WOWT Offers 'Two Sets of Numbers'

WOWT (Cox Channel 8) anchors Tracy Madden and John Knicely opened the newscast by making mention of "two sets of election results," vote totals offered by The Associated Press and results coming in from the office of the Nebraska Secretary. Respective totals were shown in full-screen graphics.

Reporter Gary Johnson, who was live at Tom Osborne's reception at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Lincoln, then told viewers they would hear from Heineman at a reception in Lincoln just a few blocks away. But a producer back at the station relayed to Johnson that the governor had already wrapped up his remarks.

Madden and Knicely did get viewers to live coverage of Heineman's party, only to hear Heineman say, "We are so proud of all of you" just before he left the podium. Madden quickly quipped, "We heard a whole lot of clapping. They say timing is everything in politicals is well. I'm sure it was a good speech. Unfortunately, we missed it."

However, before wrapping up its initial election results segment, WOWT did offer a taped, edited version of Heineman's remarks, as well as a taped interview with David Nabity, the third Republican in the race for governor. The station also had a taped interview with the Democratic challenger for governor, Ben Nelson.

Reporter Brian Mastre covered the Pete Ricketts victory party, noting that of all the elections he had covered, Ricketts was the first candidate Mastre had seen mingling at his party immediately after the polls closed.

Jaime McCutcheon reported live from what remained of the David Kramer party. A handful of Kramer supporters clapped as McCutcheon wrapped up her report.

WOWT also reported on a controversy created by the "O! I voted today!" stickers handed out at polling places and how precinct workers in Elkhorn had written "E" over the "O."

Madden mispronounced Tom Osborne's name once, referring to the former Nebraska football coach as "Oz-BORN."

WOWT's non-Election Day coverage consisted of a taped "News Where You Live" segment, anchored by Mastre, as well as surveillance tape of a jewelry store robbery and shooting and robbery suspect and an early-morning Council Bluffs house fire.

The only glaring glitch of the night came during Chief Meteorologist Jim Flowers' main weathercast, when his microphone went dead. But Knicely stepped in (off-camera) to share his.