WP: Last-Minute Push Polls Send Some Voters Over the Edge

[Pirate Smile]

Last-Minute Push Polls Send Some Voters Over the Edge

By Ann E. Marimow
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, November 3, 2006; Page B04

The automated call asks Maryland voters whom they support in the U.S. Senate race: Republican Michael S. Steele or Democrat Benjamin L. Cardin.

The follow-up question asks whether "medical research" should be "conducted on unborn babies." If the answer is no, the voice responds: "Fact: Ben Cardin voted to allow stem cell research to be done on unborn babies. Fact: Michael Steele opposes any research that destroys human life."

The calls, which have reached voters from Silver Spring to Baltimore, are being made on behalf of Common Sense Ohio, a conservative Cincinnati-based group that has its hand in six contests, including Senate races in Tennessee and Missouri and a ballot measure in South Dakota that would ban most abortions.

Another question on the phone poll asks whether the phrase "under God" should remain in the Pledge of Allegiance and says Cardin voted against keeping the phrase in the pledge. In reality, Cardin voted against a bill that would have blocked legal challenges to the pledge.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/02/AR2006110201672.html

[Pirate Smile]

1. more

"The push poll -- designed to disseminate information about the candidates, rather than collect it -- is just one of the last-minute tactics inundating, and in some cases rankling, Maryland voters in the final week of a campaign that features competitive contests for the Senate and the governor's mansion.

A mailer from the state Republican Party displays photos of four black Democratic politicians and suggests that they are all supporting Steele and Republican Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R). Only one, former Prince George's County Executive Wayne K. Curry, has endorsed Steele, and two others said they were angry that their pictures were being used.

In East Silver Spring, Elisabeth Higgins Null, an Internet researcher who is supporting Cardin, said the push poll had angered her and many of her neighbors. Null said she tolerates political calls that solicit information or "honestly try to discuss the issues."

"This was trying to manipulate us under false pretenses and doing nothing to make our job as voters clearer, and that really upset me," she said."

[FreeStateDemocrat]

2. I received this call in neo-con W. Md. where they're ready to believe anything negative about Dems.

Do you want higher taxes, gay marriage, abortion, etc. I didn't think they would be dumb enough to use this transparent dirty trick in the more liberal and intelligent Baltimore-Washington suburbs, nice to see they are overstepping. I'm sure Steele "knows nothing about this and disavows its use," what a phony, low-life, typical puke campaign.

[Eurobabe]

3. Common Sense OHIO

"The Ohio group's president, Nathan Estruth, is an executive with Procter & Gamble."

Another reason to boycott P&G.

[tanyev]

4. I called my brother in Missouri last night. They are screening

their calls right now because they are getting so many election related calls. I guess that's one tiny little perk to living in a solid Republican district--I haven't gotten any calls or visitors at the door.

[foerschie]

5. I got a call from CommonSense MO

and it was hilarious. I'm not sure who they think is going to believe this crap. I told them that I would like to Clone myself, that is why I was voting yes to amendment 2.

[Kber]

7. Funny!

[IndyOp]

8. Welcome to DU! I love your reply...

"I told them that I would like to Clone myself, that is why I was voting yes to amendment 2."

I bet they didn't know what the hell to say to that, huh?

:rofl:

:hi:

[foerschie]

9. It was an automated call

so it really didn't get me anywhere. After I said it the recording said "Answer yes or no or this call will be terminated." So they threatened me with not wasting more of my time! Making the comment (albeit childish and immature)did make me feel much better.

[yellowcanine]

12. "Answer yes or no or this call will be terminated." Sounds like an invitation to me.

Somebody wasn't thinking when they recorded that part.

[Hugin]

11. Welcome to DU foerschie!

:hi:

LOL :rofl: I'd make a clone too... But, I wouldn't know what to do with myself!

I'm not sure I could live with myself anymore.

[newyawker99]

13. Hi foerschie!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Pirate Smile]

6. kick

[LiberalEsto]

10. I received this in Blue Montgomery County

and it was simply disgusting.

I wish I could do a poll on how many people hung up while saying a bad word or two to the machine. I certainly said a few.