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Seems obvious to me this Gallup poll was an outlier. No other polls confirmed there was such a big swing to McCain. While obviously McCain gained amongst independents all the other polls seemed to show substantial but more modest numbers.

This is a perfect example of journalists being irresponsible with polls. It is one poll and analyzing one poll too much is never smart. Since it is the USAToday/Gallup poll and one of the most respected it has driven news coverage immensely.

This has worked great for McCain as it has painted his convention and especially the pick of Palin as major successes at a critical time for Palin. If we had seen bad polling after the Palin pick the media would have declared Palina disaster and a Quayle pick. Luckily, they have to at least concede the point that policitally she has been a good pick while they try to destroy her.

But a responsible journalist would take all the polls into account and tine down the rhetoric. When the next USAToday/Gallup poll comes out and is more in line with reality it may very well turn the press coverage. And they will find any negative aspect of the McCain campaign and link it up further driving negative news coverage for McCain.

“Seems obvious to me this Gallup poll was an outlier. No other polls confirmed there was such a big swing to McCain. “

The difference is Gallup doesn’t control by party. The other polls are spotting a 5 to 8% advantage for the Dems, right off the top.

re: This has worked great for McCain as it has painted his convention and especially the pick of Palin as major successes at a critical time for Palin. If we had seen bad polling after the Palin pick the media would have declared Palina disaster and a Quayle pick. Luckily, they have to at least concede the point that policitally she has been a good pick while they try to destroy her.)))

Actually, I expected those who ran the polls to lie and try to discourage us. I still think that's a possibility.