Uhm, about the exit polls...

Television networks proceed cautiously with rebuilt exit polling system

DAVID BAUDER, AP Television Writer

Wednesday, November 3, 2004

(11-03) 02:35 PST NEW YORK (AP) --

(excerpt)

Before polls had closed, the exit poll information that had once been available only to a privileged few was racing around the Internet. Television reporters tried, with varying degrees of success, not to reflect that information so as not to influence voters.

Those early numbers looked so positive for Kerry that Fox News Channel analyst Jim Pinkerton, at 3:30 p.m. EST, said, "I think it looks good for angry Democrats."

And on evening news programs, some correspondents subtly telegraphed the polls. NBC's David Gregory said Bush "appeared subdued," while Moran noted the president had expressed a "rare sense of doubt."

Later on Fox, analysts talked openly about how some actual results contradicted exit polls numbers.

Ah, yes, the *actual* results. Right. I completely trust the *actual* results.

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