How the AP calls a winner

Presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks to guests at the Best Western hotel lobby in Manchester, New Hampshire, the night of the primary:

“It will reduce the field. There will be some people dropping out… Well I feel really good. We’re going to make America great again. That’s my whole theme. We have such tremendous support. New Hampshire’s an amazing place and I think we’re going to do pretty well.”

Photo by Sharon Lee

Our own Betsy Fischer Martin talked to students about the intrigue and suspense behind exit polls and how difficult it can be to analyze the results. Fischer Martin shares this example from Playbook on Feb. 12: “Inside AP’s Washington bureau: Calling the New Hampshire primary.”

“This time-lapse video shows AP race call director David Pace analyzing data and consulting with AP’s race caller in the field, Dwayne Desaulniers, as they work to call Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump the New Hampshire primary winners, sitting Tuesday night in AP’s Washington newsroom.”

Inside AP's Washington bureau: Calling the New Hampshire primary from AP Corporate Communications on Vimeo.