Inside.com Publishes Exit Polling Data

November 7, 2000 1:41 PM

Inside.com Publishes Exit Polling Data (4:09 p.m. EST) George W. Bush appears to hold a slight popular-vote lead 49-48 percent. Al Gore is ahead in Florida, Illinois, Maine, Michigan, New Jersey, California and Washington. Bush holds an edge in New Hampshire, West Virginia, Ohio, Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, New Mexico, Wisconsin and Iowa. Minnesota and Pennsylvania are, crucially, too close to call. One freaky scenario being bandied about: the race ends in an electoral college tie, 269-269. In Senate races, Hillary Clinton is ahead in New York. Incumbents Ashcroft, Grams, Roth, Robb, and McCollum are losing. In Michigan, Abraham is tied.
posted by josholalia (16 comments total)

I don't think I like the idea of having this data pushed in my face. It's nice to be able to vote without already knowing what the standings are.

It's one thing to have a link that I can choose to ignore. It's quite another to throw them on a general topic message board I like to read.

Thanks for the spoiler warning......
posted by y6y6y6 at 2:03 PM on November 7, 2000

I'm not sure if I want to know all this now or not. While I already voted, I don't particularly trust exit polls, although maybe they're more accurate than I imagine.

Plus it's fun to watch it unfold on TV. Or have I just become a shill for the entertainment industry?
posted by daveadams at 2:04 PM on November 7, 2000

Please do not update this post with further information later. This whole idea is a rotten one, which is why in an amazing feat of self-restraint, all the major networks refuse to release it even though they know what it is. Getting that agreement among them was damned hard, but it's important for the democratic process out here in the West that this info not be publicized while the polls are open.
posted by Steven Den Beste at 2:11 PM on November 7, 2000

Sorry, Steven, I disagree with you on this one. Thousands of conservatives on Free Republic have this information. Why shouldn't everyone else?

Here's the latest Free Republic thread with a mirror of the Drudge Report.
posted by rcade at 2:43 PM on November 7, 2000

RealClearPolitics, another conservative site, is running preliminary exit poll results.
posted by rcade at 2:47 PM on November 7, 2000

[Cross-posting with Steven's thread]

Well, sorry about that folks. It was a hasty post on my part. And, being a gamer, I try to be sensitive to the needs of "no spoiler" folks. So, in that vein, I'm taking a bite o' humble pie.



That said, I live on the Left Coast and exit polling data doesn't affect me at all. I research what candidate I want to vote for and decide. This particular race is so close, and the data so sketchy that anyone who sees the incredibly close results should actually be motivated to get out and VOTE. The usual argument I've heard is that upon seeing the exit polls -- in a typical, clearly decided race -- Left Coast Voter are disheartened and disinclined to participate.



In this particular race, I think it would be just the opposite: It's so close that Left Coast Voters should be MOTIVATED -- your vote counts even more.



I found this story from someone who has exit poll data to be an interesting discussion of the travails of deciding.
posted by josholalia at 2:59 PM on November 7, 2000

So a fair election is not the important thing here? The important thing is that we are bombarded with information?

Are you really saying that the real travesty would be for voters to not know how the majority are voting before they cast their own vote?

How is this a good thing for the voting process?

You seem to be saying, "This info should be here because some other assholes are doing it." What a load of crap.
posted by y6y6y6 at 3:03 PM on November 7, 2000

No, I'm saying that several hundred thousand Americans with Internet access have this information, so there's no compelling reason to hide it from everyone else.
posted by rcade at 3:08 PM on November 7, 2000

Please post in this thread any exit data you find.

Thanks.
posted by capt.crackpipe at 3:15 PM on November 7, 2000

Well I'm one of those several hundred thousand Americans with Internet access, and I wish it hadn't been posted. Anywhere. There's a good reason why the networks wait.

You are saying that since someone is being irresponsible that there's no reason for others to be responsible.
posted by y6y6y6 at 3:24 PM on November 7, 2000

According to a Freep thread, National Review is reporting this: "6:05 P.M.: Media Buzz: Black Turnout Stunner: GA, NC Close."
posted by rcade at 3:59 PM on November 7, 2000

More from the same source: "6:28 P.M.: Bushies: Small Rural States Going W.: IA, TN, AR, WV, NM, Maybe OR."
posted by rcade at 3:59 PM on November 7, 2000

Ugh. Closing the link.
posted by rcade at 5:14 PM on November 7, 2000

Well, it turns out to be a moot point. Over 40 votes worth of closed-poll states are "to close to call".
posted by Ptrin at 5:51 PM on November 7, 2000