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Interesting explanation for Obama's "Surge" of late in Gallup Poll
Wizbang ^ | 9-19-2008 | DJ Drummond

Posted on 09/20/2008 11:18:25 AM PDT by grey_whiskers

(snip) It's only a point, but again we see McCain's numbers in this group went up.

So, put it all together, and in the past week Obama has stayed steady or lost support in every party identification group, yet Gallup says his overall support went up four points. And McCain stayed steady or went up in every party identification group, yet we are supposed to accept the claim that his overall support went down by four points? Anyone have an answer for how that is even possible?

Well, actually I do. There is one, and only one, possible way that such a thing can happen mathematically. And that way, is that Gallup made major changes to the political affiliation weighting from the last week to now. Gallup has significantly increased the proportional weight of Democrat response and reduced the weight of Republican response. (snip>

(Excerpt) Read more at wizbangblog.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2008; election2008; electionpresident; gallup; mccainpalin; nobama; obama; polls
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Read the article, very interesting take.

Cheers!

1 posted on 09/20/2008 11:18:25 AM PDT by grey_whiskers
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To: grey_whiskers

Rasmussen also shows Obama up a bit.


2 posted on 09/20/2008 11:19:40 AM PDT by BlessedBeGod (John McCain and Sarah Palin: Reform, Prosperity, and Peace)
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To: BlessedBeGod

We have to keep working on this election. It’s going to be tight right up to the election.

I’m tired of hearing how this is going to be a landslide for us.


3 posted on 09/20/2008 11:21:56 AM PDT by BunnySlippers (PALIN-MANIA ... I haz it!)
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To: grey_whiskers

The “Bradley effect” ?


4 posted on 09/20/2008 11:22:23 AM PDT by Biggirl (A biggirl with a big heart for God's animal creation, with 4 cats in my life as proof. =^..^==^..^=)
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To: All

I had much rather McCain be 5pct down today. Its along time to Nov 4 and to much at stake for us to get lazy or over confident right now.

McCain should hammer BHO relentlessly on his in ability to release a proposal for fixing the largest financial disaster in my life time.


5 posted on 09/20/2008 11:24:28 AM PDT by Bailee
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To: grey_whiskers
IMHO, many pollsters are reseorting to push polls, cnanging their sampling to get the results they want and try and show something that doesn;t exist in order to influence people.

It wont work.


NOW, NOW, NOW...THERE THOSE LIBERALS GO AGAIN!


I'M VOTING FOR SARAH!

6 posted on 09/20/2008 11:25:01 AM PDT by Jeff Head (Freedom is not free...never has been, never will be. (www.dragonsfuryseries.com))
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To: grey_whiskers
The polling industry is like any other. They want to keep the interest up. Showing a big lead for McCain (or -- shudder! -- Obama) this early isn't good for business. Making it appear close as long as possible maximizes their bottom line.

This is also the case with the major media. If they announce an early fait accompli for either candidate, their ad buys are going to drop precipitously.

Follow the money. Always. Wisest advice ever.

7 posted on 09/20/2008 11:25:57 AM PDT by JennysCool (A man who served his country well vs. a walking Che poster. Is it really that tough a choice?)
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To: grey_whiskers

I can only laugh and say: “Dirty F-’s!!”

Of course they would do this, 0bama does inspire “hope”.


8 posted on 09/20/2008 11:27:12 AM PDT by ABQHispConservative
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To: grey_whiskers

I think it all goes back to money. The Polls are paid for by the MSM. If the polls are cooked to keep it a horse race then people will tune in to the MSM and generate ratings and sponsor dollars (when is sweeps week?). If it’s a blow out (in the polling) the revenue shrinks because no gives a flying f**K what the MSM says about a blowout.


9 posted on 09/20/2008 11:27:18 AM PDT by IllumiNaughtyByNature (I Love The Smell Of Schmidt Storm in the Morning...and Afternoon....and at Night!!!!!)
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To: grey_whiskers

ping

Long, but interesting.


10 posted on 09/20/2008 11:27:33 AM PDT by Mrs.Z ("...you're a Democrat. You're expected to complain and offer no solutions." Denny Crane)
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To: grey_whiskers

The only one i’ve seen who gives actual numbers is Survey USA and they are way off usually.

A target sample is just that, a target, they may want 36% dem and 31% repub sample but if all they get after they call is 40% Dem and 25% Repub sample, then thats what they use.

It all depends on the randomness. target is just that a target.


11 posted on 09/20/2008 11:27:42 AM PDT by sunmars
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To: grey_whiskers

Obama has a definite shot at winning the election. Do all you can now, and be prepared for the worst.


12 posted on 09/20/2008 11:30:23 AM PDT by popdonnelly (I'll tell you a little secret: we're smarter and more competent than the Left.)
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To: grey_whiskers

Has anyone tried to get a handle on any type of Wilder/Bradley factor within the polling. It may not exist but if it does, to what magnitude is it or can it even be mesaured? How far off was the primary polling in comparison to the actual primary vote for Obama? All I can cite is the New Hampshire upset.


13 posted on 09/20/2008 11:30:45 AM PDT by Don@VB
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To: sunmars

after all Rass and Gallup only say their targets, they never actually say what thier real figure or if they are over or under target, so you cannot tell.


14 posted on 09/20/2008 11:32:14 AM PDT by sunmars
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To: BunnySlippers

“We have to keep working on this election. It’s going to be tight right up to the election. I’m tired of hearing how this is going to be a landslide for us.”

Agreed, because if Obama is announced the winner election night by a narrow margin, all of us here should look at ourselves and ask...

Did I do everything I could to have prevented it?


15 posted on 09/20/2008 11:32:36 AM PDT by Names Ash Housewares
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To: Don@VB

in the primaries Obama basically overpolled around 4 to 5 %, sometimes more.

California was 10% off in the primary, and thats were Bradley had his huge loss? So you never know.


16 posted on 09/20/2008 11:35:01 AM PDT by sunmars
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To: grey_whiskers
Well, actually I do. There is one, and only one, possible way that such a thing can happen mathematically. And that way, is that Gallup made major changes to the political affiliation weighting from the last week to now. Gallup has significantly increased the proportional weight of Democrat response and reduced the weight of Republican response

Well I am not going to throw the consipracy allegation out there yet, but there is definately something off on these national polls.. You can't keep showing Fauxbama losing support across EVERY demographic, yet show him gaining, just doesn't add up. I think there is something that is not being captured in these national polls, I'd really love to see the internal DNC and RNC polling... because there is NO WAY IN HELL either of them is showing Fauxbama up 5, that's beyond any sort of credibility. They clearly are not jiving with the state polling, or what's going on on the ground.. some somethings off for sure in them.

17 posted on 09/20/2008 11:35:28 AM PDT by HamiltonJay
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To: grey_whiskers
An honest weighing of party ID shows McCain not only lead since August but STILL leads! So the only real explanation for the apparent change in the lead is that Gallup changed its party ID weighing formula to give Obama a legs up. There's no other explanation if we go by the Palin Surge factor to explain Obama's seemingly miraculous recovery. It defies human nature and political experience to believe people change their views literally overnight as Gallup wants us to believe. If we go by the data, that never happened. So they have had to change the measurements to make Obama appear stronger than he really is and they're not doing him any favors when all the evidence contradicts the supposition of a lead. At least in the real world. I'd like to hear Gallup explain the turnaround. I bet they won't - or can't do it.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

18 posted on 09/20/2008 11:36:08 AM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
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To: Don@VB
I read (take with a grain of salt) that Obama’s personal polls think that the Bradley affect could be as much as 4%. Obviously that is not spread evenly across the board and will fluctuate drastically state to state. Where you will probably see the greatest affect will be in the Midwest, which is probably why Obama ditched his 50 state strategy.
19 posted on 09/20/2008 11:36:09 AM PDT by lt.america (Palin was McCain's Midway while Saddleback was his Coral Sea)
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To: JennysCool
Spot on!

It's all about ratings and the advertising dollars that come with the ratings.

20 posted on 09/20/2008 11:37:25 AM PDT by Prole (Please pray for the families of Chris and Channon. May God always watch over them.)
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