Are the Networks Biased? Calling States in the 2000 Presidential Election

Abstract

This article presents an analysis of controversies arising in the 2000 presidential elections in the U.S. The first controversy was about the accusations that media networks called, or projected, a winner faster in those states won by Albert Gore than in those states won by George W. Bush. This accusation was investigated by estimating a Tobit model of the length of time between states\u27 poll closing times and times at which television broadcaster CNN had projected a winner. Results support the charge of media bias. After controlling for other factors that affect how quickly a state is called, states called for Gore were called 14 to 18 minutes faster than those called in favor of Bush