Rasmussen Polls Deliver Results The GOP Likes. Why?

[babylonsister]

Rasmussen, the Only Poll that Matters
Republicans Take Solace in Numbers of a(n occasionally) Conservative Pollster
By David Weigel 2/18/09 12:30 AM


Last week, as they’ve done every week for nearly two years, New Jersey-based Rasmussen Reports cycled a question about Congress into its nightly political tracking poll. Over two nights, around 1000 voters (they must be voters, or say they are, to be included in the poll) were asked by an automated, voice-activated pollster whether they they would support a Democratic candidate or a Republican candidate for Congress, were the election held today.

The result was surprisingly close. Only 40 percent of the voters who talked to Rasmussen Reports said they’d support the Democrats, while 39 percent said they’d support the Republicans. “Are Republicans winning the public relations battle over spending in the $800-billion-plus economic stimulus package?” asked company founder and publisher Scott Rasmussen in the company’s news release. “This marks the lowest level of support for the Democrats in tracking history and is the closest the two parties have been on the generic ballot.”

The question, the result, and the carnival barker spin-all are trademarks of Rasmussen Reports, a pollster that has become ubiquitous in the conversation of Republicans and conservative pundits. It is not a partisan polling firm, and it is not hired to ask partisan questions the way that, for example, John Zogby was hired to test the mocking anti-Obama questions of a conservative radio host. Rasmussen is influential because its carefully crafted questions that produce answers that conservatives like — 59 percent of voters agreeing with Ronald Reagan’s view of big government, a 10-point plurality of voters trusting their economic judgment over President Obama’s — are bolstered by highly accurate campaign polling. The result is that polls with extremely favorable numbers for Republican stances leap into the public arena every week, quickly becoming accepted wisdom.

more...

http://washingtonindependent.com/30539/rasmussen-the-only-poll-that-matters

[depakid]

1. The why is simple

they're meant to influence public opinion and not reflect it.

And they're effective at that because most Americans have lost the ability to think critically- much less analytically about them- even when the results are obviously spurious.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

2. So, I guess this poll explains

why the Republicans feel like they're "back in the saddle again?" :shrug: :eyes:

[liberal N proud]

4. Must be the only poll the GOP looks at

[FSogol]

3. You get what you pay for, right? n/t