Drudge Report to Defy Embargo on Exit-Poll Results
Matt Drudge of The Drudge Report has a weekly radio program on the ABC Radio Network. On this weekend's program, he categorically stated that he would break the embargo imposed on the Voters' News Service exit-polling results from the U.S. General Election on November 7.
We support Drudge in this effort. The major media outlets withhold exit-poll results until after the polls close in each state. The rationale for this is that earlier disclosure will reduce turnout as voters see that their favorite candidate is losing. However, there is little difference between the holding of exit-polling results and the time delaying of Olympic events. Why tell the people in real-time when you can create an artificial moment of suspense? Think of the revenue potential of the advertising slots....
The pretentious productions of the major broadcast networks are only economically justifyable if viewers can be counted on to watch. We wouldn't be surprised if the biggest losers in the timely release of exit-polls would be the networks.
What difference would it really make to overall voter turnout? After all, many of us went to the polls to vote against Bill Clinton in 1996, despite the fact that he was obviously going to win.