First thoughts: Polling fans beware

Posted: Wednesday, December 19, 2007 9:18 AM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: First Thoughts

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray and Domenico Montanaro
*** Polling aficionados beware: With a mere 15 days until the first contest, there are now so many pollsters surveying voters in Iowa and New Hampshire, it's hard to know what's right or wrong. In the last 12 hours, two Iowa polls showed two dramatically different results. One (Washington Post/ABC) had Obama in first and another (Insider Advantage) had him in third. Edwards was in third in one (Washington Post/ABC) and first in the other (Insider Advantage). What gives? Many things: turnout, the makeup of the electorate the pollster used, and the history of that pollster surveying the state. Our advice: Look at the trends of the pollsters who have surveyed the state for multiple cycles, and be careful of pollsters who haven't polled Iowa before. Speaking of polls, don't miss the latest CNN-WMUR poll showing Clinton back to having a double-digit lead after showing her up just one a week or so ago. What does that poll tell us? There's a chance that good pollsters get quirky results. Looking at that poll’s trend line, it appears the one-point poll was the outlier.

*** The holiday spirit: The weather outside may be frightful, but most of the messages on Iowa TVs appear to be remaining delightful -- with Obama joining Huckabee with a holiday spot (his daughter even says "Christmas"!). Giuliani apparently will be up with a holiday spot soon as well. But there is one candidate who isn't letting the holidays stop his negative messaging. Mitt Romney is staying aggressive against Huckabee. When asked whether he thought the voters would be turned off by negatives during the holidays, Romney said he thought voters would respect the importance of the election. We'll see... Let the grand holiday experiment begin...

*** What is Ted Kennedy thinking? The timing of the Huffington Post’s unearthing of Obama's Ted Kennedy criticism is intriguing. Is Kennedy's endorsement of one of the Big Three imminent? There are cases for him to go with any of them: He no doubt likes Edwards' populism, Obama's charisma, and he certainly respects a political dynasty. Of course, Kennedy may not endorse anyone until his closest friend in the race, Chris Dodd, either surges or drops out. And speaking of big endorsements, when is that John Kerry nod we keep hearing is ready to go going to come out? And if there are no endorsements today or tomorrow, does that mean we won't see any major endorsements pre-Iowa for fear that they won't get the attention of Iowa voters? Or will we see a slew of big announcements on the 27th and 28th going into the final weekend?

*** Bias alert! The Washington Post’s Howie Kurtz asks a question that will likely drive a lot of discussion today: Has the press been nicer to Obama than Clinton? Kurtz quotes a couple of journalists who certainly think so. While it’s pretty obvious that Clinton, her husband, and her campaign have received much more scrutiny in the past couple of months after the Philadelphia debate, couldn’t it also be argued that in the spring and summer -- when Clinton was soaring in the polls, when she was receiving little scrutiny on the shift in her Iraq views, and when the media praised her debate performances -- the press focused squarely on Obama (his experience, Rezko, Michelle Obama’s comments, donations from state lobbyists, D-Punjab) and Edwards (the hedge fund, the haircut, his Chapel Hill home)? Also, don’t front-runners always get more scrutiny? After all, look at the attention Huckabee is now receiving. And just asking: Is it fair for a couple of reporters to speak for the entire press corps?

*** On the trail: On the Democratic side, Biden, Clinton, and Dodd spend their day campaigning in Iowa, while Edwards, Obama, and Richardson are in New Hampshire. On the GOP side, Giuliani stumps in the February 5 state of Missouri; Huckabee is in Iowa; Hunter is in Michigan; McCain appears in Boston with Henry Kissinger and James Woolsey before heading to New Hampshire; and Romney and Thompson campaign in Iowa. Also, Michelle Obama and Ann Romney are in Iowa.

Countdown to Iowa: 15 days
Countdown to New Hampshire: 20 days
Countdown to Michigan: 27 days
Countdown to Nevada and SC GOP primary: 31 days
Countdown to SC Dem primary: 38 days
Countdown to Florida: 41 days
Countdown to Tsunami Tuesday: 48 days
Countdown to Election Day 2008: 321 days
Countdown to Inauguration Day 2009: 398 days

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Comments

I love it when people post stuff on sites in caps thinking it looks better or gets the point across better somehow.... hold on I'm sorry...I'm sorry here.

I LOVE IT WHEN PEOPLE POST STUFF ON SITES IN CAPS THINKING IT LOOKS BETTER OR GETS THE POINT ACROSS BETTER SOMEHOW =D

Monkey1016 (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 11:02 AM)

Want to see unfair coverage of Clinton? Just tune in to MSNBC. Watch Chris Matthews and the rest of the cast and crew take great glee in sticking it to Clinton, fairly or unfairly, night after night.

Meanwhile Obama gets a pass because he is just soooooo nice.

Why doesn't someone ask if Obama is ready to handle a major international crisis?

Ask why Obama changed all the names of his friends in his book. And that now, after one of his old friends has come forwards and is an ex con who lives in his car, if we should worry there are other skeletons in Obama's closet.

Dickie Flatts, Charlotte, NC (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 11:02 AM)

I thought this was beyond the Clintons' control:

http://www.nysun.com/article/68332

TruthSeeker (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 11:03 AM)

Pat FROM NEWYORK SORRY YOUR WORK IS IN VAIN YOU RE JUST ANOTHER YANKEE FROM NEW YORK SUPPORTING HILLARY WHO S NOT FROM YOUR STATE, CANT YOU ALL DO ANY BETTER THAN THAT. SHE S LAUGHING AT YOU LIKE SHE DID THE PEOPLE FROM ARKANSAS THAT SHE CALLED ALL HICKS WHEN SHE FIRST WENT THERE.

David Anders Pharr, Tx. (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 11:03 AM)

Nuanced:

Further charges are being considered against the Magi for possession of a controlled substances (aka franchinsense) violations of numerous "scooper" laws in various countries, unlawful uses of roadways by non-motorized carriers, failure to provide proper immunization for camels traveling to Bethlehem, and cruelty to animals for working camels for over 4 hours per day. Sanity hearings will be held because the trio claimed they travelled hundreds of miles because a star was leading them.

Dot, Illinois (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 11:03 AM)

-- They will arrest the wise men for illegally crossing the border, close the homeless shelter, dock the shepards pay for leaving their jobsite, send Joseph to the war in Mesopotamia, lecture Mary on the evils of adultery, and call the angel gay.

nuanced (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 10:35 AM)

Maybe the demos can do one too......

Hillary can play Mary......

Obama can play the guy looking for shelter for the night

Biden can play the innkeeper that won't give him shelter

Richardson can tell the story, just get the name of the play right

Gravel can play the statue

Dennis can play the space invader

Chris Dodd can just stand there and look important

Edwards can play scrooge

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 11:03 AM)

Howard Kurtz does not have credibility when it comes to the issue of scrutiny to the candidates. He has ignored our comments when the media was giving a soft treatment to Hillary and sometimes misrepresenting facts to beat up Obama. He dismissed the media as being silly and they should leave her alone when Hillary went to a zillion morning shows on the same day and just cackled in response to very serious questions the most bizzare one being to Bob Schiefer's question and Bob didn't know how to react because there was nothing funny about his question. Howie is one of those pro Hillary journalists who have been unleashed in recent days to save Hillary(like Krugman)and he has the right to be pro Hillary but if that is the case he shouldn't be in the business of arbitering the media how to cover the campaign.

mike, dallas, TX (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 11:05 AM)

Sierra, SF

You are working so hard for Obama and I kind of see your name every where. But, there is no need to worry about California now, and I believe you know that. So no need to shift attention here.

Now, first read realized that how media treat each candidates differently. Keep tune in, more in this topic will come, it is spreading all over the blogs and TV channel. Media will pay attention to it, finally. Find where is your heart and soul. Thanks God.

Watch (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 11:05 AM)

i don't think anyone can trust the polls. their are those candidates that have strong frienships with media moguls. rupert murdoch owns cnn. you can check who is a close friend of his. like wise there are papers that have an agenda to see obama win. the same with edwards, giuliani and more. it is becoming the time that we have to wait and see.

we also have to remember that if media outlets don't keep interest and spin going they don't sell as many papers. they have their motivation as well.

in some states i would suggest that voting maybe suspect. not talking about iowa, n.h. or s.c.
ace p washington, d.c (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 10:10 AM)

Murdoch doesnt own CNN. He owns Fox.

Simon, IA (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 11:07 AM)

Give me a break!!!, The press( some anyways) has finally started to question her campaign.She got the " All Hail The Queen" treatment for month's while we heard about $400 haircuts & Barack attending a madrassa as a child stories. David gregory, who will ask the hard questions, was stonewalled by Hillary, just 2 days ago. He even said to her, something like, OK, you won't answer that question, let's move on.Move on, he did, got the same result.Her campaign is a charade on the voter's intelligence. As other's have mentioned, her supporter's have brought on this kinda press with there Dumb & Dumber remark's. Let's hope that the press keep's this up until all the Electorate see's her for exactly what she is trying to pull, a CHARADE.

' DELUSIONAL THINKING BY COMMON SENSE AMERICAN'S IS OVER"

Rick,ky (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 11:07 AM)

Van - the Kurtz puff-piece is based on the underlying assumption that none of the negative press on Clinton is true, and that all of the negative press on Obama is true. It sounds like satire because it begins saying that the Des Moines Register endorsement should have just swept away all the Clinton's mistakes and follies over the past 6 weeks. That's a rediculous claim, and seems satirical, because a newspaper endorsement isn't going to erase the Clintons' errors in judgment and tactics. Then it goes on to say that the Clinton campaign is even going so far as to complain to producers because she was asked some difficult questions in an interview?! Wow! I thought that Kurtz was getting ready to make fun of them because those claims are so rediculous, but it turns out he's just horribly biased towards the other side of the isle.

The reality is that the media runs what gets ratings, what people want to hear about. Obama doesn't have dirt piles NEAR the size of Clinton, as evident by the press coverage. Dirt doesn't appear to be sticking to Obama, because it isn't sticking, because it's weak dirt, because no one cares about what someone did when they were 15. Dirt appears to be sticking to Clinton because it's strong dirt, because the Clintons have been rolling and playing in dirt since 1985. It's serious dirt too, Clinton the inevitable is all of a sudden falling, people are sick of her strong ties to dirt, planting questions, openly insulting people during debates (how INCREDIBLY rude was it to laugh at and mock Obama over a question before he even answers it? How is that in any way PRESIDENTIAL? It isn't),

Ron, TX (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 11:09 AM)

The media, with its focus on - and even debate evaluations based on - national horse race numbers, was propping up Hillary's campaign for most of the year; if they didn't get critical of her in the last couple of months to balance it out, that would have been intolerably biased.

The Iowa numbers Insider Advantage actually released to the RCP polling average were the most likely voters numbers, where Obama was first by a point over Edwards - so it actually backs up the numbers from the ABC poll.

All in all, thanks in part to both polls, Obama now leads the RCP Average for Iowa by 3.5 points, his biggest lead yet.
Shadow, Hamden, CT (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 10:07 AM)

In your eyes media propped up Hillary. But can you show one example where media propped up (or ignored) Hillary's mistake? When Obama triangulated on driver's license in 2 weeks or changed his positions on Social Security, did media raise it 100 times? Could you have imagined if Hillary did that , what would have happened? You already know what happened, you started hating and distrusting her. Similarly, if media had highlighted Obama's traingulation as much as Hillary's, then you will start saying, the issue is not a simple yes or no:-)

We are all prejudiced. Just accept it and move on:-)

Simon, IA (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 11:12 AM)

In the race for the Democratic Presidential Nomination, Clinton is bouncing back. it’s Hillary Clinton 42%, Barack Obama 24% and John Edwards 15%. Bill Richardson is supported by 4% while Joe Biden and Dennis Kucinich are each supported by 3% of Likely Democratic Primary Voters.

42-24 in today's Rasmussen.

33-26 on 12/6

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/daily_presidential_tracking_poll

Van

vanreuter, NY NY (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 11:13 AM)

BREAKING NEWS: Ted Kennedy endorses "Jim Beam" for prez

Go Teddy (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 11:13 AM)

As to the qualifications of the leading candidates: being a former state governor is not necessarily a good qualification for the presidency (the current occupant of the White House being a prime case in point). A large part of the President's job has to do with international issues, and experience as a Senator generally brings far more exposure to these than a term as governor of a state.

Phil, Chappaqua, NY (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 11:14 AM)

Thank you for pointing out that the others received alot of negative press for months while Clinton got the coronation treatment.
diane (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 10:35 AM)

"THE INVISIBLE PRIMARY—INVISIBLE NO LONGER
A First Look at Coverage of the 2008 Presidential Campaign
October 29, 2007

A study by the Project for Excellence in Journalism and the Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy

In the early months of the 2008 presidential campaign, the media had already winnowed the race to mostly five candidates and offered Americans relatively little information about their records or what they would do if elected, according to a comprehensive new study of the election coverage across the media.
The press also gave some candidates measurably more favorable coverage than others.DEMOCRAT BARACK OBAMA, the junior Senator from Illinois, enjoyed by far the MOST POSITIVE treatment of the major candidates during the first five months of the year—followed closely by Fred Thompson, the actor who at the time was only considering running. Arizona Senator John McCain received the most negative coverage—much worse than his main GOP rivals."

http://www.journalism.org./node/8187

Will you be thanking me for pointing this out?

Van
(It's gotten even worse)

vanreuter, NY NY (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 11:17 AM)

*** Bias alert!
"“Bill in a china shop ...he went on a minirampage, grabbing unflattering headlines and hogging the spotlight ..."
--The reason is that the media focuses so much on the darn Clintons all the time that they don't train attention on Obama/Edwards so much. Billary is like Britney Spears, we don't want to hear about the trainwreck, but we can't turn away. AND THE MEDIA WON'T LET US!!! There are other Hollywood actresses who are better examples of human beings, likewise other political candidates.
--The other candidates have had a ton of negative press, but the pro-Hillary folks seem to have memories of an goldfish. There was a HUGE run where everything was pro-Clinton and anti-the others. Nobody complained about unfairness then. Maybe if her campaign would stop screwing up and get its act together, she could receive some positive press once again. Maybe the media tells it how it is, relatively speaking.

--NSMSNBC (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 11:20 AM)

What I find fascinating, is you people still think your running against W.......

:)

Randy Brown City Michigan (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 11:22 AM)

I'm not so sure Hukabee would be a disaster of the GOP. I remember when the Carter camp was thrilled when Ronald Reagan won the Republican nomination because he was just too right-wing to get elected.

Dan, Baton Rouge, LA (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 11:24 AM)

Has Hilly-billy ever been asked what drugs she experimented with in her college days? When was she tested. I just read that hill-billy made the statement that " it's hard for her to talk about herself" I almost fell out of my chair laughing , does that woman really, really believe anyone believes anything she says ? the hilly-billy machine isn't aware there's anyone else on the planet them and them alone. It is impossible for them to talk about any but themselves. If they would take I, ME, and MINE, out of their conversation they couldn't speak. But I do thank her for helping me start my day off with such a hardy laugh. this is going to be good by Nov.08.

Del LaBelle Boise, Idaho (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 11:24 AM)

As a lifelong Democrat, and one who has opposed Dubya on every major issue, I am dismayed at the possibility of not electing a Democrat for President in 2008. There is too much negative talk, and not enough about what a particular candidate might do to heal this country. The only person who seems to be projecting a positive message is Barack Obama. I can only hope that the political machine of the Clintons does not kill his chances. I for one think there needs to be a national primary so that we could have a choice rather than letting 2 small states do so much to decide who gets nominated.

L Griffin, Paducah, Kentucky (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 11:24 AM)

On polls, there is a website called USA Election Polls where you can leave comments also. It is pretty current and a lot of fun to read.

If anyone is dumb enough to predict this race with a couple of weeks to go and a lot of undecided voters, I say -- SILLY YOU...!!

Barbara C., Pompano Beach, FL (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 11:27 AM)

The Obama holiday ad is great and simple.

It's one thing to wish Americans "Merry Christmas", but a whole different thing to prattle on about Jesus with a cross in the background.

Nice try at snark, FirstRead. Leave that lame shit to Adam Nagourney and his awful writing.

Joe Justice (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 11:29 AM)

Some say that Mitt's ads are ugly or distasteful - HARDLY! The truth hurts for some and I hope the country realizes that the best solution this nation has to it's problems is MITT!

JD, Cincinnati, Oh (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 11:30 AM)

Here's another story for you... MIKE HUCKABEE'S SON TORTURED A DOG TO DEATH. (But not to worry, "Spin King" Huckabee says it was just a "mangy" dog, anyway)
Is that the true Christian huckabee is?

Chris Reynolds, Tallahassee, Florida (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 11:34 AM)

David Pharr says "WE DONT NEED ANY OF BILL S FOREIGN POLICY. hE S THE ONE THAT LET THE TERROSISTS RUN OVER US TIME AND TIME AGAIN, TILL THEY HIT US BIG. aND NAME ME ONE SOLDIER THAT WOULD WORK FOR HILLARY, OR ANY DEMOCRAT."

Wasn't bush president when the worst attack on US soil in history happened? Didn't bush hide on an airplane while the nation he was sworn to protect was under attack? didn't bush con you into thinking Iraq had something to do with it? Wasn 't bush more interested in snorting coke and deposing saddam than protecting us on 911?

Jerry/Corpus Christi Texas (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 11:46 AM)

"What does that poll tell us?" It tells us that Clinton's racist attack via Billy Shaheen on Obama is working in a state with a 90+% White population receptive to exaggerated stereotypes of Black male criminality. It seems that because Obama has been a class act not ever discussing the impact of race in this campaign, it's given White, privileged and self-described liberals a free pass not to discuss what is clearly a factor: Racism within the Democratic Party, especially among ethnic, working-class Whites. Senator Obama already faced an uphill battle in two of the statistically 'whitest' states in the country, NH and IA, but it's even more difficult now that Billy Shaneen made the unfounded allegation that he was a drug dealer. Never mind that he's accomplished more than what most people, irrespective of race, could ever dream of, all it took is the image of this Black male dealing drugs to convince voters in NH (and probably IA too) that an Ivey League educated lawyer, constitutional law professor, U.S. Senator, devoted husband and father is nothing but another Black criminal. But of course Chuck Todd and his cohorts won't discuss that. It would undermine Liberals and Democrats as being free of racism and bigotry. BS!

Dawn (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 11:52 AM)

Van, the link you provided starts out with the words:
"In the early months of the 2008 presidential campaign ..."
--If you take the campaign season and break it into little bits, of course you can find a time in which one candidate gets preferential treatment. Let's us examine what was occurring in those early months. Clinton and McCain were frontrunners, obviously receiving scrutiny. McCain also failed in his first campaign attempt, a lot of negative media there. F. Thompson and B. Obama were the new guys and the media and people wondered who they were. Obama still doesn't have the name recognition that either Clinton or Edwards have, I believe. Let us examine what has happened since then. Clinton received a ton of press around the brief spurt she soared in the polls, before her fall from grace, and McCain has regained some positive press with the comeback story, and Obama was shunned by all the Republicans, Clinton--before agreeing and the media for his foreign policy decisions to communicate with others but to stay strong also. The experience question also dogged him like crazy. And does that include Fox news or conservative radio too, because they love doing nice little conservative hit-jobs on the Clintons?

--Nicholas (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 11:55 AM)

What have this country come to when a candidate for president cannot even wish the people Merry Christmas without some snide remarks from the leftist loonies? They supposedly notice crosses (it was a bookshelf which apeared to look as a cross) and other strange, subliminal messages in the ad. Mr. Huckabee's Christmas greeting ad was very heartwarming, appropriate and timely. What's wrong with that? I hardly think Mr. Huckabee is some wild-eyed, blazing, hellfire and brimstone individual who would take this country down the tubes, as the leftist loonies seem to advocate. God have mercy! Merry Christmas!

Bree Donos, Santa Clarita, CA (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 12:03 PM)

Your Washington self serving Paper Hanging ""Jackass Club"" again Failed! The Jackass ranking file showed the true color and flip once again, all the speech "" we will not approve another dollar for this war"". What blundering idiots and the waste of Billions this year!

How so many self sering paper hangers control the fate of this nation? What would 2.5 trillion dollars have done for we the people?

A vote for another Jackass Washington self serving paper hanger will insure this insanity has horrific conequences.

Jakass club concedes to defeat (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 12:03 PM)

Ron, TX (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 11:09 AM)
So, you didn't read;
http://www.journalism.org./node/8187
As you had nothing to say about it's validity.

"Puff-piece", is your characterization and a further indication of your own lack of objectivity. The fact that your posts indicate that you're more anti-Clinton than pro anyone makes me wonder exactly what she or the Clintons did to you personally, as your anger at them seems very personal on your part.

What has senator Clinton done in her senate campaigns and while in the senate SPECIFICALLY that you believe justifies your anger and criticisms? It's obvious that you're very against her candidacy, so what has she actually done to merit your ire?
You come off so angry, so you must have your reasons, What SPECIFICALLY are they?

Van

vanreuter, NY NY (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 12:07 PM)

Personally, I would think Senator Kennedy's endorsement would be very important to whomever he chooses. Much more important than the endorsement of a movie or TV star because as a politician he could throw the weight(no pun intended) of his support staff behind the candidate he chooses. He undoubtedly knows politicians that might be amenable to his persuasion in most, if not all, of our states. I am sure that there are numbers of people who might find it prudent to voter for the candidate of his choice, or who would do so just to curry favor with him.

Dot, Illinois (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 12:10 PM)

Go ahead and let the Dems be in the spotlight and let the Republicans slide right on in. To be honest, I wish candidates will focus more on what their plans/polices are rather than bash each other so much, Im sick and tired of it, same goes for the media too, let the candidates do their job.
Right now there is nobody I really want to vote for on either side. Far as Im concerned, our President is doing a better job handling things now than most other canidates could, that dosnt mean I agree with all he does, but it does mean I do aprove of him.

m, OR (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 12:11 PM)

Nuanced isn't exactly nuanced - ham-fisted is more like it.

Diane, I hope a cute video & adorable daughters aren't your basis for supporting someone.

Eric, are you a person or a parrot?

Ian Dee, Calgary, AB (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 12:14 PM)

Could Howie Kurtz have Chris Matthews in mind when he talks about an anti-Hillary bias? Night after night on Hardball, Matthews cuts down Clinton. The only time that Matthews had something nice to say about her was after she made a statement after the campaign office hostage situation had been resolved. Otherwise, it has been a nearly non-stop bash-a-thon.

Rick C, Stevens Point, WI (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 12:17 PM)

We need to rethink the caucus process. With 80% of republicans in Iowa thinking Bush is doing a good job, something is in their water.

GoneFishing (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 12:19 PM)

In this article they're updating Duncan Hunter's campaign activities but not Ron Pauls? ARE YOU SERIOUS? And why am I the first person asking this?!?
This week, too, of all things.

Check out Ron Paul this Sunday morning at 9AM EST on NBC's Meet the Press with Tim Russert!

Nathan, Evansville, IN (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 12:20 PM)

"Has the press been nicer to Obama than Clinton?"

Depends on which press you're talking about, and at which particular minute. The press, for a rather long time, ignored all of the stupid statements made by Clinton, the comments showing her as a stringent dictator with no regards for the majority middle or upper class. Instead, they mixed her words to form wholly unrelated statements that sounded better but didn't fit her profile. Then, as people were beginning to call out the media on it, they reacted in a way to make people believe they never were acting as such, showing negatives and focusing more on the positive aspects of Obama. It seems to me that the current news situation is little more than a poor attempt to cover up the overly positive spin Hillary received for so many months. Just my opinion though, and there are still a few other possibilities. The only certain thing is that the vast majority of the media remains supportive to the left, as it has for many years. For every media leaning to the right is a dozen pulling to the left, and there isn't much to be found in the middle for an atheist pro-choice business economy supporting Republican like me.

Beckwolf (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 12:20 PM)

Hillary Clinton likes to whinn when she is loosing ..who is paying attention?

disgusted Van (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 12:21 PM)

What has senator Clinton done in her senate campaigns and while in the senate SPECIFICALLY that you believe justifies your anger and criticisms? It's obvious that you're very against her candidacy, so what has she actually done to merit your ire?
You come off so angry, so you must have your reasons, What SPECIFICALLY are they?

Van

vanreuter, NY NY (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 12:07 PM)

Did you really open a can of worms on that one Van....

Let's start with:

chinese dishwashers
planted questions
planted people
fake laughs
fake answers
furniture from the white house
travelgate
whitewater
Vince Foster
Monica
Bill
Socks
Buddy
Anti semitic remarks
her F word bombs
Norman Hsu

I could go on and on but we'll cut to the chase:

Hillary Clinton's Senate Record....

In five years as the most influential Democrat in the Senate, Hillary has managed to get the following laws and resolutions enacted:

• Establish the Kate Mullany National Historic Site

• Support the goals and ideals of Better Hearing and Speech Month

• Recognize the Ellis Island Medal of Honor

• Name courthouse after Thurgood Marshall

• Name courthouse after James L. Watson

• Name post office after John A. O'Shea

• Designate August 7, 2003, as National Purple Heart Recognition Day

• Support the goals and ideals of National Purple Heart Recognition Day

• Honor the life and legacy of Alexander Hamilton on the bicentennial of his death

• Congratulate the Syracuse University Orange Men's Lacrosse Team on winning the championship.

• Congratulate the Le Moyne College Dolphins Men's Lacrosse Team on winning the championship

• Establish the 225th Anniversary of the American Revolution Commemorative Program

• Name post office after Sergeant Riayan A. Tejeda

• Honor Shirley Chisholm for her service to the nation and express condolences on her death

• Honor John J. Downing, Brian Fahey, and Harry Ford, firefighters who lost their lives on duty.

Bringing a man who was unfaithful to his wife and got HIV in the process just shows the poor taste her when it comes to picking people. Sandy Berger is another.
Bringing in anti union people into her campaign to make her look like she is pro union is a bit stupid as well.

When all fails, bring your mother......
However that picture on drudge should remind everyone how badly she is aging from this campaign....

And it is only December 2007......

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 12:22 PM)

Van, that study doesn't suggest bias at all, but rather, media coverage. You trying to use it to suggest bias is incorrect. The flaw in that study: it doesn't compare the accuracy of positive vs negative coverage. Maybe Obama had more positive coverage because he is positive and isn't bogged down in dirt. And maybe Clinton had more negative coverage because she is always stirring the pot and is bogged down in dirt.

Don't be so silly Van.

Ron, TX (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 12:23 PM)

Peter T.

When was the last time George Bush had a drug test ---
and IQ test? can he read written material yet? or pronounce Nuclear now?

CJ Los Angeles (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 12:23 PM)

lol- you folks are so biased about Hillary it is unreal, i think that the media has had a hand in it and you all have just bought into it, but the reason is some of you don't know, all you know is what you read about, have you ever thought about just treating them all fairly?and listen with an open mind? most of you were babies or in diapers when Bill was in office so how does that make you able to judge her?shame on you all

pearl elliott,Elizabethtown,Ky. (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 12:23 PM)

While I consider Joe Biden to be the best candidate for president due to his emotional maturity, his intelligence, and the wisdom he has gained in his life, I recognize that each person, whether they consider themselves a religionist, an atheist, a scientist, a philospher, or a libertine who has no philosophy at all except that of the survival of the fittest, each person has their own vision and interpretation of what represents a Heaven or Hell on earth. And each voter in any country will vote for the person who most represents their interpretation and vision of these things. One can not divorce behavior, actions, attitudes, or their vote from their personal philosophy either as individuals or in a group setting. I don't pay much attention to polls for this reason simply because I think they ask the wrong questions. This is I am a registered Independent.

Geri, Mead, OK (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 12:24 PM)

The National Enquire/Drudge Report. These are the periodicals that you haters are hinging your credibility on? Now I know why America is in such pathetic shape. Americans believe everything they hear and everything they read. What a joke.

Kristian O (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 12:25 PM)

i truly feel like Hillary has the best experience in todays times to correct and heal this country

pearl elliott,Elizabethtown,Ky. (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 12:27 PM)

Actually delve into the platforms of these people and look what they will try to do for the country not your personal special interest and quit letting the idiot boxes your watching tell you how to vote. Think for yourselves.

Ron Paul for 08

Rodney Lindale, Ga. (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 12:28 PM)

"The reality is that polling on the telephone is becoming more difficult; caller id and the widespread use of cell phones are affecting response rates."

"It is illegal for polling firms to call cell phones, coupling that with the rapidly increasing rate of cell phone use and the gradual decrease of land lines, the polling industry will face a crisis within a decade."

"As an industry, we must adapt to the future or face extinction, because the telephone will not always be a valid method of conducting random samples."

John Zogby, of the polling company Zogby International, September 17, 2004

http://www.zogby.com/news/ReadNews.dbm?ID=866

Face it, polls are shit. Let's talk about the issues and the candidates until the votes are actually cast.

Andrew, Miami, FL (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 12:28 PM)

We need a Victory for Liberty!
Vote for the only true patriot. RON PAUL!

Brian, FL (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 12:29 PM)

The other candidates have had a ton of negative press, but the pro-Hillary folks seem to have memories of an goldfish.

Nicholas-

For the third time, I think, I'll post the same link I have before and ask you whether you think this study was done by goldfish...

http://www.journalism.org./node/8187

Obama got the lion's share of positive press. Clinton was slammed three times as often. Do you disagree with the findings?

Do you disagree with Kurtz's take on the current media narrative? As a Clinton supporter, I am probably as guilty as the supporters of the other candidates of being overly sensitive to negative press about Hillary, but a simple viewing of a show like 'Hardball", does much to support Kurtz's contentions.

Can you name a network or media outlet or chattering class roundtable or nightly show that is devoted to bashing Obama or Edwards or any of the other democratic candidates the way that "Hardball", is devoted to smearing Hillary?

President Clinton lamented the paucity of in-depth coverage of the issues in the campaign and used the study I've linked above to support his argument. Big Media accused him of complaining that they weren't covering Hillary's policies and positions, exclusively. This is patently and obviously false.

They willfully misinterpreted his statement and tailored it to fit the chosen media narrative. His statement was about the MEDIA COVERAGE of the candidates, it was a legitimate complaint that was supported by the study linked above, and a scathing indictment of the shallowness of the media's coverage to be sure. The distortion of his meaning and the following attack from Big Media did a lot to prove his point for him.
It's one thing to be in a goldfish bowl, but when people are shooting at the goldfish, it isn't their memories that need to be questioned.

Van

vanreuter, NY NY (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 12:31 PM)

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