Will the networks "call" the election before the west coast polls close?

[Hassin Bin Sober]

I'm assuming Obama will have it wrapped up by the time the east coast results come in but will the networks officially call it by then?

[ColbertWatcher]

1. Pnly if it's a blow-out. Otherwise, they'll wait. n/t

[InternalDialogue]

13. Pwnly, maybe?

[ColbertWatcher]

15. LOL! Sure! I came back to see who responded and was going to fix my mistake, but ...

... hell, I can claim I started an internets meme!

[billyoc]

2. 8:30 pm EST is my guess.

Which I think is bad, because it might depress the vote out west.

[polichick]

3. No, because we can't win unless those states vote too.

[Midlodemocrat]

4. It will all be over by 8:05 eastern time.

[msongs]

5. that will help defeat prop 8 in CA if obama is called 3 hrs before CA polls close nt

[Hassin Bin Sober]

11. Really?

How do you figure that?

If it gets called early it will suppress the fundy/rethug vote? What if Obama people stay home and the whackadoodles still go vote the issue?

Until now, I hadn't thought about this issue as it relates to landslide "calling."

[dbonds]

6. At least by policy they never do that.

They alienate the west coast voters and can effect turnout if they do. I think it was 1980 with Reagan they did that and everyone got upset (not positive it was the election but somewhere around there)

[gratuitous]

7. No

They learned their lesson in 1980, and I don't think they're eager for a repeat. They'll hold back calling strategic states until after 8 p.m. Pacific time if that's what it takes. But if McCain doesn't win Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Florida, that'll pretty much cinch it.

[angstlessk]

8. how can they count 53 ev in CA before they vote??

are you saying Obama does not NEED CA 53 EV?

[LeftyMom]

10. Well, unless Obama gets hit by a meteor, we can call those 53 now,

:shrug:

[longship]

18. Actually, he probably doesn't need the 53.

But the PST zone has more than CA. Consider OR, WA and NV are also PST. That's 78 EVs.

270 + 78 = 348.

Now, I'm predicting more than that for Obama (375). So it is actually *possible* for Obama to win without those 78 EVs.
It may even be likely. Whether or not the newsies will call an Obama victory before PST poll closings is yet to be determined.

I am thinking that the Prop 8 and other issues would still keep people voting on the left coast anyway. However, if McCain is losing big, an early call could very well disillusion the conservatives enough that it may help those issues for us.

I'm with Cenk at the Young Turks... If VA goes Obama, McCain can't win. If NC goes Obama, his win will be huge.

[The_Casual_Observer]

9. Indirectly

[Hassin Bin Sober]

14. That's my point I guess.

I'm quite sure the pundits will declare the McCain campaign DOA but will the networks put the official check mark next to Obama's picture on the Teevees screen?

[Dukkha]

12. Yes if Ohio or Florida is projected to Obama

then it's definitely a done deal and all the other swing states could go to McCain at that point.

[bemildred]

16. Who gives a shit (WGAS)?

They are all little more than video games anyway. Nothing to do with the real world.

[SeattleGirl]

19. People who live in time zones other than Eastern time give a shit.

And the media better keep their fucking mouths shut.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

21. Alrighty then!

:)

[bemildred]

24. I live in LA and I don't give a shit.

I hope they blabber like mad and embarrass themselves once again.

[Winterblues]

17. I think it was Carter that conceeded before the polls were closed on the West Coast

I don't think the election was "called". The MSM gave out all the results and Carter conceeded..I hope McCain will conceed as soon as Virginia falls to Obama but I doubt it...

[EFerrari]

20. I remember we went to vote for President Carter after the race was called

but don't remember how -- if he conceded or if the networks called it.

[SeattleGirl]

25. I voted after Carter conceded. Voted for him, but it was a hollow vote.

It was also my first time voting ever, and I felt that I had been disenfranchised. I know, I know, Reagan would have won anyway, but still, it really bothered me that Carter conceded before the polls closed on the west coast, AND the media blabbed it all over the place.

[roamer65]

22. They'll call the election just after the polls close on the Left Coast.

73 electoral votes, just like a wooden stake, right into the heart of the GOP.

[MiniMe]

23. No, I think the networks all agreed not to call an election before the west coast voted

I agree with that sentiment.

[Parker CA]

26. 11:45pm ET - CNN with the call for OBAMA/BIDEN

[JVS]

27. here's hoping

:toast:

[polichick]

28. Calling it before everyone has voted discourages people from going to the polls....

Hope they don't.