. . . and probably knocked off Ashcroft's reelection bid . . .We'll never know the true impact of the bogus Florida call on Dubya's final popular vote count.
No, we won't. But considering that exit polling is very questionable legally because of the secret-ballot laws, I would like to think that FL would go whole hog and outright ban the practice in the state. That would put broadcasting out of the business of calling elections in real time, thus out of the business of influencing the outcome of the close election by calling the results based on Eastern Time Zone exit poll results.Broadcasters would hate it. But they richly deserve it.
Well, Ashcroft was done in by three factors, in my view. Gore's surge, not campaigning after the death of Carnahan, and the illegal opening of the polls after hours in Dem districts. Geez, I remember Ashcroft and Talent both being ahead by 2-3 points at around 9:30 or 10:00 Eastern time. By the time midnight rolled around I think both had lost.