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I Answered a Pollster's Call [1]
['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']
Date: 2023-12-16
I’m an old fogie and still have a landline. So I get a call from a research firm asking me if I will participate in a poll regarding a local primary race that will take place in March.
“This will be interesting,” I thought as I responded yes.
The very nice lady on the other end begins pretty objective at first, asking me if I was registered and if I voted in local elections. The answer was yes to both.
She started the poll by giving me the official ballot description of a candidate for a local mayor’s race. Then she asked me if I approved or disapproved of that candidate based on the description. We went through all of the candidates and I responded pretty positive.
Then she asked which candidate I would vote for based on the description. I responded that I personally knew two of the candidates and hadn’t made up my mind which one I would vote for but I picked one for purposes of the poll.
I was then asked about local issues — the homeless situation, police actions, affordable housing, education, etc. I gave my opinion.
Then the poll started going dark. Most of the candidates previously served in various state and local offices. The pollster started reading very negative statements regarding the candidates’ actions while in office. Could I vote for a candidate who acted like that?
Some statements implied that the candidates’ votes on legislation were influenced by campaign donations from big business interests. Would I vote for a candidate who did that?
Did I know that some candidates were supported by unions? Would I vote for a candidate who was supported by the teacher’s union? As if union support was a bad thing.
She then asked, “Did I know one candidate called themselves a socialist who wants to defund the police and give the money to the homeless?” This candidate was singled out because they had not served in a political office.
These statements and questions really ticked me off. I realized this wasn’t a poll but an attempt to poison my attitude regarding most of the candidates.
I told her that I resented the statements she read to me and I would hold them against the candidate who used them; and not the candidates the sponsor was trying to smear.
Frankly, I told her I resented the attempt to manipulate me. I told her to make sure the sponsors of this poll got the message that I am pissed at them.
She understood and I think she agreed with me on that but couldn’t come out and say it.
BTW — I have a strong feeling the sponsor is the only conservative candidate running for the mayor’s spot. This is a non-partisan primary, so the top two candidates run in the general irregardless of political party. This is a fairly liberal city so it appears the sponsor is attacking the other candidates in an attempt to pry away votes, so they can win enough votes to run in the general.
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