[lbo-talk] AAPOR on "push polls"

John Adams jadams01 at sprynet.com
Sun May 23 10:34:04 PDT 2004


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



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