The Weather Channel plans to get in on the 2012 election coverage, focusing on something it hopes the traditional outlets ignore… but something that could have a serious impact on the election. It is, of course, weather.
If the weather is crappy on November 6, you can expect a lot of people who might otherwise vote to stay home, and Weather Channel is planning to be all over it. Weather published a study that determined that 35% of undecided voters say weather could factor into whether they vote on election day.
The channel will be monitoring weather in swing states closely, up to and through election day, and plans to send meteorologists and correspondents to some of those places on November 6. The AP notes:
The Weather Channel will base reporters in swing states on Election Day. It will decide closer to the election whether to pre-empt its regular programming, as is often done during major weather stories, said Jennifer Rigby, the network’s multimedia content director.
Icy road conditions will affect potential voters more than any other condition, the survey said.