Pre-Election Polls

What are the purpose of these polls? Most of them vary a wide margin, and many of them do not break the numbers down by state (electorall votes).

Do any of you think about changing your vote based upon the polls? Do you think people may decide not to vote if their candidate is ahead or behind by a large margin?

While I know it would be impossible to ban these polls, should it be considered? Do they really help the public? Can they influence an election?

I think they do. It's another brand of propaganda.

Originally posted by intrepid
I think they do. It's another brand of propaganda.

You think they do what? I would agree with propaganda, but most of these polls are put out by news organizations.

Originally posted by dcgolf
Can they influence an election?

I think they do.

You can make #'s say pretty much what you want. Take this satire, Groening gets it, in the Simpsons episode Homer was being interviewed about how minor crime was down like 30% but sack beatings had increased 450%. The answer was, " Well Kent, you can get statistics to prove anything. 18% of people know that."

I've never seen a media polarized nation like the States. If it's not on Fox, it's not credible and vice versa. I say take it all in, the truth will be in the middle somewhere. Sadly that's not going to happen so you'll get these polls that I person will believe another not and all in ignorance.

Here is a decent website that has national data broke down by electoral vote. www.electoral-vote.com That being said, I agree, polling in general is wildly inaccurate, one poll might say Bush by 12 while another at the same time says dead heat.