico.

http://mediamatters.org/items/200811020003?lid=728928&rid=17299269

I don't know if this has been posted before but it won't hurt if it is posted again.

[Drunken Irishman]

1. To be fair, Chuck Todd did say Obama had improved in every poll.

Compared to the last Mason-Dixon polls, Obama is actually surging!

[4lbs]

2. You can tell it was an older poll because of the percentage of undecideds.

Most older polls have undecideds at around 8 to 10 percent.

Current polls, updated through this weekend, have undecideds at 5 percent or less.

[BrklynLiberal]

3. Chris Matthews said that Obama was gaining...it is not tightening..

Guess it depends which MSNBC talking head you are listening to at the moment.

[Blondiegrrl]

4. Good to see them called out on that. nt

[Life Long Dem]

5. The media is not on our side you know?

It's been a rough eight years and they threw some calmness or kindness our way to shut us up.

[FrenchieCat]

6. David Dickhead Gregory is the worst culprit on this!

I really can't stand him.

We should try to get him fired.
He doesn't deserve a job.

[Stardust]

7. He and Alex Witt (and Tweety) are all insisting that if McCain wins

ALL the undecideds, he COULD still win...rrrrrrright? So pathetic.

[Kool Kitty]

8. Gregory is such a jackass.

Since his show is called "Race to the White House" (or, as my husband calls it-"Race to the Outhouse"), after Tuesday, I would think there would be no need for his show. Race over, and time to send Davy back to the White House press corps.