In case you were unaware, ALL 22 states in the Eastern Time zine deviated to Bush from the exit polls, not just the 13 in the Eastern Region...

Good strategy. Make it appear he's winning the popular vote early on.
Influence the sheep who don't know better.
Even though he was really losing big-time.
But it was not just the EAST. It was everywhere.
Since 42 of 50 states deviated to Bush, that means 20 of the other 28 states did also.
Lots of rBrs must have been spread out over every nook and cranny from sea to shining sea.