They don’t usually lie about the numbers. They try to get it right.
While I believe otherwise (at least for the major MSM sans Fox), that's not the point.
Despite "trying", they get it wrong. This influences the downstream vote. This amounts to election tampering.
And the fact that they get it wrong consistently overestimating the results for "their candidates" (make no mistake they have them!), is a telling observation to any fair observer.
The MSM push for instant gratification on election night is skewing peoples voting....it did in 2000 and damn near cost us the election. It was less determinate in 2004, but was still evident.
Tonight, CNN ran with Romneys numbers consistently 20,000 less than the State was reporting on their excellent website.
Maybe your partially right...."they were trying..."