I’ve noted here many times how when polls come out partisan on each side will tout the ones that boost their party or candidate and immediately start talking about the bad methodology if it doesn’t.
The most glaring example can be seen now on the Drudge Report (which could be down by the time you read this). It’s on the latest AP poll:
OBAMA HITS 60% APPROVAL!!!*
*(ap poll sample skews to democrats by 17 points)…
I’ve seen lots of polls on Drudge but can’t recall seeing anything about methodology on Rasmussen Polls that many on the left claim are skewered towards the GOP — or ever on a poll from anyone that polls shows Obama’s approval down.
The fact is, polls are polls and this bounce may be gone within a week. Plus, you can’t really see the full picture unless you look at a variety of polls.
That aside, Drudge’s little asterisk is the most graphic example of how American politics works: try and discredit something that casts your side in a bad light. But never raise it if a poll shows your side ahead.
FOOTNOTE: If any reader sees an example of a partisan questioning the methodolgy of a poll that is favorable to their side, please send it to me.
I doubt I will get many — or any — emails from now until election year.
Joe Gandelman is a former fulltime journalist who freelanced in India, Spain, Bangladesh and Cypress writing for publications such as the Christian Science Monitor and Newsweek. He also did radio reports from Madrid for NPR’s All Things Considered. He has worked on two U.S. newspapers and quit the news biz in 1990 to go into entertainment. He also has written for The Week and several online publications, did a column for Cagle Cartoons Syndicate and has appeared on CNN.