Alas, we know the bias of the average poli sci prof/university. One thing I note is the UNH poll says it is of ‘likely’ voters, yet it includes those who simply say they ‘may’ vote, only excludes who outright say they won’t.
On the other hand, the PPP poll doesn’t say that it rotates the order of names, instead always listing Brown first, and it doesn’t identify the independent candidate by name at all.
I’d almost say each poll is reaching for its relative result.
“..and it doesn’t identify the independent candidate by name at all”
Rasmussen (Coakley 50 - Brown 41) didn’t name the Libertarian candidate Joseph Kennedy either simply because he is polling extremely low. Do you remember NJ’s gov race last year and all the hype about the Libertarian candidate polling between 12 and 18 points? When it was all said and done on election night the 3rd party candidate got 5%.