What we wear, what we buy, who we like and what we’re like, duh, it’s all controlled by the media. And politics is no different.

So if you’re the kind of person who likes to gamble on the future of our nation, Barack Obama and John McCain winning the primary today in New Hampshire seems like a good bet. Because as some outlets are admitting, the media has a huge crush on both of them.

In The New Republic yesterday:

There’s no denying that the media absolutely loves McCain, and I’d imagine many readers wonder why that is.

The simple explanation is: McCain affords the press access like no other candidate. In the McCain campaign, there’s no barrier between candidate and reporter. … On the whole, it’s hard to overstate the sort of goodwill this access engenders among reporters.

And as much as the media loves McCain’s “straight talk,” they adore Barack Obama’s story and potential to oust Hillary Clinton:

The media overall are being swept up by a wave of Obamamania, in which normally hard-bitten journalists watch the orator in action and come away dazzled by his gifts. … The journalistic scrutiny usually visited on instant front-runners has been replaced by something akin to a standing ovation.

What's more, the applause extends even to pundits on the right, many of whom routinely denigrate Democratic politicians and yet are strikingly warm toward Obama. There is gratitude, to be sure, that he seems poised to knock off their longtime bete noire, Hillary Clinton — especially if he wins today's New Hampshire primary — but also admiration for his inclusive approach to politics and for his sheer talent.

According to the latest exit polls, Obama and McCain are winning New Hampshire. There you have it. The media really does control everything.

[Photo Credit: lauren victoria burke, dugout via Flickr]