Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

No, The Polls Aren’t Biased. Clinton Really Is Leading Trump
The Federalist ^ | June 24, 2016 | Emily Ekins

Posted on 06/27/2016 8:47:46 AM PDT by Maceman

The conservative blogosphere is lighting up again with accusations of polling bias against Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in his race against Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton. However, Trump supporters should avoid giving into this temptation to assume unfavorable results must be biased results. Clinton really is leading Trump, and by nearly 6 percentage points.

The blogospherian argument goes something like this: Clinton is leading Trump by 5 to 7 points in certain polls because the pollsters oversampled or over-weighted Democrats by about 5 to 7 points. If the polls are “corrected” to include fewer Democrats then the race is actually tied, they say.

For instance, one blogger argues that a recent CBS News poll inflated the number of Democrats in the poll, comprised of 28 percent Republicans and 35 percent Democrats. Citing one pollster’s calculation, she thinks party identification in the United States is closer to parity, with 28 percent Republicans and only 29 percent Democrats rather than a seven-point Democratic advantage. She reasons that if you erase the partisan gap that would erase Clinton’s six-point lead over Trump.

For Trump supporters, this is a tempting narrative to believe. But this simply isn’t so. The fact is there just are more Democrats out there than Republicans, and this has largely been the case at least since the New Deal. That obviously doesn’t mean Democrats always win, but it’s unwise to assume a pollster is biased because its sample included more Democrats than Republicans.

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


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2016polls; denial
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 101-120121-140141-160 ... 181-185 next last
To: Jane Long

All over.


121 posted on 06/27/2016 11:05:17 AM PDT by amihow (l)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 109 | View Replies]

To: amihow
Please mind your manners and learn to communicate productively.

122 posted on 06/27/2016 11:08:51 AM PDT by COBOL2Java (Donald Trump, warts and all, is not a public enemy. The Golems in the GOP are stasis and apathy)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 120 | View Replies]

To: Maceman

Oh just stop

Assume trump is behind and needs our help

The answer is get out the vote


123 posted on 06/27/2016 11:10:35 AM PDT by Nifster (I see puppy dogs in the clouds)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: COBOL2Java

Nothing to say?


124 posted on 06/27/2016 11:15:04 AM PDT by amihow (l)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 122 | View Replies]

To: Maceman
Political polls are pretty much useless now. To the extent they try to be objective, which is pretty rare these days, their models are so broken they are no longer capable of reporting political opinions correctly.

Significant denunciation of voters' opinions only gets the latter to go dark, but doesn't influence their opinions in the slightest. Basically the MSM's political correctness has poisoned the well as far as public opinion polls are concerned.

Only hostile environment polling - polls of secondary opinions which when properly analyzed reveal real opinions on other issues - can work now. This is vastly expensive, incompatible with phone polling, etc, etc, etc.

This is several orders of magnitude greater than the Bradley Effect.

It is also different from, but related to, systematic bias by the polling industry. Basically the polling industry is a faction of the MSM and political elites in general.

Here all of those factors are working simultaneously.

125 posted on 06/27/2016 11:16:55 AM PDT by Thud
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Maceman

I’ve been telling people here that Hillary was going to win. I have been, uh, flamed. She is going to cheat to win. The polls do not matter.


126 posted on 06/27/2016 11:17:59 AM PDT by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin (Freedom is the freedom to discipline yourself so others don't have to do it for you.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: AllAmericanGirl44

Ping 121 ;-)


127 posted on 06/27/2016 11:24:12 AM PDT by Jane Long (Go Trump, go! Make America Safe Again :)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 112 | View Replies]

To: Grampa Dave
Here is a better one...

 photo e33d2f3d-7668-414f-83e3-2f9bdd03ff00_zpsea03jtaf.jpg


128 posted on 06/27/2016 11:25:13 AM PDT by timestax (American Media = Domestic Enemy)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: amihow; AllAmericanGirl44

So, you’re ‘hearing’ that “the enthusiasm for Donald diminishing”.....and I asked you from where....and, your reply was from “all over”.

Okaaaay.....well, amihow, I’m afraid that with that vague answer....your reliability level is now all “over” :- /


129 posted on 06/27/2016 11:30:20 AM PDT by Jane Long (Go Trump, go! Make America Safe Again :)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 121 | View Replies]

To: pfflier
As long as I have been a member, there has been plenty of opinions, sarcasm, justification, rationalization and lip service. It always seems to end there.

Yes, the thoughts expressed on FR forums are through the use of words. You want to get together again as did FReepers of olden times and slug it out? Or what?
130 posted on 06/27/2016 11:34:28 AM PDT by Resettozero
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 113 | View Replies]

To: LS
Well, not exactly. The D+ number is always based on turnout at the LAST election.

The reputable pollsters will allow D/R/I to fluctuate in each cycle. Those that model it on the last election are usually wrong. The electorate obviously shifts a bit from cycle to cycle. The last 3 elections were Even (Bush 2004), D+7 (Obama 2008), D+6 (Obama 2012).

131 posted on 06/27/2016 11:37:46 AM PDT by NYRepublican72 (Radical Islamic terrorist Omar Mateen is "Ready for Hillary!" Are you too?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 100 | View Replies]

To: Jane Long

Prognosticators are “all over” - the map.


132 posted on 06/27/2016 11:38:00 AM PDT by COBOL2Java (Donald Trump, warts and all, is not a public enemy. The Golems in the GOP are stasis and apathy)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 129 | View Replies]

To: Buckeye McFrog

Demographics people!! You can’t beat them. Throw in a few looney white people and bam!


133 posted on 06/27/2016 11:39:22 AM PDT by sheana
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: V K Lee

Do you not also think voter fraud played its part? I do.


134 posted on 06/27/2016 11:45:00 AM PDT by Biggirl ("One Lord, one faith, one baptism" - Ephesians 4:5)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 119 | View Replies]

To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin

That is why it is very important to support organizations that work hard to prevent voter fraud. That is going to be a big issue this time around.


135 posted on 06/27/2016 11:47:21 AM PDT by Biggirl ("One Lord, one faith, one baptism" - Ephesians 4:5)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 126 | View Replies]

To: Jane Long

I put forth where and how earlier.

Perhaps you missed.

I read constantly from all different sources. I check the polls a lot. I have graduate courses in statistics and understand polling pretty well. I have a long and varied experience with lots of people from every level of society and am involved with many different ethnic groups. I have been involved in the legal system and have been politically/socially active, even as a lobbyist.

I really do not like boasting because pride preceeds a fall, but I have been an advisor in national elections at times, am highly educated with two graduate degrees, but now retired and slowed way down by age and health and vision issues.

But I care deeply about this country in part because of lots of grand and great grandchildren. So I plod on.

I am not comfortable with the schoolyard nastiness on FR. I now understand why lots of good minds I know do not like to dirty their hands here.

But I can shrug the nasties off pretty well and appreciate the many great participants on FR.

And you nasties know who you are and I am learning.


136 posted on 06/27/2016 11:51:06 AM PDT by amihow (l)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 129 | View Replies]

To: Biggirl

That goes without being said. Fraud is standard procedure in the dem operations; with gimme gimme gimme the chances of our winning are even slimmer in any given election.

LOL in the early years, and younger age, I was but a babe. Parents seldom spoke of parties. When JFK passed as a country everyone was saddened. First vote was cast for Nixon, after his leaving I became a non party person. Carter in and still an ‘unaffiliated’ to quote G. Will. After Clinton disgrace it was sworn I’d never vote democrat again. Even without my vote, the party still seems to be growing. :*(


137 posted on 06/27/2016 11:57:54 AM PDT by V K Lee (u TRUMP TRUMP TRUMP to TRIUMPH Follow the lead MAKE AMERICA GREAT)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 134 | View Replies]

To: amihow; Jane Long
I put forth where and how earlier.

Perhaps you missed.

Perhaps Jane missed? Where is it? If you did "put forth where and how", it's no where to be seen on this thread!


...I am not comfortable with the schoolyard nastiness on FR. I now understand why lots of good minds I know do not like to dirty their hands here.

But I can shrug the nasties off pretty well and appreciate the many great participants on FR.

And you nasties know who you are and I am learning.


138 posted on 06/27/2016 12:09:07 PM PDT by COBOL2Java (Donald Trump, warts and all, is not a public enemy. The Golems in the GOP are stasis and apathy)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 136 | View Replies]

To: COBOL2Java

You just read it again plus more. You do not really want to know.


139 posted on 06/27/2016 12:37:52 PM PDT by amihow (l)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 138 | View Replies]

To: COBOL2Java

You just read it again plus more. You do not really want to know.


140 posted on 06/27/2016 12:37:52 PM PDT by amihow (l)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 138 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 101-120121-140141-160 ... 181-185 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson