The key was Georgia
From Tucker Carlson
CNN
Editor's note: In our Behind the Scenes series, CNN analysts, anchors, and correspondents share their experiences in covering news around the world.
ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- I got into Atlanta at around 1 p.m. this afternoon. I almost always hate to leave Washington, D.C. I find it the most exciting city in the world. But this is one day that I'd want to be in Atlanta at CNN Center, because when election results are coming in, if you are a reporter or are involved in journalism, the most important thing is to hear first what is happening.
You know that all across the United States at party headquarters, political operators are calling you to find out what is going on. I've been on the road every Election Day for the past 12 years, and I've seen it, people on the campaigns calling their friends in journalism. I'll never forget John McCain learning that he'd lost the presidential nomination on Super Tuesday in 2000 from Tim Russert.
This is one instance in which journalists have better information than the people running. It's thrilling to be in the nexus of this information.
Today was a weird day, because you are used to getting exit poll data, but that didn't come into today. So, we didn't begin to hear anything until later. This was kind of a slow-motion election day.
For me, the key was Georgia, first the Senate race that was going to the Republican Saxby Chambliss, and then that the incumbent Governor Roy Barnes was going to lose. That showed me that there was a trend for the Republicans.
Someone else tonight said that the Democrats might have done worse tonight if they'd run against the tax cut and Iraq, but that it is hard to see how. You know, it's hard to win an election if you are not taking a stand.
