February 19, 2004

POSTSCRIPT

Celebrate The Washington Post’s fine tradition of accuracy ...

July 23, 1984: Poll Puts Mondale Even With Reagan

Democratic presidential nominee Walter F. Mondale, on a post-convention fishing vacation in Gunflint Lake, Minn., did not catch any fish but hauled in some good news yesterday from a poll that showed him pulling even with President Reagan.

May 3, 1984: Mondale-Hart, Reagan-Bush Tickets Running Neck and Neck in New Poll

If the November election were held today, a Democratic Mondale-Hart ticket would run even with a Republican Reagan-Bush ticket, according to a new Gallup Poll.

October 28, 1980: Carter Goes Into Debate With Lead in New Poll

President Carter and Ronald Reagan meet in Cleveland tonight for the long-awaited debate that could be the crucial event in determining who will be the next president of the United States.

November 3, 1952: Final Survey Shows Nip-and-Tuck Race

Final poll results, based upon interviewing through Thursday, show Dwight D. Eisenhower and Gov. Adlai E. Stevenson coming down the homestretch in a tight race for the popular vote majority.

July 12, 1936: Roosevelt's Popular Lead Is Reduced to 51.8% in July Poll; Landon Ahead in 21 States, Has Electoral Vote Majority

See? That’s why editors are important. Otherwise all these stories would have turned out wrong.

(Compiled by ambrose at Free Republic)

Posted by Tim Blair at February 19, 2004 10:51 PM
Comments

Don't forget the Post's headline on the day of the California recall election, Oct 7 20003. They proudly proclaimed the race too close to call, where the recall passed 55-45%, and the Democratic candidate lost by 16% to Arnold S.

Posted by: sam at February 19, 2004 at 11:30 PM

Ah yes, I remember 1984 :-) I have especially fond memories of Mary McGrory, who anointed Mondale the winner a couple of months ahead of time. She said that since all the women, all the minorities, and all the poor were going to vote for Mondale, who could possibly be left for Reagan?

Posted by: Annalucia at February 20, 2004 at 01:06 AM

Then again, I'm dead keen on AFL and yet the receptionist at work beats me in footy tipping. I think that I think too much about what is known, and what is unknown and what I dont't know I don't know. . . .

Don't take too much notice of me - keeping sticking in the boot Tim.

And the mighty WESTCOAST EAGLES are going to mash the colliwobbles into the turf of the house of pain this Saturday. (They're too scared to come here in the regular season, or travel anywhere else for that matter). Footy is back, you beauty!

Posted by: Razor at February 20, 2004 at 11:12 AM

Getting worried, huh guys? How sweet it is.

Posted by: Miranda Divide at February 21, 2004 at 11:33 AM

Getting worried, huh guys? How sweet it is.

About as worried as I was when I saw the 2001 Morgan Poll that showed Labor winning by a landslide...and then enjoying watching them lose seats.

You're right Miranda, sweet is the word.

Posted by: Quentin George at February 21, 2004 at 07:02 PM