[lbo-talk] AAPOR on "push polls"

[John Adams]

On Saturday, May 22, 2004, at 02:26 PM, Doug Henwood wrote:

> [speaking of push polls, which we were just the other day, AAPOR has 
> released this statement > 
> <http://www.aapor.org/pdfs/2004/pushpolls.pdf>]

> A push poll is a form of negative campaigning disguised as a political 
> poll that is designed to change opinions, not measure them. Legitimate 
> polls accurately describe the candidates and issues in order to 
> understand voter reactions. Push polls frequently present distorted 
> information in order to influence voters. Push polls go beyond the 
> ethical boundaries of political polling and bombard voters with 
> problematic statements about candidates or issues in an effort to 
> manufacture negative voter attitudes.

So what _is_ the right term for the form of poling which seeks neither 
of these things, but simply to identify supporters for a 
get-out-the-vote campaign? Granted, this sort of polling can be 
economically combined with push polling, but it doesn't have to be.

All the best,

	John A