In a story that we don’t believe for a second, the Associated Press and network execs tell Matea Gold that until one candidate reaches 270 electoral votes, TV reporters will not call the election:

“If Sen. Barack Obama racks up victories in key Eastern and Midwestern states tonight, television viewers will probably hear that he appears headed for victory even before the polls close in the West.

But officials at the broadcast and cable networks as well as the Associated Press said Monday that they would not project a president-elect until one nominee has at least 270 electoral votes in his column. And they won’t award any electoral votes from a state until after all the polls in that state are scheduled to close.”

Like many pre-election promises, we’ll have to wait and see if this one comes true.