Why did the networks wait for Kerry to concede?

[Reaganfan]

The tradition in an election is for a network to call a winner, then the loser concedes. When it was clear President Bush had been re-elected, with Nevada going for Bush...why did they wait until Kerry conceded to call it?

Was it because they knew if they called it, then Bush topped 270? Isn't that what is supposed to happen?

[afleitch]

They were being cautious IIRC. There had been murmurs of a request for a re-count in Ohio etc, but as the margin proved too high Kerry eventually conceded.

[memphis]

Everything in 2004 was ultra-cautious because of the mess the media caused in 2000. I remember how they waited long after polls closed even to call very non-competitive states like South Carolina.

[© tweed]

because they're all communist hacks.  since that's what you're so obviously getting at, Naso.  just say it.  you'll feel better.

[auburntiger]

Partly cautious. Every network didn't call Florida for Bush until it was 98% reporting when he was 5 points ahead.

[DWPerry]

I think they should wait until the Electors actually cast the official ballots.

[Bo]

I guess because they wanted to avoid a repeat of Florida 2000.

[21st Century Independent]

The majority of the networks wanted Kerry over Bush. They were hoping deep down inside that Kerry would get close enough in Ohio, get a recount and pull it out.

[Bo]

The majority of the networks wanted Kerry over Bush. They were hoping deep down inside that Kerry would get close enough in Ohio, get a recount and pull it out.

I thought the media was biased in favor of Bush Jr. in both 2000 and 2004.

[Sasquatch]

The majority of the networks wanted Kerry over Bush. They were hoping deep down inside that Kerry would get close enough in Ohio, get a recount and pull it out.

I thought the media was biased in favor of Bush Jr. in both 2000 and 2004.

+1

[Vepres]

They were paranoid about another 2000-esque screw up.

[Mr.Phips]

Because it wasnt 100% clear until well into Wednesday that Kerry wasnt going to win Ohio.  There was still something of a chance that Kerry could click into the lead there as those heavily Democratic Cleveland precincts were the ones outstanding.  This actually happened in Ohio in 1976 where it looked as if Ford had won well into Wednesday morning only to be overwhelmed by those late Cleveland precincts. 

[Derek]

They wanted to rain on Bush's parade and make him give his victory speech at 3 in the afternoon when ppl couldn't watch. Just another way to snub the president of the free land.

[sg0508]

Because it wasnt 100% clear until well into Wednesday that Kerry wasnt going to win Ohio.  There was still something of a chance that Kerry could click into the lead there as those heavily Democratic Cleveland precincts were the ones outstanding.  This actually happened in Ohio in 1976 where it looked as if Ford had won well into Wednesday morning only to be overwhelmed by those late Cleveland precincts. 

Hawaii was the winning state in 1976 for Carter and the state was called around 2am I think.  OH was already in the bag.  The only reason Ford was close in OH was because of McCarthy.  Ford made a heck of a rally, but it wasn't enough.

[cpeeks]

Geez it was Ohio not Hawaii, Hawaii has voted for the democrats in every election since 1960 except in 1972 , and 1984, and Carter beat Ford by 57 electoral votes can you please explain to me how those 4 votes decided the 1976 presidentail election?

[Bo]

Geez it was Ohio not Hawaii, Hawaii has voted for the democrats in every election since 1960 except in 1972 , and 1984, and Carter beat Ford by 57 electoral votes can you please explain to me how those 4 votes decided the 1976 presidentail election?

I think he's saying OH and HI combined would have flipped the 1976 election to Ford.

[Eleden]

Geez it was Ohio not Hawaii, Hawaii has voted for the democrats in every election since 1960 except in 1972 , and 1984, and Carter beat Ford by 57 electoral votes can you please explain to me how those 4 votes decided the 1976 presidentail election?

Hawaii didn't decide the election, but when it was called it pushed Carter past 270 when the networks were reporting the results.  Keep in mind not all of the states had clear winners yet, so while Carter did eventually win by 57 electoral votes when all of the results came in; only 266 of his eventual 297 had actually been placed into his column before Hawaii was called.  

It actually depended on the network.  For example NBC declared Carter the winner when they announced that he had carried the state of Mississippi.  ABC declared Carter the winner when they were able to call Wisconsin and Hawaii for Carter.