Thank You, "Mainstream Media"

A propos of that "Mittmentum" phantasm we addressed earlier, in every election the "mainstream media" -- more specifically, Beltway Villager analysts and "reporters" -- has a vested interest in establishing a "close horse race" narrative. Simply put, a race that's painted as going down to the wire keeps the public tuned in to news outlets to a far greater extent than they would if a race were depicted as a blowout. News outlets are, first and foremost, business operations. They need readership/ viewership to sell advertising. So, when you see startling headlines about "Mittmentum" based on outlier polls (for example, a pollster as unreliable as Gallup), keep in mind that the outlet is simply reinforcing the media narrative that happens to be most advantageous to its bottom line.

Please don't take this to mean we think President Obama has the election in the bag (we have only to remember President Dewey to see how foolish that would be).* We need Democrats, independents and thinking Republicans to show up on Election Day and vote for Obama/Biden. That brings up the value of this narrative to our side: the more Obama supporters hear this is going down to the wire, the more motivated they are to show up, stand in line, and vote. Everyone agrees this will be a turnout election, so the more the "mainstream media" promotes the neck-and-neck narrative, the better it is for the President's get out the vote effort.

So, thank you, "mainstream media." For once your narrative manipulation is coming in handy.

*Even though Nate Silver has the President's re-election odds at (ahem) around 70%, thanks to his holding the line in the "battleground" states.