'BIG MEDIA EXIT POLLS MAY BE BOTCHED' (from Drudge)

AP ^ | 11/4/02 | DAVID BAUDER

[nicmarlo]

NEW YORK (AP) - Hours before Election Day, Voter News Service said Monday it still hadn't worked all the bugs out of a new system designed to provide media organizations with exit polling information from voters.

As a precaution, NBC and CBS last weekend began conducting their own joint poll of voter attitudes about the midterm election.

VNS, a consortium consisting of ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, Fox and The Associated Press, counts actual votes and also conducts exit polling in certain precincts. That information is used by its members to project winners in individual races on Election Night.

* * *

VNS has expressed confidence in its ability to tabulate the votes on Tuesday, though its vote counting process had never been tested in its entirety. VNS members have access to a second, independently conducted vote count by the AP.

* * *

The consortium will continue to test the system into Election Day . . .

* * *

The nervousness of some media members about the system was reflected in the new CBS and NBC poll, which gathered voter attitudes about issues Saturday through Monday.

"We remain hopeful that VNS will provide the national poll," said NBC News spokeswoman Barbara Levin. "However, as a precaution, NBC News has been doing our own national polling and we are prepared to use that information."

* * *

CBS News spokeswoman Sandra Genelius described the new poll as a backup. CBS has considered all along that the rebuilding of VNS would be a four-year process and that the system won't be as complete this election.

"The parts that we are confident in, we'll use," she said. "The parts that we are not confident in, we will not use."

ABC News also said it was prepared to go on Election Night without VNS exit polling information. "Any information about which we have any doubt will simply be set aside," spokesman Jeffrey Schneider said.

[nicmarlo]

Get ready for the exit polling spin and early closing misinformation/debacle all over again.

[Freemeorkillme]

This will be closely watched. Timely drudge report.

[berkeleybeej]

Any bets that they will call Florida before the panhandle polling sites are closed?

[nicmarlo]

Yes....the media was called to a Senate hearing over this last time....they promised they would not repeat what they did in Florida, etc., we'll see what they do....but I don't trust them.

[PhiKapMom]

You cannot predict exit polling as to the winners when you have so many states with early voting!

Voter News Service needs to go and as for projecting early that needs to go too!

[Freemeorkillme]

I predict most if not all of these networks will use the skewed/incorrect data knowingly and later blame their exit poll forecasting on technology.

[nicmarlo]

Any bets that they will call Florida before the panhandle polling sites are closed?

They "promised" not to do that again (so, what's the next closest state they could call while the polls are still open and make sure they screw everything up again?)

[Thane_Banquo]

"The parts that we are confident in, we'll use," she said. "The parts that we are not confident in, we will not use."

In other words, "When they show Democrats winning, we'll use them. When they show Republicans winning, we will not use them."

[nicmarlo]

In other words, "When they show Democrats winning, we'll use them. When they show Republicans winning, we will not use them."

Bingo.

[The Wizard]

this is just a cover for the fact they they lkied in the past and withy everyone looking they can't lie

[ladyinred]

These jerks will most likely do exactly what they always do. Find any way to subtly act like the rats are winning all races, to discourage conservatives from going to the polls, or tell who won each race before the polls close.

[Sacajaweau]

We haven't forgot the polls for Florida...kind of a call to Repubs to stay home and relax...The Dems have it in the bag!!

Fool me twice, shame on me!!!

[nicmarlo]

Voter News Service needs to go and as for projecting early that needs to go too!

I almost think there should be some sort of media black out.....

[KSCITYBOY]

VNS wanted to steal the election for Gore in Florida - Then they said that one of their people put the numbers in backwards resulting in the early call for gore - Tonight they said it was a computer glitch. Liberals cheat, lie and steal to gain power - VOTE VOTE VOTE and don't give the bastards a chance.

[nicmarlo]

I predict most if not all of these networks will use the skewed/incorrect data knowingly and later blame their exit poll forecasting on technology

I predict you are 100% correct.

[oyez]

IMHO, exit polling should be illegal, but that would be one more law om the books. The media should just leave polling alone on their own accord.

[nicmarlo]

this is just a cover

This is just a cover so they can help the Rats again.

[nicmarlo]

Liars are real good at inventing more lies (and Satan is the master of lies).

[nicmarlo]

I agree with you....but we all know the media would never just leave it alone; and I don't like the alternative, inventing more laws.....something must be done though.

[clintonh8r]

I see another ***k-up coming...