Can we get those five months back?

Posted: Sunday, August 31, 2008 7:10 PM by Mark Murray

From NBC's Mark Murray and Domenico Montanaro
For exactly five months -- from Jan. 3 to June 3 -- we covered more than 50 Democratic primary races. And during that stretch of time, almost every Tuesday (and even some weekends) would bring us a different round of contests, for which we'd stay at work past midnight, analyze each and every exit poll, breathlessly weigh each candidate's strengths and weaknesses, and forecast their delegate hauls.

There were the initial Iowa and New Hampshire contests. Then Nevada and South Carolina. Super Tuesday. Chesapeake Tuesday. Wisconsin. Junior Super Tuesday (Ohio, Texas). Pennsylvania. Indiana and North Carolina. West Virginia. Kentucky and Oregon. Puerto Rico! And finally Montana and South Dakota.

That long -- and exhausting -- nominating process enabled Obama to win a majority of pledged delegates, then more superdelegates, and finally the nomination.

But during Wednesday's roll-call vote at the Democratic convention, which was capped when Clinton moved to nominate Obama by acclamation, this thought came to mind: None of those contests actually mattered, at least when it came to the eventual numbers.

The first evidence of that was when Arizona, a state Clinton won on Super Tuesday, announced that Obama picked up 48 delegates to Clinton's 27. Next, Arkansas -- a state Clinton carried by winning 70% of the vote -- backed Obama unanimously.

And remember that divisive fight over Florida and Michigan, which culminated in that Rules and Bylaws Committee meeting in DC? Well, for Florida, Obama won 136 delegates to Clinton's 51. And for Michigan, where Obama's name wasn't even on the ballot, the Illinois senator hauled in 125 delegates to Clinton's 27.

Of course, those tallies would have been much different had Clinton not suspended her candidacy more than two months ago.

Nevertheless, Wednesday did make even us political junkies wonder: Can we get those five months back?

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Comments

All good things must come to an end.

Maybe you should do your REAL JOB and report about the hero's TRUE POW record and how he was nicknamed songbird, had a personal 'PRIVATE' nurse and broke his own arms whe ejecting from his plane that he flew after a night of heavy drinking.

Give the POWs a voice so they can tell it like it was!

Then investigate the BABY Gate, because the last thing we need is for someone to come in the door lying to the American people.
THen you can publicize the stupid and potentially harmful gaffs and horrible cowboy mentality of mccain (even reported by his Rep. friends).

Report some of that, why don't you?

That ought to keep you busy until November... if you have the guts to be a REAL reporter, that is...

Keep it REAL, KC, Mo. (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 7:24 PM)

Wrong. All the primaries and caucuses mattered. The fact that the final tally at a convention meant to nominate the winner and launch the general election campaign was different than the count you reported for those five months is not important.

In the end the tally is only logged for book-keeping purposes.

Now the question is can you get back the 5 minutes it took you to write that piece.

Dave, Boston, MA (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 7:25 PM)

My God John McCain is playing Russian Roulette with the Security of the American People and his Republican Party doesn’t even care.

Louis, Toledo Ohio (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 7:26 PM)

Proof once again that we should adopt the British system of elections: only six weeks of campaigning, and a direct vote count rather than playing state-by-state Electoral hopscotch.

Alex Tucker, Chattanooga, TN (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 7:26 PM)

Wow, what a fatuous post. Sorry that democracy interfered with your private life. Find another job.

Martin (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 7:26 PM)

Exactly... The delegates lacked the courage to listen to the voters. Why in the world would anyone vote for someone who won based on this much fraud.

Brian (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 7:28 PM)

What was the actual final roll call tally? I do recall Senator Clinton saying that they would all be counted.

Congrats again to Barack.

Terry, New York (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 7:31 PM)

Of course the most interesting thing is we got to vett Obama over that period and more. With Palin we get a Pennsylvania primary.

One interesting thing is the degree to which every conservative talking head, pundit, surrogate and strategist seems to be enthusiastically onboard with McCain's pick and how they all seem to be reciting the same talking points.

Ian (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 7:32 PM)

Brian, you've completely missed the point. Barack Obama won the nomination fairly. In no way did he cheat. He simply made the tactical decision to not ignore the caucuses like Sen. Clinton did.

The fuzzy Clinton math during the primaries tried to claim that she won more votes, but do your research and it is very clear that no legitimate calculation of the votes suggests that to be true. Her team made the very dumb political calcuation to ignore the states that hold caucuses and she lost the nomination because of it. It was simply bad strategy. SHE has now realized that she must own her own mistakes and has heartily endorsed Sen. Obama.

So if you're a supporter of Sen. Clinton's, it's time to move beyond the disappointment of losing and do what Sen. Clinton has done---focus on what's right for the country.

David, Plantation, FL (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 7:37 PM)

chuck, please look into sarah palin's fifth child. does he even have ds? Andrew sullivan is all on it. c'mon get ahead on this story quickly before someone else beats you to it

baby (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 7:43 PM)

Of course their votes mattered - all votes matter.
Once a nominee was decided it's natural to feel that your vote wasn't as important. In the end the party came together - harder to accept for some - but most do for the better of the party. This is not unique to this campaign year - it's just that this year had so many "firsts" and was important to so many people for those reasons.

Marcia Gerber, Moline, IL (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 7:43 PM)

Keep it real... Why complain about a reporters ideas when that is the purpose of First Read, I'm just glad that they are willing to include me in their thought processes. I certainly would not know what I needed to know to make an informed decision without someone to organize topic so I can pick what effects my life: like the election of a new President.

Susan, Aberdeen NC (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 7:43 PM)

Those weeks and months did matter. We the people got to decide who should be nominated for president. The candidates were put to a long a grueling test that will hopefully prepare the eventual winner to be President of the United States. That is why John McCain's pick of Gov. Palin as his VP is insulting to all of us who paid attention and cared about this election. His instance that her time on the City Council and as Mayor of Wasilla qualifies her to be a heart beat away from being President of the United States is insulting. Barack Obama had to win primaries and cauceses across this nation. It is not up to John McCain to say that he is inexperienced, it is up to we the people. I would submit that John McCain's pick for VP shows his inexperience and disdain for the people of this nation.

No More Frat Boys for President, MA (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 7:53 PM)

Boo f'n hoo.

Waaaah... I wasted five months of my life doing my job... waaah.

http://www.rodneyhopper.com

Rodney Hopper, Waxahachie, TX (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 8:04 PM)

No, you can't get them back but what you can do is your jobs....start vetting Palin before it's too late.
How in the world does someone none of us know, who was mayor of a tiny town and then gov for 19 mos of a state with a population less than some of our cites, with zero national or foreign experience become a VP choice without information. Obama had to jump thru hoops...where are the videos of McCain stating his inexperience, where are the videos of McCain stating that the no. 1 criteria for his vp is the ability to step into the job on day 1 if necessary...where is the information being reported in the alaskan papers that Palin's approval ratings are dropping and that even her mother in law doesn't think she is qualified and is not sure who she will vote for...do you jobs!

Sue, NY (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 8:12 PM)

John Mc did not pick her. Karl Rove did.

Doesn't it bother anyone else beside her being a heartbeat away from the president that she has (?) a special needs child that she is scraficing to run for VP. Family values I think not.

SD Grandmother (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 8:12 PM)

I started last September - when the Sox began losing steam but then were able to recover to end the regular season - to the baseball playoffs - to the World Series - to going through the Patriots' unbelievable season - then to the Super Bowl crash - to the extraordinary primaries - to the Celtics Title. Non-stop.

What a year!

Thanks guys for First Read. It's obvious you all work very hard. I suspect Chuck, Mark & Domenico are conservatives, but so what. And if you are, then you put up with an awful lot. So thank you for allowing us an opportunity to voice our opinions, some polite, some not so polite.

You all seem okay with just about anything within reason. You do a great job. This blog is run very professionally.

And for that I thank you.

Pat, Boston, MA (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 8:32 PM)

Actually, the very curious questions about Sarah Palin's baby first showed up on the DailyKos. And a good case can be made! These questions need to be asked and answered.
As for the long primary with the results we saw last week........ thank Hillary. She's savvy enough to have known she lost in early March. She (and the media) did not have to drag us through all that.

Linda in Oregon (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 8:36 PM)

So you're saying the press doesn't want to report what REALLY happened...that after months of vetting a group of highly qualified candidates Democrats realized they could come together behind Barack Obama. How much more satisfying it would be for you if you could only report the Dems in disarray and McCain on a roll.

John B, Des Moines, IA (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 8:41 PM)

What will McCain's next act of desperation turn out to be. He already has convinced Dubya and the Dick not to appear at the convention. Let's see, might he, just might he convince Sarah Plain and Tall to not show up? It wouldn't surprise me!

A.Brocco,Albuquerque,NM (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 8:52 PM)

Mark Murray and Domenico Montanaro are 2 goofballs. The Obama/Clinton race was over in Jan. unless Hillary pulled 90% of remaining delegates. Reporters like these 2 created a false sense of drama by not reporting the facts every day.

Igor (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 9:10 PM)

People, to expect the media/ap to do their jobs is
believing in the tooth fairy. They have been so
biased for mccain it is pathetic.
They cover up his blunders, do not report his lies,
and totally ignored his knowing the questions ahead
of time at the so called religious debate.
The man is a fraud and to make the irresponsible,
dangerous, pandering decision on a vp is the last
straw. But will the media question the vetting, etc?
NO.
ENOUGH!!

katiec Pekin, IL (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 9:27 PM)

This is a clear indication of John Mc's desperation..!!! He's a drwoning man, cluthing at any straw, however, hopelessely :)

RMR (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 9:34 PM)

Too much analyzing on nothing-we all are together-we care about social security, healthcare, jobs, income, etc! Get a clue and don't think the power of big business is going to work this time. Especially after McSames pitiful pick for VP.

Cherie Kansas City MO (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 9:47 PM)

Mark,

I've lost track of by now how many posts you've made complaining of how "exhausting" all this is for you, bemoaning when you'll ever get "caught up on sleep", etc. etc.

No doubt there have been some long hours for you, but PLEASE understand that the continual references to the difficulties of your job do very little to add value to your posts.

With full irony intended, I say please give it a rest, ok? I think we get it.

David, Vermont (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 10:18 PM)

C'mon! You got paid, didn't you? We readers to whom you fed lots of sensational junk are the ones who need those 5 months back. Go on and do some serious reporting over the next two months, and call out politicians when they make false claims. Such as when Rick Davis tried to say today that Obama is politicking while McCain is single-handedly putting the country first and fighting Gustavo(after he and Cindy appeared on TV separately), or such as when the Obama camp misrepresents McCain's positions. Grow up and be responsible journalists rather than whine about the 5 months of callous sensational reporting that you gave us.

John Chumma, NC (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 10:38 PM)

Trade you my five months of (unsuccessfully) looking for a job. And though I wouldn't dare say I'd have done a better job at your job than you did, we both know a lot of people would say that.

By the way, what does a political reporter pull in a month? I'm sure it can't be as easy as it looks, but...

Chris C (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 11:03 PM)

seriously guys... i honestly cant believe you even posted this silly "5 months back" request. not only does it add nothing to the "news" that you are supposed to be covering, its just plain silly (not in a good way)...

please Chuck, get back to what made 'first read' the first site i check every day... as it has sharply gone down hill... which is a shame.

NBC has not been the same since timmy russert (RIP) has passed.. not only does it show in the ratings (now last in political covergae... was never the case when he was runnign things)... but the quality has gone down dramatically...

c'mon Chuck... i expect more from you.

BIG franky, Rochester NY (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 11:07 PM)

John Chumma, NC (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 11:12 PM)

Oh stop whining and get a grip!Get over it!If McCain had picked someone you had expected,you'd be attacking them on some other issue.But he didn't and now it doesn't fit into the playbook,so you're being a bunch of babies.I'm more concerned about Obama being a beat away than a vice president being a heartbeat away.

brenda, Dallas,Tx. (Sent Sunday, August 31, 2008 11:22 PM)

Was it really only 5 months? I'd personally like to thank ya'll for keeping us informed of all the issues behind the issues and hope you don't stop now. As a Republicrat who will be voting for Obama/Biden, I am amazed at how many on our local blog think Palin is a a great pick. As someone noted above, we will depend on ya'll news junkies to quickly vet her as thoroughly as was Obama.

Sandra, Tenn (Sent Monday, September 01, 2008 12:30 AM)

I agree wit Rodney Hopper -- if you folks want to whine about getting paid to do your job, find another line of work.

The process is the process. Write about something that matters, like McSame picking a VP nominee who s unqualified and to the right of Atilla the Hun!

Obama 08

Jack Tracey, Roseville, CA (Sent Monday, September 01, 2008 2:05 AM)

What happened on the floor of the convention happened as the result of all those primaries and caucuses. Now you say they didn't matter -- just because Clinton lost and released her delegates? If I recall back on day one Clinton was the clear favorite. Sometime between then and the convention, something sure happened.

Jason, RI (Sent Monday, September 01, 2008 3:16 AM)

I don't the Chuck was too serious about this post. I think he's just saying the primary was stretched out much longer than it should have been.

But I'm glad it was long... I think it kept Obama sharp. With all that the McCain campaign is throwing at him... Hillary was still worse.

Finally, McCain's veep pick is a twisted joke. If he calls putting that soccer mom one heart beat away from being COMMANDER AND CHIEF "putting the country first" he doesn't deserve to have any political office any more. That's not a maverick move. That's a threat to national security!

XO (Sent Monday, September 01, 2008 3:53 AM)

It was a wild ride wasn't it? If only all primaries were so interesting...

Brandon, Seattle, WA (Sent Monday, September 01, 2008 4:38 AM)

You folks do an excellent job bringing us up to date on news and analysis. You carefullly followed Clinton and Obama and now it is time you invesitage Palin, quickly, so that we may all learn as much about her as the other candidates and we depend on your reporting, insignt, and analysis. I know it means long hours, but it it so important! And we do depend on you. Please give her your attention and scrutiy and the quality invetigative reporting and analysis you are known for. This is such an important electiion. We all need to know as much as we can to make an informed decicision. At the same time, please keep Obabma and Biden on your mental and public screen. They should not disappear from the public eye because of this latest news. Thank you. NO POSTING PLEASE.

Corinne Carter, Richland, Washington (Sent Monday, September 01, 2008 4:58 AM)

It's very interesting how angry and easily irritated all of you liberals become the second a conservative states their case. Is it because your party's ideas of democratic socialism are so hard to defend that the second your shallow thinking is challenged your frustration turns to anger? We'll see how you respond to my comment because I believe that those five months were best thing that could have ever happened to the Republican cause. Your candidates destroyed each other and then the Dems voted in the most inexperienced far left liberal in the bunch that doesn't even know what reaching across the aisle means. You had some good choices but the media fell in love with him and like lambs to the slaughter so did you all. Well all I can say, is thanks helping us hold onto the Whitehouse I'm sure John will do a much better job than his predecessor, so don't cry too loud on November 5th and tell Barack Hussien Obama to come back when he grows up. Man did you guys do Hillary wrong...I don't know if she'll ever forgive you.

Mark Lenz, Adams,Tennesee (Sent Monday, September 01, 2008 6:01 AM)

I was quite aggravated to see that my vote in the primary wasn't even counted, due to that sham roll call.

http://qritiq.wordpress.com

qritiq, Roslyn, NY (Sent Monday, September 01, 2008 6:06 AM)

I think what mattered was not what the score was in the end, but what the result was. Obama won. If a few states had gone slightly differently Hillary would have won, and the roll call might have happened very differently. The GOP I would imagine will nominate McCain by acclamation, not even bothering with a roll call, so at least the DNC had an attempt ot pretend like who the delegates supported in the primaries mattered.

markymark, MA (Sent Monday, September 01, 2008 6:11 AM)

It does not matter what you think. Our party SCREWED Hillary because she is a woman. Nothing more nothing less.
The platforms of Obama and Hillary are so simmilar. Here is your choice. Sexism or Racism.

Sara Smith, Seattle (Sent Monday, September 01, 2008 7:29 AM)

Senator Obama Won, Just as Michael Phelps won by 1/100th of a second, He Won. No one can take that from him. Senator Obama won, becuase he won more primaries and delegate votes. No matter how small of a margin, He Won. This article sounds just a little politically bias for Senator Clinton. The Democratic Convention is over, the nominee selected, so let's go forward "united" to elect Senator Barack Obama President!

NChurch, Washington DC (Sent Monday, September 01, 2008 8:22 AM)

Some of us kept saying that the MSM was doing the public a disservice by not understanding the rules of the contests and allowing artificial measures (rhetoric) to drive emotions and perceptions of success. My fear is that something similar will happen during the general. The media preoccupation with finding and creating drama and conflict will overshadow reality. The consequence, I fear, will be that emotions will be unnecessarily inflammed and whoever wins will be unable to govern, which means nothing will get solved. The electorate needs the truth and not entertainment.

Robert in Virginia (Sent Monday, September 01, 2008 8:38 AM)

The loss of Tim Russert's wisdom and guidance sure is evident here. Obviously if those five months had ended with a different conclusion then what happened at the convention would have changed as well. The months were not "lost", so stop crying in your company paid for beer.

John, Morgan Hill, California (Sent Monday, September 01, 2008 8:45 AM)

Obama won! Stop being pathetic by trying to imply that he didn't! The lesson from this election cycle is that we don't have impartial reporting! In effect, we have a press corp that is controlled by the Republican owned media. You need not throw rocks at the Chinese Media. You are no better and in many ways you are worse because you prtend to be impartial.

Linda, Atlanta, GA (Sent Monday, September 01, 2008 8:54 AM)

Maybe try vetting McCain fully for once First Read.

Walt, Ohio (Sent Monday, September 01, 2008 10:40 AM)

What truly mattered, in order of importance:

1. Iowa. A state with essentially no African-Americans chose Obama. Heretofore presumed winner Clinton was third. The race was now on.

2. Super Tuesday, Feb. 5. Originally thought to be the end of the primaries in Clinton's favor. Instead, a tie. Clinton's game plan devastated.

3. The rest of February. With Clinton failing to close the deal on Super Tuesday, Obama ran off 11 consecutive primary and caucus wins to take a delegate lead Clinton could never erase.

Malama Makena (Sent Monday, September 01, 2008 1:18 PM)

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