Why do Freepers Support a Different Candidate than Polltakers?

1/1/2008 | me

[amordei]

I support Fred Thompson as do a far majority of FreeRepublic members. However, polls of Iowa voters, NH voters, national voters, etc. all place Fred way back in the pack. Why is that? Is it bad polling, e.g., oversampling non-Republicans, unlikely voters, etc.? I just can't believe that we are that far from standard Republican opinion. If we are, may God have mercy on us all. ;->

[McGruff]

Good question. I just hoping that the polls are wrong. Either way I’ll go down with this ship.

P.S. I’ll support whoever our nominee is. The final battle is against Satan.

[Yaelle]

It’s on the right side of the page.

It is unfindable for me without a link. I think the administrators ought to have a link at the top to the polls, or put the polls at the top. My "right side" contains nothing.

[amordei]

I actually think the last few years proves my point. The national party got off the reservation on a whole bunch of issues and has seen the rank and file desert them.

[dforest]

Because we are smarter than the average bear.

[petitfour]

Whenever I hear/read media poll results, I think back to the 2000 election night and Brit Hume’s words, “Trust us. We know what we’re doing” when it comes to exit polling. This was when they first declared AlGore the winner. And then I watched the local shenanigans over counting electronic ballots and the weeklong ballot counting/recounting in the state. (New Mexico) I will never trust election results again because of what I witnessed with democRATS running the NM county and state. And I certainly won’t trust the media. Even Brit.

[TornadoAlley3]

Which GOP hopeful is the most viable and reliable all around conservative, ie., pro-life, family, gun, constitution, national defense/security, sovereignty, borders, small government, low taxes, etc.

Fred Thompson
45.1%

Duncan Hunter
24.4%

Ron Paul
11.6%

Mitt Romney
7.2%

Rudy Giuliani
4.1%

Alan Keyes
2.6%

John McCain
2.6%

Mike Huckabee
2.4%

[ Details · Polls ]

[Yaelle]

Thanks! Isn’t interesting that one of the frontrunners, Huckabee, is at the bottom of our poll?

[McGruff]

Fred= no fire in the belly

You must not be following him too closely lately. He's spent every day in Iowa lately. I'd hate to have to do that.

[blau993]

FReepers tend to be a little more conservative than the Republican average. I say that as a simple statement of fact and by no means as an apology.

[roaddog727]

“I support Fred Thompson as do a far majority of FreeRepublic members.
****

Just curioso...
Do you have data to back this up??”

Just go back and look at EVERY Freeper opinion poll over the last 4 monst and you’ll see the evidence.

[deport]

I just can’t believe that we are that far from standard Republican opinion.

---

Why can’t you believe? Freepers are more likely to be from the middle to the right side of the political spectrum and may not be a Republican at all. Look across the country and you’ll find the Republican party from the far liberal left to the ultra conservative right. Basically the left of center isn’t represented here on FR in large numbers as they are more comfortable at some other venue.

[EmilyGeiger]

All of what you said in your question...Glenn Beck’s new book has a good chapter on this. Worth reading.

[MitchellC]

That’s actually for members and non-members. Members alone, Fred is currently 50.2%.

[lolhelp]

Jees he’s been on here since 1999 and dosen’t know where the FR polls are? What is it called? Oh, yes, “Be sure mind is in gear before engaging mouth”.

[donna]

Freepers all speak English?

[RonDog]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/poll?

[festus]

To your point...........

Dec 2003 Pew Poll
Dean -29%
Gephardt-21%
Kerry-18%
Edwards-5%

Dec 2, 2003 Zogby Poll
Dean-26%
Gephardt-22%
Kerry-9%
Edwards-5%

Jan 5-7, 2004 Survey USA Poll
Dean-29%
Gephardt-22%
Kerry-21%
Edwards-17%

Jan 8, 2004 Research 2000 Poll
Dean-29%
Gephardt-25%
Kerry-18%
Edwards-8%

IOWA CAUCUS RESULTS- Jan 19
Kerry-38%
Edwards-32%
Dean-18%
Gephardt-11%

[Mr. Jeeves]

Let’s say that is true (I don’t personally believe it). Why do non-Freepers react to that more strongly than we do?

Because to the politically uninitiated, Fred comes across as a tired old man. And nobody votes for Grandpa over the friendly preacher or the tough-talking mayor or the handsome hair spray guy. ;)

[Hattie]

May He have mercy, sorry to tell you.

[msnpatriot]

If Fred Thompson just got roughly close ‘equal time’ in the general mainstream media he would be closer to the front. So, many people aren’t aware of his fine record, and solid campaign positions.

They don’t realize yet that the 4 upper tier Rebpuclican candidates vary on issues based off what they think will ‘sell’ for the moment. McCain, Romney, Huackabee, Giulianni. These candidates are the liberal medias pick for a run against Hillary.

If your on Free Republic regularly, you become more informed about Fred Thompson, as the FR polls show. Informed conservatives will transition to Fred.