Horse race

I tried to explain it here , but I didn't use the word horse race.

I'm sick of the media and their sloppy, sensationalist coverage of political campaigns as if they were a horse race. I'm sick of seeing only those candidates who can pay for advertising and take huge amounts of money from corporate America.

Editor and Publisher has a great OpEd on the history of this phenomenon:

When 'Mad Men' In Media Took Control of Political Campaigns

Upton Sinclair is back, thanks to 'There Will Be Blood' movie ties. But in 1934 his race for governor gave birth to the modern media-based political campaign.
By Greg Mitchell
NEW YORK (January 11, 2008) --