How much has the "poll" influenced these upcoming primaries ?

[kentuck]

You know, the "poll" that showed Kerry beating Bush heads up 53% to 46%? Now, how long do you think that poll will hold up? Do you think it has helped Kerry with his "electability" issue? Kerry was my first choice and I still like him but I get the feeling Democrats are being toyed with by the media and their polls. Just my opinion. But who doesn't want to vote for a WINNER ? :)

[bigwillq]

1. Hasn't helped me I'm still voting for

Dean in my primary

[killbotfactory]

2. Polls effect public opinion way too much...

It's like people don't do their own research, just look at polls to see who's doing the best, and then join the bandwagon and assume they are the best candidate. I don't get it.

[Foswia]

3. Not just Polls! Google: Ash conformity study[nt]

[krkaufman]

10. Same as advertising

It's no different than the advertising business. Does anyone think that advertising doesn't affect consumer product selection?

[THUNDER HANDS]

4. anybody who can be fooled by a poll

would be fooled by something equally dumb. So I don't see the point in fighting about poll numbers and how it affects votes.

[loyalsister]

5. Probably a lot

I know more than one person here in MO who voted for Kerry because of that poll- AFTER sending money to a different candidate.

[rucky]

6. Self-Fufilling Prophecy

whatever it takes to beat *

of course, those numbers will change after the convention

[dolstein]

7. Of course, the Iowa results affected the "Poll"

and than the Poll affected the New Hampshire results, which affected the next "Poll", and so on.

But yeah, if the poll had shown Kerry trailing Bush, that would probably have slowed him down.

[kentuck]

8. But you do believe it is legitimate..??

At least, at this moment in time?

[krkaufman]

9. I think it's ridiculous

This "follow the poll leader" mentality may well produce a highly vulnerable candidate.

And media glossing over the "electability" phrase without getting into voter opinion of the components of electability and how each candidate matches up is poor, lazy, cost-effective infotainment reporting.

[MrSlayer]

11. A lot.

People tend to follow the leader on things like this. "The press says so-and-so is the guy so that's who I have to vote for because no one else has a chance." It's pathetic but true.

[BruinAlum]

12. You're forgetting one thing

The fact that most people chose Kerry over Bush in that poll to begin with. Nobody influenced them.

And the fact is that primary voters usually take the time to look over the candidates and the issues and are better informed than the general population that votes only in the general elections.

Kerry has an impressive liberal record and career and has the credentials to make and excellent president. He's doing well because people are voting for him. He's getting media attention because he is the front runner.

And who doesn't want to pick a winner? Do you think the consensus of the American public is to go to all this trouble of selecting a candidate in the primary process that doesn't stand a chance in hell of beating Bush in November? What a stupid idea and waste of time.