More poll gazing... two questions

[reflection]

1) Generally speaking, when the pollsters are calling at this point in the campaign, do they ask "have you voted yet" and end the call if you have? In other words, are the polls we're seeing comprised of the "leftover voters?"

2) My suspicions regarding the Rasmussens and other heavy leaning polls of the world tell me that they want to get it right at the end, so they can point to it the next cycle. So when will they shift back? I assume they would have to do it somewhat gradually so as not to appear too obvious.

(on edit: I realize there are not blanket answers which will cover every pollster. I'm asking these questions in a general sense.)

[PATRICK]

1. After hearing one program

about polling and their statistics, you still have to wonder about public polls versus the polls the candidates use for the real deal.

Inherently the problems are supposed to be factored in but we see some factors resulting in a GOP tilt left intact and exit polling, the most reliable and informative if done honestly, being abandoned. Public Polling seems prejudiced to being a vote pushing tool and should not be financed by anyone with political interests.

Everyone has cell phones and freedom of choice means impossibility of total outreach- except for the postal service. The mode of questioning under pressure of harder outreach becomes even more questionable itself.

Even if the pollsters did not game anything, the media and the parties do that for them, even to the timing and pundit arbitrated interpretation of the stats- if they talk about them at all.

Public polling has become inherently suspicious and more dramatized at its most useless point- before decision. Until that wandering shopper has paid at the counter you cannot be sure what they will buy. Afterward, it is very easy. I can understand why polling is used in reverse for politics. I can more than understand the natural distrust and anger against any of them.

Why, except for lack of corrupting money, has not another group vied for more honest(even if unreliable for final results) polling if not for understanding it cannot be a good tool for good or truth? Exit polls would be good if freed from the system. No one would be allowed to pay attention of course.

[reflection]

2. Thank you for your thoughtful answer.

There are a lot of salient points there to digest.

[PATRICK]

3. Thank you

I was afraid of getting called out for scatterbrained scattering things all over the place. I think it is all a distraction regarding the media propaganda wars which correlate so badly to the press wars of the past. If they had polling like ours back then there would have been more burned buildings and tar and featherings.