"Gary Coffman" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 07 Feb 2004 08:24:26 GMT, "William"
wrote:
"Ed Huntress" wrote in message
.net...
Why are you worried about people being swayed by polls? If they can be
swayed by a poll, what else can they be swayed by?

I think the stink over polls is 'way off base. I don't know anyone who
votes
on the basis of polls. But I do know people who vote for stupid
reasons.

It's not that they may vote based on the polls, it's that they may NOT
vote
at all, becuse of them, especially with exit polling.

Well, if they have that little strength of their convictions that they
don't want
their voice heard, or don't care about more local issues also on the
ballot where
their vote can still make a difference, then maybe it is better that they
don't vote.

But it is a moot point anyway, since exit polls can't be reported until
after the
West Coast polls close.

Gary

True, they no longer report the exit polls before the voting is over.
However that's really just the last time point in the loop. The press
reports the "winners" ( at least as far as they see them ) for months, then
weeks, and finally days and hours before the polls open. So they cut off
the last point in the list. They are also doing this, although to a lower
rate, in local, and state wide elections too. So if your party or, your
favorite group of candidates is running behind according to the polling
data, the "average" voter may be less likely to vote. Now you can argue
that only the "strongly convicted" should vote, but I would really like to
see ( well at least once :-) an election that every one entitled to vote
did.

William.....