Talk about a bunch of gutless media types last night. All five of the major news outlets (ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox, NBC) tiptoed right up to the line, but blatantly refused to “project“ one of the close races that would have pushed their count over the top.

As you can see below, they were more than willing to “project“ other races that were quite a bit closer.

Sheesh.

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Fox and NBC called Ohio for Bush, but wouldn't call NM or Nevada.

ABC, CBS, and CNN called Nevada for Bush, but wouldn't call Ohio or NM.

Here are the numbers:

Bush led in Nevada 50.5% to 47.8%, or +2.7%

Bush led in Ohio 51.0% to 48.5%, or +2.5%

Bush led in NM 50.4% to 48.4%, or +2.0%

 

Here are some other tight races and how the media reported them:

Wisconsin: Kerry led 49.8% to 49.3%, or +0.5%

Kerry: CBS, CNN

No call: ABC, Fox, NBC

Iowa: Bush led 50.1% to 49.2%, or +0.9%

No call: ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox, NBC

New Hampshire: Kerry led 50.4% to 49.0%, or +1.4%

Kerry: ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox

No call: NBC

Michigan: Kerry led 51.1% to 48.0%, or +3.1%

Kerry: ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox, NBC

Minnesota: Kerry led 51.1% to 47.6%, or +3.5%

Kerry: ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox, NBC

“I have often wondered why the church in the past has not been divided on the subject of the posture of prayer. This is an issue that could divide the church, as it seems just about everything else has. The mode of baptism has certainly divided the church. There are those who believe sprinkling is the correct mode, a few believe pouring (that means getting a pitcher of water and dousing the head) is the correct mode, and others believe immersion is the correct mode. Still others believe you should be immersed not just one time, but three times. Then some say you should go down headfirst, and others say backwards. There are even some today who believe that if it’s not done by running water then you haven’t really been baptized. As you can see, baptism has certainly divided the church.

That’s why I say it’s a wonder that the posture of prayer hasn’t divided the church. I’m surprised we don’t have a group today known as 'standers'. They believe in standing up when you pray. Then it’s a wonder that we don’t have a group of 'kneelers' who believe you should kneel down when you pray. Then there ought to be a group of 'sitters'. They believe you should sit when you pray. Then there’s another group that

'The proper way for a man to pray,' said Deacon Lemuel Keyes,
 'and the only proper attitude is down upon his knees.'

'No, I should say the way to pray,' said Reverend Doctor Wise,
'is standing straight with outstretched arms and rapt and upturned eyes.'

'Oh, no, no, no!” said Elder Sloe. 'Such posture is too proud.
A man should pray with eyes fast closed and head contritely bowed.'

'It seems to me his hands should be austerely clasped in front,
with both thumbs pointing toward the ground,' said Reverend Doctor Blunt.

'Last year I fell in Hodkin’s well, head first,' said Cyrus Brown.
'With both my heels a-stickin’ up, my head apointin’ down.

And I made a prayer right then and there, the best prayer I ever said,
the prayenist prayer I ever prayed was astandin’ on my head.'“

— Sam Walter Foss (1858–1911)

J. Vernon McGee,

On Prayer: Praying and Living in the Father’s Will (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2002), 21–24.