Zogby Representative at the Conyers Panel

[Moochy]

Did anyone else notice what the main conflict was regarding Zogby and the exit-poll data ? Was there an official request by any government official to get the unadjusted numbers from Zogby?

I seem to recall one of the panelists referring to the adjusted exit-poll data and the values that were on CNN's website.

And why would you adjust exit poll data ?

Is this just PR ? what's their game?

[tech3149]

1. In all fairness

Mitofsky said they could not release the data. What they didn't say was that the paying customer(the networks who payed for the service) could authorize that release. Since the information is the result of a business arrangement, the customer is the only one who can authorize sharing that information with any third party.

The person you are referring to is Prof. Freeman. He got his information from the broadcast exit poll information throughout the day by the networks. (I think primarily CNN) The only explanation he could offer for the adjustment boiled down to a CYA move from the networks. Like he said there were only two possibilities, accept the exit polls as being correct or accept the tabulation. They chose to accept the tabulation because it was easier to offer a plausible explanation for the difference.

[Old and In the Way]

2. So why didn't the DNC contract for the same polling data?

I can't understand, given the 2000 and 2002 midterms, why the Democrats were not subscribing to the raw data for their own unfiltered understanding of the data. Why would they rely on the likes of CNN or MSNBC to explain/interpert the results of the exit polls?

Any doubt that the RNC didn't have the raw data?

[tech3149]

3. I have no idea

but that's the problem with commercializing the democratic process. I think the most likely explanation is that the DNC is too trusting. Who else would bring a knife to a gunfight? I wouldn't doubt for a second that Rove was tied into the exit poll reporting and did the manipulation based on the numbers he saw.

[Old and In the Way]

4. I have no doubt you are correct.

Maybe for that reason, the exit polling data shouldn't be released until after the polls close....so that can't be a tool to calibrate the results.

[tech3149]

5. I would agree

There's no need for instant gratification, we could wait until tomorrow or even the end of the week to get results. We just seem to want it all nad now.