“This poll is meaningless page filler.”
The poll is snapshot of what might happen if the election were held today, that’s all. I’ve never heard a poll claiming to be anything more.
Is it the final word? No. Does it show a bearing? Yes.
You are right there, a snapshot of how the media can manipulate numbers to create a story, as the previous posts have pointed out. Again, I don't even know if Palin would run, but remember that early on the media told us and polled that Rudy was our default candidate for the longest time.
Personally I think we may have no idea who is on the ticket come 2012 and we all may be surprised if we look into the future.
Even though I agree with everything you say, I still maintain that this particular poll is meaningless because it doesn’t measure a “real” snapshot. It doesn’t measure anything but a mid-summer wondering about someone who may or may not be running, reported on by an anti-conservative site.
Your mileage may vary.