CNN Reporting Florida Before Polls Close

Once again, CNN is repeating its 2000 mistake of reporting results before polls have closed in the western part of the state.  Why Florida can’t get its act together and synchronize its election closing times — I vote for going with the later close for the convenience of Central Time residents — but its Electoral Votes go in one pile, so the networks shouldn’t be reporting before all the polls are closed.

Anyway, McCain’s got a very slight lead with an insignificant portion of the vote in.

FILED UNDER: 2008 Election, Media, US Politics, , ,
James Joyner
About James Joyner
James Joyner is Professor and Department Head of Security Studies at Marine Corps University's Command and Staff College. He's a former Army officer and Desert Storm veteran. Views expressed here are his own. Follow James on Twitter @DrJJoyner.

Comments

  1. James,

    Florida doesn’t have to get its act together, the networks need to or rather who decides where time zones end.

    I believe it was CBS not CNN that called Florida in 2000 before all the polls closed.

    Bill

  2. It was NBC that first called Florida for Gore in 2000, before all the polls closed.

  3. lunacy says:

    Specifically, it was Dan Rather who called Florida first in 2000.