The case of the dueling polls. Guess which one's receiving the most

[Cerridwen]

attention?

Men's support gives Palin edge in latest poll

<snip>

62 percent of men questioned have a favorable opinion of the Alaska governor, nine points higher than women.

<snip>

23 percent of men have an unfavorable view of Sen. John McCain's running mate, seven points lower than women.

<snip>

What would happen if Americans could cast separate votes for president and vice president?

Palin would top Biden "by a 53 to 44 percent margin, based largely on the votes of men," Holland said.

Poll shows big shift to McCain among white women

<snip>
Before the Democratic National Convention in late August, Obama held an 8 percentage point lead among white women voters, 50 percent to 42 percent, but after the Republican convention in early September, McCain was ahead by 12 points among white women, 53 percent to 41 percent, the poll found.

Asked about the findings during a briefing on Monday before the poll was published, Obama campaign manager David Plouffe told a Washington Post reporter, "Well, your poll is wrong."

"I don't think you'll find many others that back up a 20-point reversal," Plouffe said during the briefing at Obama's campaign headquarters in Chicago. "We certainly are not seeing any movement like that. Polls, time to time, particularly on the demographic stuff, can have some pretty wild swings."

<snip>

The first article has more specifics; the second article is vague.

If you guessed the second article and its results is receiving more traction; you'd be right. The first, with more specific numbers, is all but hidden from view.

I'm not sure if either of them is accurate; I'd have to see the actual poll results side by side and see what was asked and how it was phrased and who was polled. As you can tell, I lean toward the more specific results listed in the first article.

Regardless, polls can be rigged, numbers can be "massaged", and people will believe whatever their prejudice leads them to believe.



edit to add: Thanks to DUer Kablooie for posting both polls in LBN. Oh, guess which thread is getting the most traction there, too.

[The Backlash Cometh]

1. I knew it. That photo shopped picture of Palin in a bikini is having an impact.

[Cerridwen]

3. Yeah, and we women are the shallow ones. *snort*

Seriously, aren't men insulted to be treated as if they are so shallow?

Just put a "pretty face" in front of 'em and they'll vote for it. That's a seriously skewed take on "men."

You know the funniest part for me? I'm this "ball busting," "man hating", "feminazi," and I don't think that about men at all. A mindset my brother has tried to disabuse me of for many years. LOL

[Sarah Ibarruri]

2. Somebody explain this to me. Are American men thinking with their @#$#@?

If so, they're in luck. Rumor has it, she's an adulterer so anyone could stand in line.

[nc4bo]

4. I think "those" types of men definitely think with their Dick Cheney endorsed Palin, did ya hear?

[Sarah Ibarruri]

11. See, if that's the way American males think, we have our answer for why GW Bush is in office

Idiots elected him, and idiots find this piece of s**** Palin attractive.

[Cerridwen]

6. Based on early responses even here at DU,

I'd have to guess yes. But that presumes the early response and DU is indicative of a trend.

If that is what American men are doing, I think we need to do some serious rearranging of our political system, our government, hell, damn near anything that puts "men who think with their tiny head" in charge. They sound freaking dangerous to me. Not someone I'd want piloting a plane I'm in or someone I'd trust with a scalpel.

Gawd this is bazaar.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

9. At the risk of pissing off some people, American men are sounding vacuous as hell nt

[Cerridwen]

13. They're certainly being advertised as such.

I ain't buyin' it.

[jkshaw]

5. May I say Yuck?

[jkshaw]

7. And to answer a previous question,

Yes, they are thinking with their @#$#@!

[Cerridwen]

8. I was really hoping a few of the guys would pop in with their take

on this. Yeah, I know, one guy doesn't speak for all guys any more than one woman is interchangeable with another, but maybe a couple here will have some insight on this.

[TahitiNut]

10. There's nothing inconsistent in those polls.

First of all, whether or not men have a more favorable opinion of Palin than women has obviously NOT caused a major shift in the male preference of McCain vs. Obama. On the other hand, there HAS apparently been a shift in the female preference of McCain vs. Obama ... based primarily on McCain's selection of Palin. It's worth noting that even though males are more likely to have a favorable impression of Palin, more women have a favorable impression of Palin than a negative impression and that has caused a shift in their Presidential preference. One must assume that even with a negative impression of Palin, some women give McCain enough credit for selecting her to switch their preference!

Now... read the above again ... more carefully ... and think it through.

:eyes:

[Cerridwen]

12. There is a distinct difference between how the polls are being

reported and what each of them looked at. Er, hm, I believe that was one of my points. Maybe you missed it.

Speaking of reading...

I'm not sure if either of them is accurate; I'd have to see the actual poll results side by side and see what was asked and how it was phrased and who was polled. As you can tell, I lean toward the more specific results listed in the first article.

I suggest you take your own advice "Now... read the above again ... more carefully ... and think it through."

[TahitiNut]

14. I guess I was expecting too much.

Obviously. :eyes:

[Cerridwen]

15. The feeling is mutual.

Though I would like to thank you for proving 2 of my points and one of my theories.

:hi: