It might be a moot point for this last election, but the media played a role in it. Just who it helped was a point of contention for Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean and Republican National Committee Chairman Mike Duncan.

Both chairs were asked if the news coverage gave President-elect Barack Obama an added advantage in this election at a luncheon at the National Press Club Nov. 5. Dean said he didn't think it did, which was met with grumbles from the audience. He claimed the media had an impact, but it was offset on both sides and he specifically cited the media "obsession" over Obama's association with Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

"Well, I wouldn't have thought so," Dean said. "I wouldn't have thought so. You know, I don't think we need to go over the specific obsessions that went on, but there was a fair amount of obsession with guilt by association tactics, so I'm sure Mike will have a different take on this stuff. But when preachers are put on for hours at a time by the cable networks who have no bearing on what the beliefs of Senator were at all at the time - I don't think he got particularly favorable - I'm not complaining about it because all's fair in politics, but I'd say it was pretty even."