Did you know that marketing research can determine whether you are a conservative or a liberal by your purchasing and TV viewing patterns? They also can with great accuracy predict your political leanings by your zip code. Also, telephone number lists are generally sold by demographic, income, zip code, race, voting patterns, etc.
So when you see a public released political poll like all those mentioned this early in a major political race; in addition to number polled and likely voters - also ask yourself what information is provided to determine the lists used to select the zip code and demographics to interview for the “poll;” what is the assurance of quality of the interviewers; the time of day the calls occurred; who paid for the poll; do they have a known agenda; what were the total questions asked, etc? Without this information the polls are only saying whatever whomever is paying for them want them to say.
And yes, there are millions of rea$on$ to lie and make up multiple “polls” to manipulate people. If you think its not possible to do this kind of manipulation on a large scale, please see the push manipulation for AGW as just one of the better known examples.
Nevertheless, we all saw the outpouring of volunteers and individual cash donations for Palin and Cain. That is hard to fake. If The 2 alleged front runners are doing so well where are the similar individual efforts to support them?
The way the game is played is to set it up so the ones people like are always downplayed and the people have to chose to vote for a lesser evil to prevent a worse evil from winning.It’s very effective.
Yes, the polls do look close to accurate in the end. That’s because of the self fulfilling prophecy and the power of manipulation by the professionals. People are easy to herd when its marketed properly...