ACTION ALERT: NYT Claims Clinton ‘Emerging as Unrivaled Leader’ in Democratic Race [View all]

Posted this in the Sanders group, but it applies to O'Malley as well--perhaps more so.

http://fair.org/home/action-alert-nyt-claims-clinton-emerging-as-unrivaled-leader-in-democratic-race/

A New York Times article by Patrick Healy and Trip Gabriel (10/23/15), on how the Republican presidential nominee has not yet been determined more than three months before the first voter weighs in, provided this piece of context as its second paragraph:

Hmm. The “unrivaled leader” leads her closest rival, Bernie Sanders, by 7 percentage points in an average of recent polls in the first caucus state, Iowa. In the first primary state, New Hampshire, she trails Sanders by 2 points; it’s been two months since she had a clear lead over him there. (In an accompanying graphic, the Times ranks Clinton as No. 1 in New Hampshire polls—based on a different polling average that has her ahead by 0.2 percentage points.)

Rather than “emerging” as a leader with no rivals, Clinton’s aura of inevitability has faded as Sanders has shown surprising strength in polling, fundraising and ability to attract crowds. Rather than signifying a “unified left,” the race for the 2016 Democratic nomination has revealed deep divides between the party’s grassroots and corporate wings.

There are at least two other significant declared candidates in the Democratic race: Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley and public interest attorney Lawrence Lessig. The article implicitly dismisses them as rivals for the nomination months before the actual nominating contest begins.

The New York Times, which strongly identifies with that corporate wing, would like its assertion that the 2016 Democratic primary season is over before it begins to be a self-fulfilling prophecy. Democracy would be much better served if the Times were to allow voters to determine who the Democratic Party’s next presidential nominee will be.

ACTION:

Please ask New York Times public editor Margaret Sullivan to address the Times‘ misleading claim that Hillary Clinton has no rival in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.

CONTACT:

New York Times
Public Editor Margaret Sullivan
email: public@nytimes.com
Twitter: @Sullivie