Zogby Polling Seeks Damage Control After Election Day Flub

CNSNEWS.com ^ | 12/09/04 | Marc Morano

[kattracks]

Capitol Hill (CNSNews.com) - Following an Election Day prediction that Democratic candidate John Kerry would win more than 300 electoral votes and the presidency, one of America's most well known polling firms continued the job Wednesday of explaining its flawed projection.

Shawnta Watson Walcott, communications director for Zogby International, joined a group of liberal Democrats at a faux congressional hearing focused on whether fraud influenced the Nov. 2 outcome.

"... it has become increasingly clear that this election has produced unprecedented levels of suspicion regarding its outcome, and we join this panel discussion in an attempt to find a resolution to these issues," said Walcott, who represented the firm's president and long time political pollster John Zogby at the forum sponsored by Democratic members of the House Judiciary Committee.

On Election Day, Zogby predicted that Kerry would win 311 electoral votes. For much of that afternoon, he also rated the state of Virginia as too close to call. Not only did President Bush end up winning Virginia by 9 percentage points over Kerry, he won 286 electoral votes, over 3.3 million popular vote more than Kerry and, of course, re-election.

But with a Rayburn House Office Building meeting room as the backdrop, Judiciary Committee Democrats, liberal special interest groups and individuals like Rainbow PUSH Coalition founder Jesse Jackson Wednesday alleged that the election had been marred by fraud and malfunctioning voting machines.

Walcott told the group assembled that Zogby International had questions of its own pertaining to the election.

"We have received thousands of letters and phone calls regarding irregularities - many of which center on early exit polling results that were uncharacteristically inaccurate in several battleground states; questionable practices at polling stations that may have resulted in votes not being counted accurately; and in Ohio, as with other swing states, the automated Diebolt machines were particularly disturbing because they offered no voting receipts" she said.

"It is with this intention that we recommend that a blue ribbon bipartisan panel be developed to investigate the allegations discussed here today ..." Walcott added.

Later, another noted political observer questioned the wisdom of Walcott attending the partisan event at the Rayburn Office Building.

Larry Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, said Zogby polling may have crossed a line in its call for an investigation of the election results.

"It's highly unusual for a pollster who claims not to be partisan to issue such a call [for an investigation]," Sabato told CNSNews.com .

When asked whether he thought Zogby might be trying to spread the idea of voter fraud to explain his mistaken pre-election prediction, Sabato responded, "I can't comment on [Zogby's] motives. I have no idea. But I can tell you this. This whole [election fraud] hullabaloo is malarky."

In explaining her presence at Wednesday's meeting, Walcott said she was offering "recommendations that may help restore the dignity and public confidence in the democratic process -- a process that is clearly worth protecting."

But Sabato said such criticism of the election process were without merit.

"There is absolutely no chance that the election was stolen, and there is absolutely no chance that the election results will be reversed in Ohio -- regardless of how many investigations are done," Sabato added.

Democrats have centered most of their allegations of election mismanagement or wrongdoing on Ohio, even though President Bush beat Kerry in the state by more than 135,000 votes.

Sabato also ridiculed the assertion by Zogby International that its exit polls were "uncharacteristically inaccurate" in 2004. "They have been characteristically inaccurate in 2000, 2002, 2004 -- wrong three times in a row and highly inaccurate," Sabato said.

"So talking about cynicism, the cynicism is being generated by these wild claims. Was it a perfect election? No. Has there ever been a perfect election in the history of the world? No," Sabato concluded.

See Related Article:
Jesse Jackson: 2004 Election 'Ain't Over' (Dec. 8, 2004)

E-mail a news tip to Marc Morano.

Send a Letter to the Editor about this article.

[Southack]

Zogby only called 1 election correctly in his entire history, and it is readily apparent that his 1 correct call was pure coincidence.

He's always been a tool of the far left. He's always associated with the far left. He's always lied. McBride was never ahead of Jeb in 2002, for instance. Virginia was never "too close to call" in 2004, either.

Zogby is not the worst pollster, however. Even as bad as Zogby polls, there are two other firms that poll worse.

But there are a dozen polling firms that are more accurate than Zogby year in and year out...leaving one to conclude that the only reason to hire Zogby is to have him tell you whatever it is that you want to hear.

He's a tool. You pay to have him validate whatever nonsense more reputable pollsters won't say for lack of data (or conflicting data).

[bushisdamanin04]

Zogby used to have a great reputation. He has suffered quite the fall ... all self-inflcited.

[Howlin]

Too late. Next election, let's remember this so when somebody says "What did Zogby say in 2004," we will remember.

[Chad Fairbanks]

and in Ohio, as with other swing states, the automated Diebolt machines were particularly disturbing because they offered no voting receipts" she said.

I thought it's been proved that they don't even use Deibold machines in Ohio, or am I wrong on that?

But, whatever. What this all boils down to is that Zogby has been proven to be an innacurate pollster who's work can't be trusted, and so rather than risk the loss of his "reputation", he joins the "Vote Fraud" bandwagon to cover his ass.

Up yours, Zogby, you hack.

[Chad Fairbanks]

My word. Where does one start? Do these people live on another planet? Where in the world had they been for the last year? Did anyone ever hear that there were two election days? As far as I can remember, election day has always been the first Tuesday in November. Aren't these people educated on election procedures by their precints? This woman has got to be lying.

Either that, or they saw my flyers... ;0)

heh heh heh

[Armando Guerra]

Zogby only called 1 election correctly in his entire history

I guess that makes him the Jeanne Dixon of pollsters. You only need to get a prediction right once and you can live off the fame the rest of your life, no matter how off the wall your other predictions are.

[FreeKeys]

bumper sticker slogan:

STUPID?   DON'T VOTE !

[staytrue]

and in Ohio, as with other swing states, the automated Diebolt machines were particularly disturbing because they offered no voting receipts

80% of Ohio ballots were cast via punch cards and I am guessing without proof that even if you threw out all the Diebold machine counts, Bush still wins.

[OPS4]

I did not. My intial post had nothing to do with Muslim or ethnic categories of any kind. I said to get on point then posted the point of Zogby and the left being psyco babbling losers.

Ops4 God BLess America!

[BluH2o]

Larry Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, said Zogby polling may have crossed a line in its call for an investigation of the election results.

Didn't read thru all the replies, so I'm not sure anyone pointed this out ... Larry Sabato called the election for Kerry three or four days before Nov. 2nd.

[rightinthemiddle]

You posted to me and asked me a question. I answered. Nananananana....

Zogby and the Left are psycho-babbling losers.

God Bless America.

I only fight with Democrats.

[colorado tanker]

Wow. Zogby drank too much of his special sauce.

[Calamari]

The first thing I would read in the evening paper each night when I was growing up was Li'l Abner!

[LibSnubber]

Hey Zogby!

Does the name "Hindenberg" mean anything to ya? It should, because you've gone down in flames just like it did - only you're either too stupid to know it, or too proud (or desperate?) to admit it. See ya!

[TYVets]

Zogby

The Obsolete Media is joined by a Obsolete Pollster

[Dont_Tread_On_Me_888]

Diebolt

It is spelled Diebold. If you can't even spell the name of the company, I will not listen to your sob story since I can't be sure anything you say is accurate.

[MindBender26]

Kat,

Nothing new here. Zogby has been cooking the polls for years. They all do, especially the NY Times. Republican Frank Luntz is as bad or worse.

It's like asking an accountant what 2+2 is... and the accountant's answer is......"What would you like it to me.....?"

Read Dick Morris' book "Off With Their Heads" for details.

[MindBender26]

Kat,

Nothing new here. Zogby has been cooking the polls for years. They all do, especially the NY Times. Republican Frank Luntz is as bad or worse.

It's like asking an accountant what 2+2 is... and the accountant's answer is......"What would you like it to me.....?"

Read Dick Morris' book "Off With Their Heads" for details.

[Sthitch]

If there was ever any doubt, it is now official, Zogby has "Jumped the Shark"!