Crunching the Magic Numbers

Sure to change multiple times throughout the course of the day, the number of delegates Sen. Barack Obama needs to win the Democratic nomination has been a prevalent stat in the lower thirds on the cable networks. Just before a commercial break on all three networks around 1:35pmET, the three had very different figures. CNN had the number at 35 needed, MSNBC has been reporting 30.5 delegates, while FNC cited an AP story declaring Obama the nominee:







> Update: Just before 1:50pmET, FNC changed their lower third alert to say a third figure: 35.5 delegates.

> Update, update: Alright we’re stopping. MSNBC now reporting the number is 29, FNC has it at 32.5.

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