Can Paying Attention to Wikipedia Updates Tell Us Who Romney’s VP Pick Will Be?
- Posted on August 7, 2012 at 1:42pm by
Erica Ritz
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(Photo: Getty Images)
The politically-savvy each have their own theories about who Mitt Romney will pick for his running-mate. Some say he will go for a candidate with charisma and a firm record of conservatism to energize the base; others say he will do the opposite, for fear of being outshone. Will he go for a Rubio, or a Pawlenty?
Tech President’s Micah Sifry notes that perhaps more accurate than all the associated strategists and advisers — except for those who are already in the know — is Wikipedia.
Sifry writes:
Sarah Palin’s Wikipedia page was updated at least 68 times the day before John McCain announced her selection, with another 54 changes made in the five previous days previous…The same burst of last-minute editing appeared on Joe Biden’s Wikipedia page…
None of Wikipedia entries for the current candidates being bandied about by Romney-watchers — Rob Portman, Marco Rubio, Paul Ryan, Bobby Jindal, Chris Christie, Kelly Ayotte or Pawlenty — are currently showing anything like the spike in edits that Cyveillance spotted on Palin and Biden’s pages back in 2008. But most of those came in the 24 hours prior to the official announcement. That said, if Wikipedia changes offer any hint of what’s coming, then today [Monday] might be a good day to bet on Ryan…
Here is a graph of how the Wikipedia edits broke down as of Monday:
(Photo: Tech Edit)
Politico’s Dylan Byers explained: “In the Internet age, vetting includes not only a rigorous look at a candidate’s past, but rigorous editing of his or her public record. It’s a simple but oft overlooked point. Kudos to Sifry for keeping it in mind.”
But since the theory became more widely-recognized, a flurry of editing occurred on the potential candidate’s Wikipedia pages. NPR grabbed a list of the updated changes, as of today:
— Ohio Sen. Rob Portman’s Wiki page has been revised 16 times so far today, by someone called “River8009.”
— Florida Sen. Marco Rubio’s Wiki page has been revised nine times so far today and 11 times from Aug. 2-6.
— Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s Wiki page has been tweaked four times today.
— Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan’s Wiki page has been edited once today, and 11 times from Aug. 2-6.
— Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal’s Wiki page hasn’t been edited today, but was revised eight times from Aug. 3-4.
— New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte’s Wiki page has not been touched today. It was last revised on July 28.
— New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s Wiki page hasn’t been revised since July 24.
And that’s where problems start emerging with the theory — Byers later added:
The problem with Sifry’s model is that tallying revisions doesn’t account for the difference between serious, substantive edits and the persistence of one user who doesn’t get his way — much less minor spelling edits or slight augmentation of dates, etc. [Emphasis added]
So where does that leave you? Most have come to the conclusion that, unless Romney picks a relatively unknown politician, the “Wikipedia method” may have grown too well-known to remain free of contaminating factors.
If you just can’t wait, Tech President suggests scouring obscure aviation websites — after all, it was a mechanic’s admission that he saw “Edwards” being painted on Kerry’s plane that broke the VP pick in 2004.
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Daddymac10
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 11:46amTo get an idea start by typing in “boring establishment white man” in Wikipedia. What kind of flawed system do we have if the choice is between RomneyCare or ObamaCare?? We demand representation. If Romney don’t choose a credible Tea Party VP, he can forget our support. How is it possible for a guy who created RomneyCare to argue against ObamaCare?? If Romney think the majority of Tea Party voters are Republican lock-steppers, that would be a grave miscalculation..
Bachmann / West 2012 ..write-in
Report Post »epicwinofgod
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 12:26amChances are you’ll find legislation being passed on wikipedia before televised news. In some cases, I find things on wikipedia which are nonexistant in public acknowledgement of our own government. This is a shady practice at work. This is why I use the blaze as a news source because mass media only seems to offer a dulled down illiterate version blinding us from their true agendas. Makes me sick.
Report Post »mars2772
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 10:32pmI like the idea of the general! http://drudgereport.com/flashgp.htm
Report Post »DownWithDems
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 12:16amJohn Sununu should be VP.
Report Post »lisa2994
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 7:44pmThis is the man in my opinion we need as our VP. If you have 21 minutes take a listen to Rubio the man is amazing! And I believe in his conviction to do what is right for our country.
http://www.therightscoop.com/must-watch-sen-marco-rubios-speech-at-faith-and-freedom-coalition-conference/
Report Post »NO_MORE_OBAMA
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 8:00pmI love this guy! He would make a great VP. The problem is you will loose a republican senator. Frankly, you cant trust the idiots in Florida to not replace him with another republican.
Report Post »thomasvh
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 6:13pmallen west or marco rubio or this thing is over til 2014 amen!
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 4:01pmMaybe we should pick one of those and update the hell out of it.
Report Post »Master.Debater
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 3:19pmCome on! The difference between 8 edits and 10 edits is hardly grounds for jumping to a conclusion. Reed-iculous.
Report Post »NutterButter79
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 3:12pmSeriously? Nobody realizes that Marco Rubio is VP? He’s been vetted by the Bilderbergs. Laugh now if you want, but it’s the truth. Romney will win election 2012 since, again he was vetted by Bilderberg. You might cheer the fact that he is set to win, but it’s not going to be pretty when the bankers run the country.
Report Post »RedDawn2012
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 6:49amGood call. There’s no doubt that the Bilderbergs always invite the next President or his veep to speak at their get together prior to the election. It’s a sure bet that their “chosen one” inevitably wins.
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 3:08pm*sigh* Can’t please the followers of “that one Rep. from Texas.” Doesn’t matter who Romney picks. If it’s not “he who should not be named in order to not offend the followers of that one Rep. from Texas” guy, then said followers will continue to whine and *enlighten* us on how everybody else is just another Obama in disguise.
Report Post »3monkeysmomma
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 4:46pm???????
Voldermort is from Texas?
Report Post »Does that make Rick Perry a member of the House of Slytherin?
That would explain a lot.
KevINtampa
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 2:50pmWow, history changing right before our eyes!
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 2:45pmIt‘s too bad someone didn’t request all of Obama’s information before he had it all sealed.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 2:58pmWhat I was thinking .. all his that is in print is fiction.
Report Post »randy
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 2:32pmAnyone who relies on wikipedia for anything deserves 4 more years of Obama
Report Post »thegreatcarnac
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 2:07pmMe. I will be his Vice President.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 1:59pmWe will not know until he announces it.
One thing all need to understand, Obama and the Democrats will unleash the hoards of the Abyss upon the VP and Romey in double of what Reid has been doing.
Report Post »Want our country back
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 2:41pmLet’s hope so, American’s HATE that and will do to obama what we did for the country in 2010. BRING IT ON.
Can you hear us now. GOP 2012 Support Mitt Romney, send money even if you don’t get to hang with Michael “freaking” Jordan. Sorry Michael, you’ll go the way of Oprah if you get involved with this clown.
Report Post »Mutiny
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 1:55pmI believe Obama is going to boot Biden and Romney will become his new VP. Their major policies are almost identical.
Report Post »sWampy
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 2:00pmBoy, that would throw a money in the works.
Report Post »Individualism
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 1:50pmHis pick will be Elizabeth Warren or someone like that.
Report Post »BloodSweatandTears
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 1:50pmLet‘s hope it’s not Portman. His latest legislation threw us under the Agenda 21 bus. Sorry I don’t have the links.
Report Post »hi
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 1:45pmI give up. I am sure his pick will be Nancy Pelosi.
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