http://crooksandliars.com/karoli/if-there-isnt-enthusiasm-gap-just-make-oneIf There Isn't An Enthusiasm Gap, Just Make One Up
By karoli
Credit: Daryl Cagle
Over the past few months leading into these midterms there has been nothing but a nonstop litany from the mainstream media about how unenthused Democrats are, how the Tea Party is going to take over Congress, how Democrats are going to have to live with the fact that health reform and financial regulatory reform will be repealed by the New Generation of TeaBirchers, and so on.
It requires a daily reality check on my part, because
I just don't see it. In my district, I see enthusiasm everywhere I go, as do others. President Obama is coming to USC this Friday for a GOTV rally, and they've already had to move the venue to USC alumni park due to overwhelming demand. (I plan to be there with my cameras, by the way). Last Sunday, 35,000 turned out for his rally in Boehner territory. The week before, 18,000 in Philadelphia. Yet, if you watched either of those two rallies on CSPAN, what you saw was a tight shot of the President's face with no pans of the crowd whatsoever. None. Zero. Not only that, they squelched the crowd response sound, so one was left with the distinct impression that the rallies had low attendance and enthusiasm.
These impressions and themes are not accidents. There are $200 million real benefits to our corporate media in the "Republican takeover" narrative, and so they will continue to tell their viewers, readers and listeners about this mythical enthusiasm gap. snip//
Finally, not to be ignored, the Washington Post weighs in to remind us all that Democrats have a daunting task ahead.
Democrats across the country know they face a daunting enthusiasm gap that veteran politicians such as Reid can't possibly overcome. What they can do is try to outperform their Republican opponents by taking advantage of the longer window to get folks to the polls.
Can't possibly overcome? Really? In a state where there are 60,000 more registered Democrats than Republicans? Why, you'd think with that horrible, terrible, awful enthusiasm gap Republicans could have overcome that pesky problem of having fewer registered voters in their state, wouldn't you? But no, that's now how it works in the Land of Media Narratives.I'm not saying we should be sitting back on our haunches and getting complacent. We should all be getting out the vote in a big way between now and November 2nd. But there is a misshapen and dreadfully out-of-reality narrative being fashioned, and it's worth nailing them on it now.
I really want the pleasure of watching them all twist around on November 3rd to figure out "how they missed it". So go vote. Just do it, whether or not you're enthusiastic.Update: Well, this is interesting. It looks like Gallup's likely voter model maybe isn't really all that accurate. That could be your enthusiasm gap right there.