1980 Election night projections in the South.

[Liberalrocks]

I was always curious watching old coverage on YouTube, why the networks called the south so quickly for Reagan. As most of us know, several southern states were decided by under a 1.5% winning margin for Reagan. Tennessee and Arkansas were the closest. Arkansas was the only state networks didn’t call right away. Tennessee they did, and that margin was tighter. Kentucky was also very close the first state to report was called for Reagan quickly.  Anyone have insight beyond “networks were more confident/different times”

[OSR stands with Israel]

Pre 2000 networks were much more quicker to call states based on exit polls and my guess is the exits probably overestimated Reagan’s support in the South due to his strength in the metros