Prior to election day, it was dull, lifeless, and tightly scripted. The candidates fulminated over their differing versions of prescription drug benefits. After election day, all hell broke loose. Americans didn't suddenly become more fiercely partisan. It was politicians and party loyalists who did, because there was no longer a script.
Pandemonium is a great spectator sport.
Far larger numbers of Americans tuned in after election day than before. Chris Matthews told me his ratings were twice as high. Republicans accused local election officials of being Democrats intent on bending the rules in favor of Gore. Democrats accused state election officials of being Republicans intent on bending the rules in favor of Bush. Republicans hissed that the Florida Supreme Court justices were Democrats reinventing law to suit Gore.