CBS Annoys Me

I just had CBS news on, and they covered today's primaries using the storyline that today we would learn if John Edwards could beat Kerry in South Carolina and prove it's a two-man race. This is absurd. First of all, leaving Dean aside, Wesley Clark had the lead in Oklahoma polls over the weekend, and was gaining in the southwest. Dean is making his stand this weekend, and so should not be written off, either. Crowning Edwards as the "anti-Kerry" at this point is journalistic irresponsibility.

I'm not alleging a conspiracy here, but the way the media covers campaigns needs serious reform. "Momentum" is all that matters. Most people still get their news from these network newscasts, and by talking about only two candidates, the media exert an undo influence through their editorial decisions. Secondly, the horse-race coverage that is annoying enough most of the time becomes dangerous during the primary season, when every contest is treated not as a single group of voters stating their preference, but rather as a statement about "Where the race stands." There is no logical reason why a candidate should gain "inevitability" after winning two states that have only a handful of delegates. This cannot continue.

By the way, I haven't posted much at Dean Nation lately because I have some sort of campaign writer's block. Hopefully I'll snap out of it soon.