CNN Presidential Election calls 1992-2012: a timeline study

Statistikhengst

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Nov 21, 2013
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CNN Presidential Election calls 1992-2012: a timeline study

This thread is a good, solid tool for people who like election information. The link above takes you to the study.

As far as I know, this is the only study of this kind that you can find on the internet, compliments of Statistikhengst. I have been looking through the internet for 6 months now, and have yet to find another study like it.

Go take a look at it - it compares the timelines of election calls from CNN over 6 cycles. There are links to 6 individual timetables, plus a link to a large excel table that compares them in many way. For each individual state +DC over 6 cycles, the exact amound of delay time is also calculated. The EXCEL data is sorted in three ways:

-chronologically, by poll closing time.
-alphabetically, by state name
-by frequency of having been called immediately.

Frequency is probably going to be the most interesting table to look at.

Sometimes, very noticeable patterns appear.

I also took all of the timelines and then concentrated only on the rolling electoral vote totals, by half-hour, and put them in one handy table to read.

Based on the data, I generated some interesting maps. This is an example:

1992-201224statescalledimmediatelyvariation2-CNN_zps605ac8b5.jpg


(the reason for the green coloring you can find at the link) :)

It was also fascinating to see how the reporting format of CNN changed over time - that is not what this particular study was about - that will be coming out in 2014.

When you go through the video -as I did- and examine what is actually said, you hear certain phrases that were often spoken, many of which have been changed with time. Today, we are used to hearing the phrase that "No Republican has ever won the White House without winning Ohio", but through 2000, the phrase was actually "No Republican has ever won the White House without winning Ohio AND Illinois". But as soon as it was apparent that another Democrat other than Bill Clinton could handily win the Land of Lincoln, then Jeff Greenfield changed the phrase.

But the next time a buddy asks you exactly when, for instance, Arizone was called for whom, when, you have a reference tool back to 1992!

Here a small electoral tidbit for you:

By the way, Mitt Romney set an electoral record in Arkansas in 2012: This is the first time in television history that Arkansas has been called immediately for a Republican candidate. In fact, this is first time EVER that Arkansas has been called immediately for a Republican.


And the rationale for doing such a study?

Well, it helps to cut through a lot of propaganda. Having to wait 2 hours to see Minnesota called for a Democratic candidate does not mean that the state is in danger, at least until now.. Ditto Texas for the Republicans, also at least until now.

And it gives us a baseline to imagine how reporting in 2016 would like like, assuming that conditions remain as they are.

If in 2016 the networks can't call Vermont right away, then it is probably going to be the "Night of Long Knives" for the Democratic candidate.

Likewise, if the networks can call Ohio and or Florida immediately for the Democratic candidate, ala 1996, then those famous knives will be pointed squarely at the Republicans.

For me, three of the most critical new battleground states to watch - and also to watch the electoral call times, will be Virginia, Colorado and North Carolina. Combined, those three states have almost as many electors (37) as Texas (38).

Quite logically, if one candidate is losing badly, then his states will generally take a long time to call. If it is a tight race, then the delay in call time does indeed play a role in seeing who is most likely ahead.
 
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In 2016 I plan on voting for Porky Pig?


Uh, which one would that be on your side? :) :)

(Haley Barbour could also jump into the ring, you know)...

I'm going independent with the PP vote, so it could be anyone.


I think (and this is not meant facetiously at all, it is genuine) that every US-American of voting age SHOULD vote, and for the person he or she wants. You gotta make the choiice that is right for you, regardless of what others want.

If you do go independent, surely there will be some names to pick from. The Libertarian Party, the American Independent Party, the Socialist Party, the Constitution Party - they are all out there, plus the pssibility of write-in votes, the rules for which vary from state to state.
 

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