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Haven't we learned that polls mean little or nothing? Didn't the polls predict a drubbing for Hillary in NH? Didn't the polls tell us that Hillary would lose MA, no ifs or buts? And probably CA? Didn't the polls tell us that Michael Dukakis would defeat Bush Sr. by a wide margin?
Polls are structured and conducted to serve the political leanings of the pollsters. It makes us feel good to quote polls that fit our own biases so we don't have to look at the facts. In the end they only make us look like dumb a---s everytime.
Haven't we learned that polls mean little or nothing? Didn't the polls predict a drubbing for Hillary in NH? Didn't the polls tell us that Hillary would lose MA, no ifs or buts? And probably CA? Didn't the polls tell us that Michael Dukakis would defeat Bush Sr. by a wide margin?
Polls are structured and conducted to serve the political leanings of the pollsters. It makes us feel good to quote polls that fit our own biases so we don't have to look at the facts. In the end they only make us look like dumb a---s everytime.
I have found the polls to be pretty useful, and fairly accurate considering how many folks haven't solidified who they support.
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I did not say that polls weren't useful. Polls are useful to the extent that they make us feel comfortable in the positions that we choose to hold. But I don't agree with you that they are "fairly accurate". For example, the polls created on this board for the most part reflect our own wishful thinking and have little bearing on the facts and events that unfold outside of this board.
If you go to RealClearPolitics and look at the Super Tuesday state by state polls on the two days leading up to Super Tuesday, a survey group called Survey USA pretty much nailed most of the states they polled. I don't know who they are, but they were pretty close, within a respectable margin of error.
Survey USA poll results from 2/2 - 2/4:
MA - Clinton 17% (actual Clinton 15%)
CA - Clinton 10% (actual Clinton 10%)
IL - Obama 36% (actual Obama 32%)
NJ - Clinton 11% (actual Clinton 10%)
NY - Clinton 18% (actual Clinton 17%)
CT - Obama 2% (actual Obama 4%)
They one they were way off in was MO. They said Clinton 11% and it ended up being Obama 1%.
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