Crunching the Magic Numbers

By SteveK 

Sure to change multiple times throughout the course of the day, the number of delegates Sen. Barack Obama needs to win the Democratic nomination has been a prevalent stat in the lower thirds on the cable networks. Just before a commercial break on all three networks around 1:35pmET, the three had very different figures. CNN had the number at 35 needed, MSNBC has been reporting 30.5 delegates, while FNC cited an AP story declaring Obama the nominee:







> Update: Just before 1:50pmET, FNC changed their lower third alert to say a third figure: 35.5 delegates.

> Update, update: Alright we’re stopping. MSNBC now reporting the number is 29, FNC has it at 32.5.

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