Why hasn't CNN called Pennsylvania?

[JonLP24]

The lead is now over 28,000 I thought it was supposed to only get bigger?

[Hoyt]

1. Bill Maher called it tonight. Good enough for me.

[DesertRat]

2. Here's NBC's response

.@NBCNews Decision Desk's John Lapinski notes: “This particular year, there are just so many curveballs that have been thrown our way that we really are taking a little bit more time to make sure that we understand exactly what we're seeing and analyzing it.”

Link to tweet

[NRaleighLiberal]

4. pretty weak sauce there.

[RockRaven]

3. Tension/anxiety/suspense are good for ratings. That's what they care about.

They don't care about truth, informing the public, journalism, patriotism, democracy, or any of that.

They want just people to watch. Because watchers = revenue. That's it. So they pursue the most fruitful avenue of capturing/manipulating the audience at any given moment. In this moment that means not calling the election.

[coti]

23. I really think it's much more about fear

I've always seen fear as a much more powerful emotion than even greed.

[MomInTheCrowd]

5. Because we can't trust the GOP MF's

[regnaD kciN]

6. There are almost TEN TIMES the outstanding vote...

...(absentee and provisional) as the current margin. Even though the vast majority of those are from “blue” areas, you’d be nuts to call it until that ratio decreases drastically.

[Statistical]

9. And yet in 2016 they called WI with 0.4% margin with 7% of the vote outstanding.

[uponit7771]

13. +1

[TheRealNorth]

25. they did that

based on the voting pattern of the counties that were yet to report.

In general, I am pretty cautious and of the opinion that its not over until the number of remaining uncounted ballots is less than the margin of votes separating the two candidates.

[coti]

24. Those aren't the number of outstanding ballots as I understand it. Nt

[Brainfodder]

7. Because it's this asshole (DJT), they are crossing all Ts and dotting all Is and checking it thrice?

Air tight to call it? NO doubts whatsoever by counting every vote?
Getting it right?
Delays the expected BS a bit longer, so prepared better?
There appears no path, that is all that matters!

[tanyev]

14. I think you're referring to Trump and not the person who posted,

but you might want to clarify that because this got alerted.

[JonLP24]

18. Not by me

I knew who the poster was referring to.

[Brainfodder]

20. Definitely referring to Death Count Donnie!

Saw how one might read it, differently.

[greenjar_01]

8. The call should not be taking various legal challenges into account

Who will end up with more votes, given the ballots that have been counted and the ballots remaining? Given the 27,800 Biden lead, Trump would have to carry a large majority of the remaining vote to catch up. He's not even gong to carry a bare majority of it, and may even be under at the rate he has to be over, and everybody - including the NBC Decision Desk - knows it.

[SCantiGOP]

10. Here's why they won't call it:

“And we’re calling Florida for Al Gore. He will be the next President of the United States.”

That, and it keeps their ratings up a few more days.

[cwydro]

16. Ha.

Memories...

[horacio]

11. Time to tweet

I think it's time we start tweeting at the networks, they are just a mix of ratings grabbing and cowardice right now.

[gopiscrap]

29. welcome to DU

[miyazaki]

12. It's turned into some bad limited series like on Netflix or something.

[live love laugh]

15. Because Republicans in the media and red states are trying to steal it. nt

[littlemissmartypants]

17. I'm thinking of it as murder by inches.

I want him to suffer through the counting of each and every vote against him. May they multiply and may the cumulative effects break the proverbial camel's back.

Amen

[StarryNite]

19. Cliff hangers bring people back for more.

[relayerbob]

21. They are playing chicken with Fox. Period nt

[Native]

28. I'd love to see Fox call it first.

[halfulglas]

22. What are they supposed to call it?

Sorry, I couldn't resistant that.

The reason why CNN or MSNBC haven't called it is that they are afraid of being wrong and being mocked later for jumping the gun. The networks with all their tech (and for that matter we citizens) are not used to the relatively low tech paper ballots and how much time they can consume, especially with how some of the GOP designated poll watchers can slow things down even more by nitpicking some of the counting.

The states are being super careful because of Trump's threats ahead of time signaling his intent to litigate the hell out of anything he can to cheat his way to bringing it to the SC to see if he can lean on the justices he feels owe him their jobs. So the counting is being more transparent than usual.

[MFM008]

26. one reason?

[wishstar]

27. Over 200,000 votes left to be counted so they want more results first to be sure

Last edited Sat Nov 7, 2020, 05:37 AM - Edit history (1)

After all the accusations of bias and fake news from T., media doesn't want to be accused of stealing election from Trump so they are letting the counting play out thoroughly to stand on its own without media jumping in prematurely