Out on the campaign trail last week Newsweek's Howard Fineman was sure he detected "Gore's growing frustration." The proof? The candidate's voice was "hoarse."

New York Post columnist Dick Morris wrote, "Al Gore seems not to have a clue about how" to even up the presidential race.

USA Today's Walter Shapiro, documenting the "limitations of Gore's natural charm and charisma," told readers in the closing days of the campaign that the vice president was "running scared" and "thinking small." Like many, the Chicago Tribune looked ahead to the inevitable finger-pointing that would accompany a Gore loss and reported, "Democrats are grousing over the tactics employed by the Gore campaign."

The Washington Post's David Broder offered this obituary two days before Election Day: "[Gore's campaign] failed to present a consistent and attractive picture of the nominee. It allowed a man with a genuine history as a New Democrat to appear, at times, an old-fashioned liberal. In the end, rather than offering a vision of the future that built on the successes of the current administration, Gore found himself exploiting the hoariest of Democratic arguments: Don't let Republicans take your Social Security away."

In a perfect capsule of the coverage, one week before Election Day, the New York Daily News ran two quick items, one about each candidate, next to each other:

"Gore's losing his soul to eBay; Al Gore's soul is for sale, with a starting bid of just 2 cents. The eBay jokesters are at it again."

"W's golden moment; A decision that one senior GOP political consultant calls 'the political equivalent of the Inchon landing' has rejuvenated a dispirited Californian GOP -- and helped pull George W. within striking distance of Al Gore in the Golden State."

Press hints that Bush was cruising while Gore was flailing were everywhere in the closing days. James Warren of the Chicago Tribune wondered "if Vice President Al Gore secretly fears some Election Day avalanche."

On election eve at MSNBC the premise for the entire night of talk was simple: How did Gore lose this race? That, despite the fact MSNBC's own poll showed Gore leading by 2 points. Hosts Chris Matthews and Brian Williams seemed to go out of their way to assure viewers that MSNBC's tally was the only major poll showing Gore up. Wrong. Over the weekend a Newsweek poll had Gore winning the race, too.

Regardless of the polling data, the assembled guests -- Mike Barnicle, Frank Luntz, Howard Fineman, Pat Caddell and others -- were absolutely certain of one thing: Bush's personality trumps Gore's smarts.

Not according to the exit polls.

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