It is mathematically impossible for Kerry to win Ohio unless, somehow, mysteriously, he won 80 percent of the remaining votes in a state where he won only 9 percent of the total. This is absurd.

He won 49 percent of the total, that is.

Personally, I'm not counting on it, but the hang-up is largely over the provisional and absentee ballots. We've yet to hear how they compare to the Bush's margin, but the CW expectation is that the provisional (at least) would strongly support Kerry. I think it's a hopelessly long shot, but the networks are so afraid of getting caught in another bad call that they're trying to stay mum for as long as possible.

As I've said before and I'll say again: the media isn't biased, it's just chicken. It embodies neither partisan nor journalistic ideals. It just tries to sell ad space and not make a fool of itself while letting pundits (on both sides) spout wild spin just to fill up space and make it entertaining.

less than 15,000 votes separate the two at the moment, before any of the reported 50,000 absentee, 100,00 provisional ballots are counted.... CUE TO WHITE HOUSE CLAIMING VICTORY! All's fair in any Bush war...

That would be 136,221 votes ahead. I think you forgot to carry the 1.

But I agree that every single Provisional votes needs to be counted so the Democrats have no excuse to hang their hat on. I say let it play out so there is no doubt who won this election.

whoops was looking at Iowa. Still what's the merit of trumpeting the popular vote win when in the last election he did everything he could to suppress it? Bush grins either way like he's the cat that's got the cream when (not quite) half the country voted passionately against him (Yes, rather than for Kerry). Does he still get to parade up to the big white doors being pelted with eggs? It's a sad day when the country that purports to lead the world is so divided.

No, "uncounted vote," it's a sad day when people are so dilusional that they can't admit defeat. There is less of a chance that nearly every single provisional ballot in Ohio will be both a valid ballot and one that was cast for Kerry than there is that half a dozen other states could change the lead.

The difference is that Ohio puts Bush over the top. Those that didn't call it for Bush are trying to avoid looking foolish. Those that did call it are suspiciouly now unwilling to call Nevada for the President.

But, I wouldn't expect anything less from people who still haven't admitted they lost 4 years ago.

This is how the election works. Calling a state like Ohio is far safer than nearly every other projection was when it was made last night.

Without lawyers, the outcome in Ohio won't change. But, if you make projections based on potential legal intervention, than just retract the projections in the other states as well because everything can be lawyered.

I also noticed Yahoo has yet to call NM or IA for Bush as well, even though he has an as good or better margin than Kerry has in WI, which was already called for Kerry.
As for the 150,000 or so provisional ballots, not all of them are eligible votes. A large chunk of them will most likely be dismissed.

By the way, watching CNN and ABC last night, it was so obvious that Wolf Blitzer and Peter Jennings were clinging to the hope that Kerry could pull a victory.

Well, uncounted, it's always fun to trumpet victory at those who didn't win. And last election cycle, the popular vote wasn't really anybody's trumpet.
After all, the Dems still lost, even according to the New York Times, and the Republicans only squeaked past. You won't see that on FOX or seeBS.

I'm impressed that Democrats are so certain provisional votes will be leaning their way. Doesn't seem like one side would benefit more, since from a statistical viewpoint Reps and Dems seem equally likely to have bad luck and get their names lost somewhere. Since everybody had to have their registration in at the same time, you can't even yell undecided voters loud.

Think of it like this, Uncounted. We have a President who managed to get reelected despite having several at-home policies that poll very badly among the public, including PATRIOT and stem cell, still has Osama running lose (or working for Rove), and who started a war and hasn't brought home any proof for it. Despite all that, despite a media that had And he got the popular vote by a greater percentage then Clinton did. Forget about how united or divided we are.
What's that say about a mandate?

But Bush hasn't actually given a victory speech yet.
Looks like we get to see every vote counted.

I think the networks are still flummoxed by their exit polls being so horribly wrong. Even Fox isn't giving Nevada, Iowa and New Mexico to Bush (presumably to avoid calling a winner). Given a sufficient number of provisional ballots, I suppose there's a mathematical chance of Kerry picking up Ohio that cannot be discounted, but it was an odd night for the TV folk.

The other bias of the media is toward sensationalism and phony suspense. They had to know that as soon as they called Ohio, 3/4ths of the televisions would get turned off. So leave it at "too close to call" and keep everyone tuned in for an extra hour or two.