Only ABC's 'Good Morning America' Notices Chance of GOP Midterm 'Wave'
While all three network morning shows on Monday covered the upcoming midterm election, only ABC's Good Morning America mentioned the real possibility of Republicans taking control of the Senate. Co-host George Stephanopoulos informed viewers: "And Republicans seem to be closing in on the six Senate seats they need to gain a majority....The forecaster Nate Silver, from FiveThirtyEight, puts their chances of getting the Senate at 74%."
Political analyst Matthew Dowd agreed: "Yeah, you see the wave, I think, over the last three or four days building. Every single poll that has come out over the last week has been to the Republicans' advantage. So I think you're about to see a Republican takeover of the United States Senate."
By contrast, NBC's Today declared Republicans and Democrats to be "deadlocked going into tomorrow's midterm elections," as news anchor Natalie Morales reported: "...according to the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll. 46% of likely voters prefer a Republican-controlled Congress. 45% for the Democrats."
Monday's CBS This Morning completely ignored any polling data, instead having correspondent Nancy Cordes provide a full report on the negative campaign tactics being used by both sides in the final days before the election:
Ad makers from both sides are hoping fear of Ebola is as contagious as the disease itself. They're using images of body bags and hazmat suits to blame opponents for Ebola's arrival in the U.S....And it isn't just ads. In eastern Kentucky voters received an ominous envelope labeled "Election Violation Notice." It turned out to be a mailer from the state GOP attacking the Democratic Senate candidate who's now suing.
Liberal groups looking to boost African-American turnout in Georgia send out these flyers warning if you want to prevent another Ferguson, vote. And they invoked the murder of Florida teen Trayvon Martin in a radio ad against North Carolina Republican Thom Tillis.
On GMA, Stephanopoulos observed that the election "has become a referendum" on President Obama's performance. Dowd responded: "I think what the Democrats did is they ignored the idea that this was going to be a national referendum....a little bit like a tidal wave coming in and leaving the individual houses to batten down without building a sea wall. The Democrats didn't build a sea wall."
They did discuss negative news for Republicans, with Stephanopoulos asserting: "...their brand still in very tough shape. And Americans are angry at just about every politician." Dowd added:
Yeah, that's why I think that both parties are gonna misread this election. Republicans are gonna think it's a vote for them when it's not, they're still viewed negatively by the American public. And I think Democrats are gonna try to isolate it, say it's only about this election, when they still have brand problems. Both parties have major brand problems going into the presidential after this one.
Here is a full transcript of the November 3 GMA segment:
7:04 AM ET
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: We're gonna turn to politics now, Your Voice, Your Vote. And those crucial midterm elections just one day away. Americans voting all across the country, control of Congress, so much more, at stake. And Republicans seem to be closing in on the six Senate seats they need to gain a majority. I'm here now with our political analyst Matthew Dowd. And, Matt, many of theses races still very tight. But Republicans do seem to have an edge. The forecaster Nate Silver, from FiveThirtyEight, puts their chances of getting the Senate at 74%.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Midterm Races Down to the Wire; Will Republicans Take the Senate?]
MATTHEW DOWD: Yeah, you see the wave, I think, over the last three or four days building. Every single poll that has come out over the last week has been to the Republicans' advantage. So I think you're about to see a Republican takeover of the United States Senate.
STEPHANOPOULOS: And President Obama tried to avoid it. He's not on the ballot, but in many ways, this has become a referendum on his performance.
DOWD: These midterms are national elections. And I think what the Democrats did is they ignored the idea that this was going to be a national referendum. Republicans embraced it in a negative way, Democrats didn't. It's like – a little bit like a tidal wave coming in and leaving the individual houses to batten down without building a sea wall. The Democrats didn't build a sea wall.
STEPHANOPOULOS: But not all good news for Republicans, their brand still in very tough shape. And Americans are angry at just about every politician.
DOWD: Yeah, that's why I think that both parties are gonna misread this election. Republicans are gonna think it's a vote for them when it's not, they're still viewed negatively by the American public. And I think Democrats are gonna try to isolate it, say it's only about this election, when they still have brand problems. Both parties have major brand problems going into the presidential after this one.
STEPHANOPOULOS: A lot of anger out there. I know you're going to join us tomorrow night. We have something new tomorrow night for election night, our whole team's gonna be here for seven hours of breaking news across all our platforms, including a primetime special at 10 p.m. right here on ABC. We're covering this election more deeply than ever before.
ROBIN ROBERTS: And you'll be here bright and early the following morning here on GMA, George.
— Kyle Drennen is Senior News Analyst at the Media Research Center. Follow Kyle Drennen on Twitter.
