According to the Star Tribune:
But the Star Tribune is wrong, and they know they are wrong (according to sources close in). So, is their front page editor on crack or something? Let's test this hypothesis.
(UPDATE: See: Senate race polling breakdown)
Available recent polling data suggest that Barack Obama is leading John McCain in the Great State of Minnesota by double digits. Here is a picture of the data from Polster.com:
The little dots are data points and the lines are regressed off of these points.
The most recent Rasmussen poll shows Coleman and Franken in a dead heat at 44/43.
So, the Star Tribune front page editor IS on crack. Why do I say that the editor, and not the reporter is on crack? Because this is what the reporter said in this front page story:
A Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday found that Obama leads McCain 46 percent to 44 percent among the state's likely voters, a statistical tie. That tossup result is at odds with other recent polls showing Obama with an average lead of more than 5 percentage points. A Quinnipiac poll last month found a whopping 17 percentage-point Obama lead.
The poll also conflicts with another survey released Thursday by Rasmussen Reports, which shows Obama with a 49 percent to 37 percent lead in the state.
In the Senate race, Quinnipiac shows Coleman comfortably ahead, with the support of 53 percent of likely voters, compared with 38 percent for Franken.
Again, however, the Rasmussen poll reveals a different picture, a tossup with Coleman at 44 percent and Franken at 43 percent.
Did you now that while reporters write stories, editors put the headlines on them?
I'm not sure if this is the Strib editor being a dodo, or if it is political bias. And if it is political bias, I'm not sure what kind. I kinda like the situation where everyone thinks my candidate is even with, or behind, the opponent, when they are actually ahead. Keeps everybody on their toes, heads up, in the game. Maybe this editor is sneaking around putting his Liberal Bias Mojo on things. Or, maybe he is, more typically for newspapers, a conservative trying to make his guys look good to reduce the embarrassment level with the Republican National Convention coming to town.
An analysis of this Strib SNAFU can be found here in an article by the esteemed Eric Black .INC who, I'm pretty sure, is Chuck Norris moonlighting. No, seriously, look at his picture. Here. That's Chuck right? Anyway, Since Eric is an actual reporter, he knows people, and he has some good insight on this not so pretty headline.
Thanks to Mike The Madman Haubrich for turning me on to this story. He has written about this as part of a far reaching indictment of humanity in general. Check it out.
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It's weird because I get angry about the automatic "dead heat" coverage, but it really does help Obama. Reporting that he is ahead, and has been since May would only hurt his chances. I'd be happy if they reported McCain was a little ahead. This election isn't in the bag, so any extra effort will help.
Mike The Madman could very well be my wrestling name. Where's CMF. Let me at 'em!
As someone who works for a tabloid, I'm not surprised at this. The front page headline need only vaguely to be connected to the lead story. It's main job is to grab attention of those walking past the newsstand.
If you see the front page telling you what you already know, you are less likely to buy a copy than if it makes you stop and say "WTF".
At least that's how the lay psychology has it. How would you guys expect a mccain or obama supporter to react, or an undecided? Buy or walk by?
Dood! The title is confusing. You need to group your statements in parentheses so I know in what order to parse them.
The STrib with a political bias? I refuse to believe...
Oh, wait, nevermind...totally plausible. The typical accusation is a heavy leftist spin (The Red-Star Tribune) but personal politics could be at play.
It is sort of hard to keep all the polls straight. I think though that a more competitive election is more likely than one in which Obama wins by a landslide.
hmmm... Greg,
coincidence?