Public Says Press Should Not Declare Obama the Winner

[DemGa]

Looks like most Democrats want Hillary to continue.

<<Summary of Findings

Barack Obama may be building an insurmountable lead in the Democratic primary race, but the public is sending a strong message to journalists and pundits: It is too early to declare, as some already have, that the race is over.

Fully 72% of the public - including comparable percentages of Democrats, Republicans and independents - say that journalists should not be anointing Obama as the Democratic nominee at this stage in the race. Just 20% say that journalists should be doing this.

Opinion among Democrats about what the press should do in this regard may well reflect their view that Hillary Clinton should stay in the race. Recent surveys by Gallup and ABC News/Washington Post find that most Democrats believe that Clinton should stay in the race. In the ABC News/Washington Post survey, released May 12, 64% of Democrats, including 42% of Obama supporters, said Clinton should remain in the race.

http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?ReportID=421

[GarbagemanLB]

1. She'll stay in, and Obama will claim victory on Tuesday night.

[Jim Sagle]

25. And he'll be lying, as always. It's who he is, it's what he does, it's all he knows.

[GarbagemanLB]

27. Is that the waaaambulance I hear coming?

[chemenger]

46. Nah! Just another HilLIARy supporter.

Pretty nervy however. One of the the Tuzla sniper Target's supporters calling Obama a liar. Just how delusional can one person get? :shrug:

[seabeyond]

28. thread after thread lecturing obama supporters to "be nice" to hillary supporters

is this once again only a "you side does it cause we dont have to."

what is this crap. and crap is all you post is

[hokies4ever]

32. How much money did you flush down the drain donating to Hillary?

:rofl:

[crimsonblue]

33. how is the race not over?

Obama leads in pledged delegates, superdelegates, add-on delegates, total states, number of caucus states, number of primary states, states with sunshine, states with rain, states that like Little Richie, states that like Nirvana, popular vote, popular vote w/ Florida, popular vote w/ Florida and Michigan and caucuses, popular vote w/ Florida and Michigan and uncommitted MI votes, money, and did I say delegates. what does that leave Clinton? Demographics in certain states? Miguel de Cervantes would be mightily proud of Hillary were he alive today.

[cali]

38. calm down there, Jim. Obama won't claim victory Tuesday night

he'll wait a week or so until he has the number needed to be the presumptive nominee.

[tekisui]

48. I read in Wall Street Journal this AM that Obama will not declare it over.

At the risk of appearing presumptive and arrogant, that he will tiptoe to the line.

Obama Campaign is confident of their win, so much so that they do not need to look like they are forcing Hillary out.

[Texas Hill Country]

59. that would be a really bad idea

[mac2]

2. You go girl!

[JeanGrey]

3. Oh god not this shit again.

[Straight Shooter]

24. Yeah, people having an opinion on the democratic process is such a bummer, isn't it?

:sarcasm:

[susankh4]

36. They are the "wrong" kind of people.

So they don't get to have a say.

Wall Street and the corporate owned media have decided. They want a debate about foreign policy for November .... and they won't have any talk of a Clinton economy thwarting their dreams....

[cali]

40. Hillary has more corporate support than Obama

She takes federal lobbyist monies. He does not. I'm sorry it's just sad to see presumably intelligent people deluding themselves this way just because they can't deal with the facts. Fact: Far, far more of Hill's funding comes from large donors than does Obama's funding. Fact: the people who put Obama solidly in the lead are largely small donors. If a Clinton economy bothered the corporate class they wouldn't be her biggest financial supporters.

Your post is patently false and ridiculous. God I'm glad I didn't behave like you when Dean lost.

[susankh4]

41. Yada. Yada.

Wanna buy some ocean front property? I have a plot here in Ohio to sell....

[cali]

44. not only do you not have an ocean front plot- you got nothing.

and you know it. Can't refute the facts so resort to pathetic jabe. As I said, you can't handle factual information.

[susankh4]

45. You are being played, my friend.

So be it.

[cali]

49. no. I'm not. I have no unreasonable expectations about Obama

I fully recognize that he's a politician with both positives and negatives. I don't expect a complete revamping of the political/D.C. world. Unlike you, so fixated on the adulation of a chosen candidate, I understand that Obama is an improvement over bushco and far preferable to McCain. If Hillary had been the nominee, I'd feel the same way. There are things about her I strongly dislike- her vote for the IWR and K/L, for example- but I understand that she's far preferable to McCain.

Clearly YOU are the one being had- by your own anger and bitter delusions.

Sad.

[Bentcorner]

51. Corporations cannot give money to candidates.

Obama might not accept money from lobbyists, but he certainly rakes in the money form their spouses.

[JeanGrey]

52. An opinion or a delusion? More like the later.

[Straight Shooter]

56. You mean "latter."

Or is it latte? :)

[JeanGrey]

61. Don't care for Lattes myself.

[PM7nj]

4. Okay, I'll call Chris Matthews and tell him!

Seriously though, what are we supposed to do about this?

[anigbrowl]

5. Yep, they should wait for Obama to do it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbrRZKgsa2c

[ElboRuum]

6. Journalists...

...should not be attempting to "call" anything in electoral politics. Unfortunately, the way our system is set up, and the instantaneous nature of media, and the slipshod and hopelessly biased manner in which political commentary is fabricated gives the media the opportunity and will to shape opinion rather than giving the people the information required to shape their own.

[shadowknows69]

47. The media has the largest stakes in keeping the horse race going

If they've called it over, it's probably over. As far as being objective? I'd never accuse today's media of being that, but, sometimes the facts are just the facts. There is an indisputable math to it I'm afraid to say.

[ElboRuum]

57. Yes, but consider this...

Just how much did the media affect the outcome?

The media may not be able to control the things that happen in these campaigns, but they are the ultimate gatekeepers of which parts the voters hear and see and which they do not, outside of teh internetz tubes (which is a whole other kettle of fish). Moreover, not only can they include or omit whatever they deem fit, but can always introduce commentary which spins whatever facts they choose and in whatever way they choose. Since it is in the media's best interest for this primary to continue for as long as such an effort can reasonably supported without an implicit admission of event fabrication, the math, as they say, don't matter. There will be as much spin and disputation of the math as the market will support. What I believe is happening is that the media is seeing this market dry up, and at least in the media's collective mind, the continued coverage will not get the ratings and water cooler talk and as such isn't fiscally responsible to pursue.

Which begs the question... if what we see and hear from the media are only things which must pass the "bottom-line" consideration I just mentioned, are we getting any information at all, or is it all really just a dollars and cents game? Another question. Was the previous question unintentionally rhetorical?

[democrattotheend]

7. I'm an Obama supporter and I agree

I think it was premature for them to declare the race over, just like it was premature for them to write her obituary after Iowa. But I disagree with those who say sexism has anything to do with it...they did the same thing to Dean four years ago.

[LeFleur1]

20. Dean?

They called Dean a bitch, a cunt, a person with testicules, stripped of humanity because he tried to be a man? And all the rest of the sexist crap the talking mush heads and bloggers called Hillary during this campaign?

[democrattotheend]

22. No, but they declared him dead after Iowa

I never said she did not face sexism, and the things you pointed out are certainly sexist. i was merely disagreeing with those who say that Hillary is being pushed out prematurely because she is a woman. She may have been declared dead prematurely, but her gender has nothing to do with it.

And are you really going to argue that the press did not treat Dean unfairly after Iowa? Come on...

[OzarkDem]

8. Dem leaders are making a big, big mistake

Its not the first time, nor will it be the last.

[RaleighNCDUer]

13. What does that mean?

The OP was about jouornalists and pundits. Who said anything about "Dem leaders"?

[OzarkDem]

16. Dem leaders are also complicit

[democrattotheend]

23. Dean and Pelosi have come out and said it's not over since Russert said it was

[susankh4]

37. They like to play along as if the Corporate Owned Media is...

really going to give them a fair shake.

Matthews gets a shiver up his leg... and Olbermann goes on a rant ... and they believe it.

Cuz they soooo want to believe.....

Here we go again.

[rocktivity]

9. If Obama collects enough superdelegates to reach 2025 by the end of the month

it will be a moot issue, anyway.

I could donate more money to DU if I weren't always buying new bullshit meters.

:nuke:
rocknation

[Bill McBlueState]

10. What the media should do...

is to educate the public about the rules the Democratic party uses to select its nominee, and to emphasize that under those rules, only the slimmest chance remains for anyone but Obama to become the nominee.

[rodeodance]

14. get a grip. Voters want a chance to vote and the majority say they should have

this opportunity.

[Bill McBlueState]

53. That's not inconsistent with what I said. n/t

[GoesTo11]

11. The press doesn't declare the winner

That happens after delegate votes are tallied at the convention.

But the press can decide that a candidate has such a low chance of winning that it's not worth covering all their activities in the same way as those of another candidate who will almost surely be the nominee. Like how Huckabee gets much less press than McCain.

[OzarkDem]

17. The public does

and the fact that they're unhappy with the running of this primary election doesn't bode well for Democrats in November.

[kwenu]

21. I don't recall anything that says the public is unhappy with the running of the primary election.

You're not getting the public confused with people whose candidates lost are you? Everything in this primary appears to have gone by the rules as far as I know. Do you know different?

[RaleighNCDUer]

12. I don't think the pundits should say that Obama's won.

But I do think Hillary should say so.

[my3boyz]

15. Hmmm....so the press is wrong to say that it is mathematically impossible for her to win? OKAY. nt

[OzarkDem]

18. Tell it to the voters

They're the ones you need to convince.

[JeanGrey]

62. I guess they can't do math. A common problem.

[boppers]

19. Kucinich could still win!

Don't count him out yet, it's still possible!

Keep the infighting going!

:evilgrin:

Actually, a good side effect of this is that Obama keeps getting free press, free media time, while McCain gets almost nothing. Since Obama excels in this milieu, it's good for our party, and his future presidency. Unless Kucinich wins, of course, since not all the states have voted, so that's still a possibility.

[Beacool]

55. Kucinich would have been a better choice than Obama.

Heck, all of them would have been a better choice than the rookie!!!

[anonymous171]

26. The winner is decided by the delegate count. This poll is stupid.

[Major Hogwash]

29. Not here - we already declared Obama the winner!!

And that's all there is to it.

[tishaLA]

30. It'll be hard to keep those numbers up

She's managed to keep up the charade by fighting against math and common sense, but she can't even get on TV anymore--people are just ignoring her like they did to Huckabee in the last days of his campaign. She can continue to do rallies on the cheap, without coverage, but it's going to be like the proverbial tree falling in the forest.

[bowens43]

31. even if true, it doesn't change the fact that hillary lost.

it's over, I know it, you know it, the press knows it, Obama knows it, hillary knows it.

[susankh4]

34. I can't even find the GOP owned media amusing anymore.

They have chosen a November race based in foreign policy, because they know it is the one McCain can win. They are telling us not to nominate the Economy candidate... because that is the battle McCain would lose.

OK. Whatever. Let's have a foreign policy debate with Mr. War Hero.The "surge" vs. the "appeasement." Yeah.... that'll work.

Even tho most of the country is more concerned about the economy..... and knows damned well Clinton would turn that around for the middle class. That's not the battle CNN, or MSNBC, or FOX wants to have...... cuz their party would lose.

Too bad for the American people. Especially the little people. You know who I mean ... the ones who feed us and clothe us and build our cars and send their sons to fight in foreign wars....

[cali]

42. wrong. this election is shaping up to be largely about the economy

do educate yourself. Exit polls make it crystal clear that the economy is the biggest issue for voters. And Obama can certainly beat McCain on both foreign policy and the economy. Dems have a huge advantage on the economy. Obama is just as good on it as Hilly. And btw, I find referring to people as "little people" reflective of a very unfortunate mode of thinking. I don't think of anyone or any group as "little". Sad that YOU do.

[hokies4ever]

35. Winning strategy: Force your opponent to defend her staying in the race

And Hillary keeps falling for this hook, line, and sinker. She'll probably point to this poll as to part of the reason why she's staying in. Every second spent defending why she should remain in the race is another second closer to defeat.

[davidpdx]

39. As usual people have it wrong

I'm surprised you didn't quote the terrible article over at the US News blog. Obama will declare he won in terms of the pledged delegates. In fact, it will be a loss in Kentucky that it puts him over 50% of the pledged delegates. Now personally I would have like to see my home state of Oregon do it (so we can have bragging rights), but either way I'll take it.

If you guys can prove he didn't win the greatest number of pledged delegates, then go for it. And I don't want to hear the crying about the caucuses either. That talking point has been beaten to death in the last three days.

[Why Syzygy]

43. Of course not. They can declare AFTER WE declare. DUH I already saw this stupid poll.

As usual, MSM is confusing the issue, asking one thing and trying to present it as something else.

[pnorman]

50. Yeah, right!

pnorman
PS:

[Beacool]

54. Journalists??? Are there any journalists left in this country?

What I see regularly on TV are a bunch of pompous self important pundits who love the sound of their own voices.

Journalism is not to be found on TV anymore, with a few exceptions on PBS and C-Span.

[SeaLyons]

58. Yea, Obama needs to sit down and stop with the victory laps

it's definitely not over YET!!

[krkaufman]

60. That changes once Obama has the elected delegate majority n/t

[bunnies]

63. I have to wonder how many of these people are enjoying watching her go down.

Kicking and screaming as she is.

[TheDonkey]

64. That is true until tomorrow if Obama claims majority then it will be OVER. SDs will make a move and

he'll reach the magic number. BUCKLE UP !!!!