Arnon Mishkin, a Jewish Democrat who heads Fox News’ decision desk team, is defending his decision to call Arizona for former Vice President Joe Biden on November 3, despite the Trump campaign’s insistence that the call was too early.
Mishkin told Fox News anchor Bret Baier about an hour after he made the call for Biden that he was “100% certain” about the call, according to Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA).
“The president is not going to be able to take over and win enough votes to eliminate that seven-point lead that the former vice president has,” Mishkin said. “We’re not wrong in this particular case.”
The decision to call Arizona has resulted in fury from the Trump campaign, prompting Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, to reportedly contact Rupert Murdoch, who owns the Fox News’ parent company. Murdoch didn’t interfere with the network’s call.
The Trump campaign has called Mishkin a “Democrat operative,” noting his donations to Democrats. According to The Washington Post, Mishkin has publicly disclosed his political donations.
Jason Miller, a senior adviser to the Trump campaign, has insisted that Trump will win Arizona, pointing to how prognosticators like Nate Silver have said that Arizona was called too early.
BREAKING: Jason Miller tells press on call: Trump on pace to win Arizona, says even pollster Nate Silver calls on Fox & AP to rescind AZ call for Biden. Says "magical sacks of ballots" popping up in Dem-held districts in PA, GA, Wisc., Mich., will be challenged.
— Carrie Sheffield (@carriesheffield) November 5, 2020
Fox News anchor Chris Wallace said on November 4 that the network is sticking to its call.
Chris Wallace addresses the elephant in the room, says that if Nevada gets called for Biden soon then Fox News will call the whole thing for Biden.
"I checked in with our decision desk today and they are not wavering. They said our call on Arizona is right. Puts him at 264." pic.twitter.com/4pi8EASrxm
— Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) November 5, 2020
So far, the only other news outlet to call Arizona is the Associated Press, which uses the same polling data firm as Fox, according to the Post.
Mishkin had previously caused controversy when he called Ohio for then-President Barack Obama in 2012; GOP political strategist Karl Rove at the time said the call was too early. Mishkin defended the call on-air and was proven to be correct.
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