A conservative media watchdog organization has little reason to doubt that the mainstream media will deem tonight's presidential debate a victory for President Obama, no matter how well Mitt Romney performs.
After reviewing the last several campaigns, the Media Research Center (MRC) has found a clear trend of network reporters fawning over the performance of liberal candidates, while harping on any perceived weakness or gaffs from conservatives.
Tim Graham, MRC's director of media analysis, says one of the most reliable pro-Democratic pundits is ABC's George Stephanopoulos.
"He tends to come out of every debate praising the Democratic nominee for dominating the debate or for nailing the questions," Graham notes. "So they can count on people like Stephanopoulos to try to raise expectations or raise opinions of the Democratic candidate every time they come out."
But there is a risk for Obama.
"Everyone remembers Al Gore's sign in the debates in 2000, like Here goes that idiot Bush again trying to unload an answer," the MRC media analysis director recalls. "The people at home thought that was extremely arrogant. That is exactly the risk Obama has, that his natural arrogance is going to come through and the voters are going to sense it."
But as far as the media goes, Graham asserts it is a foregone conclusion: "Obama's going to get an 'A' regardless of what happens."