This isn’t the first time this happened - during the Christine O’Donnell campaign, while there wasn’t an actual poll released, rumors were posted of “internal polls” showing that the race was “close” (I strongly suspect those polls didn’t exist, and legitimate polls at the time showed O’Donnell being annihilated, which she was) that gained much credence here out of wishful thinking, and I strongly suspect the rumors originated in the O’Donnell campaign for fundraising purposes.
There also were at least two advocacy group-sponsored polls (pro-life groups) showing the Akin race being tied - I don’t have any evidence those polls were linked to the Akin campaign, though.
The lesson here is don’t believe polling data of any kind from campaigns, or from advocacy groups. As much as people hate the mainstream media and universities, their polls are much more accurate.
It’s a shame that a conservative candidate would stoop this low
O’Donnell was done in by RINOs in Delaware who voted for an avowed Marxist, rather than see a Conservative elected. One reason I no longer am a Republican. Looking for the TEA Party to start up.