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Earlier this year, the Center for Media and Public Affairs conducted a survey regarding coverage of the Presidential candidates:
Since mid-December, when the presidential candidates turned their full attention to the Iowa caucuses, Sen. Barack Obama has led the race for good press and Sen. Hillary Clinton has lagged the farthest behind. From Dec 16 through Jan 27 five out of six on-air evaluations of Obama (84%) have been favorable, compared to a bare majority (51%) of evaluations of Mrs. Clinton.
But a new study by the Project for Excellence in Journalism finds that during the week of February 25 - March 2, Obama was coming under increasing media scrutiny. It's an apples-and-oranges affair to compare the two studies, because the PEJ study doesn't try to quantify positive and negative, but they do make this observation:
With no primary contests to consume press attention, Clinton’s charges of a pro-Obama tilt reverberated in the media echo chamber last week. Obama’s life and record came under a heightened degree of scrutiny, with everything from his legislative career to his ties to Louis Farrakhan to his African attire getting a public airing. Obama was the top campaign newsmaker and a significant or dominant factor in 69% of the stories from Feb. 25-March 2, a period between the Feb 19 Wisconsin primary and the March 4 tests in Texas and Ohio. That was the highest level of coverage for any candidate in 2008. And part of it was news outlets—from Good Morning America to The New York Times—engaged in introspective inquiry aimed at answering this headline atop one Feb. 29 newspaper story: “Are the media giving Obama a free ride?”
While some are drawing the conclusion (as the PEJ summary suggests) that this heightened media scrutiny of Obama is the result of Clinton "going negative," I really have a hard time believing that. If memory serves me correctly the Clinton campaign was widely accused of engaging in "racist" campaign tactics around the time of the South Carolina primary, and Bill was everywhere.
Rather, I think we're seeing the evidence that the media has decided that Obama is now the presumptive nominee, and having built him up he must be taken down to make the way for St. John McCain (something I wrote about on February 20).
If Hillary during this time has also had a bounce in the polls, I'll say again that I think it has less to do with anything that she is doing than it does the media rallying around a Republican call-to-arms and continuing their fine tradition of deciding who our next president is going to be.
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hi jane,
i’m writing up what’s been happening as i’ve worked the polls this morning here in austin, tx.
No one has gotten the degree of scrutiny that Hillary has gotten from the MSM. Even Crazy Train having an affair was nothing more than a two day story. It’s amazing. They impeached Bill for an affair but St. McCain gets a pass.
Did Hillary’s negatives get bigger during the press crucifixion? I’ve had this hypothesis that Hillary’s negatives can’t get any higher, but Obama’s can.
OT - just popping in for lunch. I’m in a very democratic precinct in Austin, Texas. CNN’s been at our precinct hanging out interviewing folks. There is a very long line with 12 voting machines. I’ve been going up and down the line asking people if they need information about how the caucus system works. Even people who’ve voted a long time hardly know since very few have gone to a caucus before. We usually have about 40 at our precinct caucuses. As people find out that additional delegates will get apportioned over and above what gets apportioned in the primaries, they are understanding it’s important to come caucus and are planning to come!
It’s like getting to vote twice.
I invented this job for myself this morning when I casually asked a woman who had just voted if she was coming to caucus tonight. She knew her way around the school and was showing me where the gym was in case we get too big to caucus in the cafeteria. She said she wasn’t going to caucus and when I asked why she said she didn’t understand the system. When I explained it to her, she decided to come caucus. Then I realized a lot of people standing in line would also want to know and also have the time to listen.
I came to work for Obama and I still figure this will benefit Obama. My guess is that this precinct will go for him. Of course, standing talking to the people in line I had to be, and was, completely non-partisan. In any case, it’ll activate the Democrats as we have very few Republicans in our precinct.
I’ll be helping with the caucus tonight, signing up delegates and alternates. Our precinct gets 103 to the next level caucus, which is State Senatorial District.
I’ll check in again after the caucus.
Jane’s analysis sounds correct to me.
Way to go, gw!
Thanks, I’m having a blast doing it.
… and we’re back!
Is that like a Zed…? ;-)
so now they believe hillary is more beatable then obama, I think not too long ago they were salavating about running against a black man
I have no idea who is more beatable for them but I do know neither is beatable in a fair election.
and there is the rub, what are the democrats doing to insure a fair election
I’ll buy that explanation.
The idea that the Clinton campaign is in control of the press is a non-starter.
The full fury of the Mighty Wurlitzer has yet to be engaged.
This mystifies me.
The swiftboating has been sporadic at best also.
It is like the Repub adoring MSM is confused, there are no daily faxes being handed to them with talking points for the day and instructions.
The Repubs can’t possibly be in such disarray with the entire media complex at their beck and call, can they?
What press are you reading that provided this “crucifixion”? I must not have enough media access?
I’ve decided to continue flinging poo at the media.
There’s littl point in a focussed attack when the circular poo-firing squad is more engaged daily.
Once a clear front-runner emerges, the game is on.
MSNBC was showing the ‘press room’ for Hill’s Austin rally, the men’s restroom…! A befitting spot for the press, considering they’ve seen their integrity go down the toilet…
Besides I have been chilled to the bone by the process of da Red phone:
It’s always 3AM and ya better be quaking in your boots
So Many Red Phones So Many 3AMs but So Little Time Now!
that lazy ass Tucker just said the opposite of Jane, that indeed HRC has benefited from going negative - yeppers all is right with the world :)
go Greenwarrior go ! we are running 2 to 1 Dem to Pub out here in exurban Williamson County
GOTV
Plain and simple
2000 and 2004 were close enough to shade
Don’t let that happen again
“and there is the rub, what are the democrats doing to insure a fair election”
Boy is it ever (the rub)!
As a resident of Ohio, I’m still not over 2004. It’s like no one that can call the shenanigans of then Secy. of State Blackwell to account give a damn.
If you can’t expect fair elections–for both sides– why bother voting in the first place?
good for you, greenwarrior!
Forgot where I picked this up, but allegedly there was a sign on the Charles River in Cambridge in the 1970s: If voting made a difference, they wouldn’t let us do it.
You are referring to the press crucifixion of Obama aren’t you? Has Hillary been crucified by the media who keeps spreading the false Afghanistan oversight rumor when Hillary is the only candidate in fact on three Senate oversight committees that deal with Afghanistan and Obama is none. She has a shill every hour coming on and pasting it on the walls with an MSNBC or CNN anchor to dumb to click on the Senate website.
For all you Rabid Rezkomaniacs who don’t know what’s going on but love to say the name anyway?
From the newspaper who is wedded to Bush, McCain and Telcom immunity–the admittedly ultra-conservative Chicago Sun Times:
Eye On Rezko
that’s an incredible line…I think it might work to galvanize the electorate
Yup, Homeland Security has me feeling warm all over.
What happened to being away from the box for the day?
Today in SF is warm and sunny - yesterday was, too!
Must be why I’m so disoriented: first the post plays hide-and-seek, then I’m back on the poo thread.
poo-flinging here please
I know this. I have gotten up every day since Ibsen wrote Hedda Gabler in 1890, called up my homies and said “Let’s boogie out into da Homeland. Whazzup in da Homeland tonight? What I really wanna see are more big ass SUVs with bumper stickers that say “Mah Bush and Mah McCain and Mah Telcom Immunity is Protectin’ Mah Homeland.”
Can you say “Electoral College?”
i LOVE to hear that about Williamson County.
Hey Boss man, how ya doin’ today?
Hoping for a better day.
Teddy a lesson for you. From 3rd Century Greek poets later resurrected by Lyly, Shakespeare, Ben Franklin, and David Hume:
“Poo flinging is in the eye of the beholder.”
Is it 3AM in Calleforney yet?
I brought one with me and have mastered multitasking. How will you feel tomorrow?
Stick yer head outside and tell me if the sun is shining.
that would perk me up a little.
How are we deprived of our vote? Let me county the ways. Electoral college. Winner take all, No instant runoff ….
And this beholder is calling poo.
Actually, poo flinging is in the eye of the moderator.
Do you know how many years Texas has had both a primary and a caucus?
Too true. I got a mod for a quote from “Alice In Wonderland” - who knew? :) :)
IOKIGAR
It’s OK if your genitals are republican.
Genitals aside (rhetorically speaking; bilateral symmetry is a jealous mistress)….
start again
In all seriousness, the media dump on Clinton has the dynamic of schoolkids making fun of the kid who knows the answers.
The kid is generally a she (feamle brains mature faster in cognition and impulse control.)
To me, MSM’s Hillary Sneer looks like envious dull kids.
_ _ _
Now off to the park (avoiding the poo thread therein)….
The democrats have a National Lawyers Council that is part of the 50 state strategy. The Lawyers Council is setting up election monitoring. Non lawyers can help as poll watchers. Anna Martinez at the DNC can hook you up in YOUR home state
You got it almost right. The sign read:’If Voting Could Change Things, It Would Be Illegal’.
Yes, it was there, and I saw it with mine own two eyes.
beautiful bright shiny day today in texas. we started out the day at 35 and it’s now 68. :)
sorry, i don’t.
RBG, ya might want to hire a honey pot, the poo thread is at 420 and climbing…! ;-)
oh poo - can’t proofread for beans:
IOKIYGAR
It’s OK if your genitals are Republican
Awesome.
hahaha. have fun at the park.
O/T
info via orange overlord
BTW, DWB, exactly where was the sign? I lived in Cambridge for several years, so I know the area pretty well.
I’m very curious, as I’m sure all the pups are, how Obama will handle the MSM assault on his integrity. It begs belief that he has not prepared for it. He’s seen what’s happened to all of our candidates in the last 20 years. I’ve been trying to think of what might be his proper response. Dismissive seems to me to be the best. Something like saying, why don’t you guys try something besides the ’same old same old.’
His strength and perhaps secret is the large rally. It is newsworthy in itself, can’t be hid, and helps him do an end-run around the pundits. I think one reason the pundits acquired so much power is that they originally offered free advertising to a party that lacked the wherewithal to buy its teevee time. Obama and the Dems are flush this year. They don’t need Russert, etc. I think sending a couple of shots across their bow would be good for everyone.
Chuckle
thanks gw - have fun with the poll. good on ‘ya.
How the hell did Rs create floods? I thought I’d heard of most of their voter supression tactics, but this is a new one.
It’s a befitting spot for other reasons, too.
Didn’t you know, God is on their side (ask Hagee)
The Rev Hagee did it.
Well, at least some of them claim direct connections to the almighty whatever doncha know…
Jane is right on I think about media coverage and the St. McCain Syndrome. However, I believe that Hillary’s action shave negatively effected her with liberal bloggers and in general the democratic voters
The republican party is God’s party, after all…! ;-)
Teeheehee. Got the responses I was provoking.
Jane, you are right on the money. The press is engineering a victory for McCain. They barely looked at his links to lobbyists following the NYT hit piece on him; he is their BFF. On the democratic side, they have poured venom onto Hillary and for all practical purposes killed her candidacy, while giving Obama a free ride. Now that he is the potential nominee, they begin to pile onto him just as they mercilessly did Hillary; only MSNBC didn’t get the memo as yet. The fix is in.
I think that Obama has shown his reaction to any negative critiques is to meet them head on and confront his attackers clearly articulately on concisely in way that is simple to understand. He has done what we all wanted Kerry and Gore to do but never did. If he keeps this up and gets the nod he will do well in the general.
But here’s what I always wonder. During the last election there were an army of bright attorneys who were dispatched all over the country for the Kerry and for Bush team. Many were on call. The legal newspapers had a slew of articles on them. And you have the National Lawyers Counsel and monitors. There have already been complaints today. So as far as making observations and suggesting improvements for some time in the future that sounds constructive. But if there is a real litigation hassle it could take a long time to shake itself out.
And there’s this and to me its huge:
Undercutting every effort to have fair elections, we have the elephant (sorry for the choice of animal–I know it’s a party mascot somewhere) in the room–or the 800 pound gorilla and that is the potential undermining of the touch tone screen voting machines. Why aren’t people like the Lawyer’s Council extremely concerned about getting a paper trail and doesn’t the lack of one worry you? Why do you think states have been so slow to eliminate any question on the touch screens? I guess as often is the case it’s about money, but it’s also about apathy.
And swiftly! He has an excellent response team…!
I think that liberal bloggers echoing mainstream media’s Hillary hatred have negatively affected many Democratic voters.
If McCain is installed in November….all of the inspired voters who have risen to fight back against the Pukes….will turn that energy on the Pukes and take to the streets…It won’t be a pretty picture.
I think they’ve been busy beavers.
The MSM wants their straight talker now that he is the annointed one, but they missed the boat by attacking Hillary. St. John would have had a much easier time against her than Obama.
he’s written the new playbook for democrats and it doesn’t matter which candidate we field, they will both use that technique
both hillary and obama have learned from this primary cycle and will gain from each other
Paul Krugman seems to agree:
Deliverance or Diversion?
You get the gold star for clever response. *g*
knowing, or finding out, or reporting the problems on election day is the same thing as closing the barn door after the animals have left
it will help us not one stitch
So if Hillary wins TX & OH the press will say it’s to little to late and if she loses then they will stick in the fork, and declare her done.
Either way she loses, is that correct?
Simply said, I agree. And if Hillary has a bounce back, fighting between the two can continue which just helps St. John. Interesting term “ties to Farrakhan” because the Big F said something good about Barack there are now “Ties”. Barack has said that he rejects and denounces Farakahn. I’ll bet there has not been as much negative press as real ties to Preacher Hagee even though McCain accepted his endorsement on the same stage. I have seen a few stories; but they are not constantly replayed.
I personally heard radio spots from Hillary that falsely attacked Obama that on top of what she has said regarding waiting for the heavens to open and then saying that Barack is a weaker candidate than McCain. Then attacks about plagiarism those are all tactics whihc make people turn from her whether touted by the MSM or not. I didn’t listen to the mysognistic or sexist spittle spewing from the MSM about Hillary I just saw what she did in her own words.
“St. John would have had a much easier time against her than Obama.”
I know that this is the gospel among Obama’s supporters, but I just don’t see it this way. Hillary is a fighter while Obama is the communicator. She would tear McCain into bits. Obama, I feel, would flail Kerry-like once he is moved from his comfort zone. Either way, it will be a tough fight ahead for the Democrats. How I would have loved to see a Hillary-Obama ticket!
Officials report heavy turnout for Ohio primary
TX Primary: Final Early Vote Totals
It’s fun to watch the press, many of whom wear their candidates on their sleeves but are conflicted by their desire to create controversy over the most superficial of issues. Lynn Sweet of the Chicago Sun Times has really had her Clinton preference drawn out as we head into crunch time.
As the states become more crucial, the press is becoming more desperate: They want ratings, to sell papers, and they also want the candidates they think they should boost.
It can be somewhat tiring, can’t it? Tiring enough for me that I logged off 2 wks ago & only read here now.
May post again later when D/R candidates have been chosen.
Thanx for the excellent FDL posts & mod job one & all. Comment threads for me have just become read only recently.
TTFN.
St. John not only accepted, but actively pursued Hagee’s endorsement. Imagine the uproar if Obama had sought out Farakan?
Jane Hamsher:
You’re right that the media will go after the Democratic front runner to McCain’s benefit. But that doesn’t preclude Clinton joining in the attacks in a decidedly unappealing way — (see earlier post on her depreciation of the Democratic “brand”.) That both the media and Clinton are undermining Obama with Republican frames isn’t mutually exclusive.
This post seems like an oblique apology for Clinton, badly timed in a week that sees her boasting of her own affinity for neocon foreign policy and criticizing Obama for lacking those same neocon bona fides.
The real results I anxiously await, not whether Hill or Obama wins, is the ratio of Dem votes to Repugs, I’m rooting for the national average of 2:1…! 8-)
I wasn’t an Obama supporter until Edwards dropped out. I believed that McCain and Hillary were going to run back in ‘04. I prayed she wouldn’t because I didn’t want to see a Republican win. When she announced, my heart dropped for this Country and the Democratic Party. My perception of what a Hillary-McCain race would result in held before I gave my support to Obama.
OT: Republicans=Buffoons on Steroids
I’m right there with with you on that. The turnout has fascinated me more then anything in this race.
Tear ducts.
Only problem is that there are a lot of Republicans and Independents who are voting in the Dem primary hoping to influence who McCain will face.
If you haven’t seen him in the general how do you know he is not a fighter? I haven’t seen Clinton in a general election either.
The primary isn’t a comfort zone for either candidate. And the general is supposed to be tough–it’s for the highest office arguably in the world.
Here’s how they will attack Obama…
He’s a liberal.
He voted Against the war…that means he won’t protect you from terrorists.
He one of “them” will be implied over and over again.
I just don’t agree that Obama is going to have an easier time against McCain. I think the republicans truly did not want to go against Hillary because they spent 52 million on whitewater and only came up with an affair. They know Hillary isn’t going to have Bill’s sex addiction problem. They know that their financial stuff is relatively clean… and Bill is a Rhodes scholar, I do not believe that he committed any crimes after being grilled over whitewater.
I think Obama is going to be easy toast. The problem with the liberal meme is that the intellectual in Obama that we all love will look weak against the military man attacker in John McCain. It will be Kerry all over again. They will play on fear and prejudice and it will be fresh and new!!
I hope I am wrong. I want a dem..and I pray that dems stand up to the horrible attacks and REFUSE to believe it and refuse to allow it to be spoken.
just asking
do we know this for a fact?
The mistake the Kerry campaign made was to SEND lawyers all over the country. You need to have lawyers in their own locales, who already know the election law IN THAT STATE and who already have well developed relationships with election officials, etc.
That’s the idea behind the Lawyer’s Council. Here in NYS we have been at it since 2005, every state and federal election. Virginia the VADLC put out a big effort for Webb. PA has a well organiaizedc chapter, and so on.
As a part of the DNC, none of the state or federal Dem LAwyer’s Councils can involve themselves in any way in a primary on behalf of one candidate or another.
Candidates have to set up their own election protection during the primaries.
Another gold star!
Has Howard Dean made a statement re what Dems will do regarding this on election day?
The larger the ratio, the harder for the Rethugs and Diebold to steal the election…!
no mater who is our nominee, and I will support the Dem nominee in the general, I have to admit that the Obama has pioneered some new techniques which I think will be copied in future campaigns. It’s been a modern campaign.
Delurking and asking a pardon for the OT: I’ve had a thought and haven’t had any time to see if it’s being discussed here or at Marcy’s, but is there a chance that the Rezko indictment is another politically motivated offering from the DOJ? Haven’t had time to read up on Rezko but not sure if I’d be reading anything worthwhile by reading Illinois papers as we’ve seen that papers have been enlisted in the prosecutions (Alabama). Any thoughts out there?
I just don’t buy the “Obama has gotten a free pass” line.
First of all, he hasn’t been around Washington long enough to fill up his closet with skeletons yet.
Secondly, there’s been precious little to criticize with his campaign to this point.
And, do you really believe Sen. Clinton’s camp hasn’t used “the Google” on Rezko? If something was there, you best believe they wouldn’t be sitting on it.
Maybe, just maybe he’s been a decent civil servant to this point.
Not perfect, but decent. That would still be a tremendous upgrade over most of them.
All the more better, either candidate is much better then McCain. Also, they will be pushing a woman or an african-american further in their historic journey. It’s all good as far I see it.
Jerlyn at TalkLeft has discovered there are dirty trricks being played by Obama in Texas. It must be those Oabam Republicans influencing his workers.
Let’s hear it for the Obama Republicans teaching him all their lovely ways.
I have to disagree, having a group IN PLACE before elecetion day allows you to head off some problems before the day even begins. Having a group with local knowledge and local connection allows you to solve problems as they come up.
For everything else, the goal is to preserve evidence to allow for accountability not unlike hte NH phone jamming case.
Folks, please don’t forget to Fling your poo downstairs…
I just came from the polling place which is at a school temp building (trailer). The Dem and GOP primary are right next to each other with adjoining rooms. There were many People who were republican but voting in the dem primary. Side note: One of the volunteers standing outside the polling area to support there candidates was wearing an Obamacan T-Shirt but she was standing with all the GOP local candidate volunteers.(goes to show that she wasn’t being stoned or chastised for supporting Obama, by fellow GOP’rs.) So I can reform my statement to include there are many Republicans who really don’t want McCain or Hillary.
The only candidate getting a free pass is the repug.