How to make a statistician cry:
(Emphasis mine)
CNN headline on main page: "New poll shows big challenge for McCain"
Headline on linked-through article: "New CNN Poll: McCain, Obama in statistical dead heat"
First sentence: "...a new CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll shows Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama locked in a statistical dead heat in the race for the White House."
Second sentence: "...the new survey out Tuesday indicates Obama holds a narrow 5-point advantage among registered voters nationwide over the Arizona senator"
Fourth sentence: "...Tuesday's survey confirms what a string of national polls released this month have shown: Obama holds a slight advantage over McCain, though not a big enough one to constitute a statistical lead.
Seventh sentence: "...the new CNN/ORC polls shows the race gets even tighter when the two most prominent third-party presidential candidates are considered."
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So the "big challenge for McCain" is that he's in a "statistical dead heat", but if you look at different numbers, "the race gets even tighter". Brilliant.
CNN headline on main page: "New poll shows big challenge for McCain"
Headline on linked-through article: "New CNN Poll: McCain, Obama in statistical dead heat"
First sentence: "...a new CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll shows Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama locked in a statistical dead heat in the race for the White House."
Second sentence: "...the new survey out Tuesday indicates Obama holds a narrow 5-point advantage among registered voters nationwide over the Arizona senator"
Fourth sentence: "...Tuesday's survey confirms what a string of national polls released this month have shown: Obama holds a slight advantage over McCain, though not a big enough one to constitute a statistical lead.
Seventh sentence: "...the new CNN/ORC polls shows the race gets even tighter when the two most prominent third-party presidential candidates are considered."
***
So the "big challenge for McCain" is that he's in a "statistical dead heat", but if you look at different numbers, "the race gets even tighter". Brilliant.