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Zynx

(21,328 posts)
Sun Aug 21, 2016, 05:59 PM Aug 2016

You all do know that looking at a single poll is not how to follow elections, right?

I just want to make sure everyone understands this because I'm beginning to doubt that people do. In 2012, if you looked at single polls and didn't look at the preponderance of the evidence, you would have been a nervous wreck. Hell, even in 2008 you could have worried yourself silly.

9 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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You all do know that looking at a single poll is not how to follow elections, right? (Original Post) Zynx Aug 2016 OP
If only there were sites that averaged polls for you WillyBrandt Aug 2016 #1
This message was self-deleted by its author kestrel91316 Aug 2016 #3
Wow. How I wish OK was a lighter shade of red. n/t Beartracks Aug 2016 #4
Those Trump odds are too high mjjoe Aug 2016 #8
Most do mcar Aug 2016 #2
realclearpolitics.com jamese777 Aug 2016 #5
Yes, you need to get a DEM data person to tell you what the vote will be Cicada Aug 2016 #6
Besides that, the polls don't really reflect public sentiment until well after Labor day. Purveyor Aug 2016 #7
I completely understand. MoonRiver Aug 2016 #9

Response to WillyBrandt (Reply #1)

mjjoe

(260 posts)
8. Those Trump odds are too high
Sun Aug 21, 2016, 08:34 PM
Aug 2016

Frustrating to see Clinton's odds drop each of the last four days. Though something tells me the debates - or Trump weaseling out of them - will make a huge difference in the final tally.

jamese777

(546 posts)
5. realclearpolitics.com
Sun Aug 21, 2016, 06:18 PM
Aug 2016

leans conservative but they do provide an average of the latest state and federal polls.
My own personal system is to take the last seven national polls, throw out the widest gap and the narrowest gap outliers and then average the other five.

Cicada

(4,533 posts)
6. Yes, you need to get a DEM data person to tell you what the vote will be
Sun Aug 21, 2016, 07:17 PM
Aug 2016

David Axlerod told Joe Scarborough, off the record, which states Obama would win a month before the election. He was 100 percent correct. The Dems even knew who would win in every precinct. Apparently poll fluctuations just tell us which voters are willing to be polled. But the Dem data people have a file for literally every voter in America and have an accurate determination of if and how they will vote. And apparently the true vote count fluctuates very little even tho polls go up and down.

So the way to find out is to get one of those data people to tell you.

 

Purveyor

(29,876 posts)
7. Besides that, the polls don't really reflect public sentiment until well after Labor day.
Sun Aug 21, 2016, 07:20 PM
Aug 2016

Vacations over, kids back in school and normal people starting to pay attention.

And yes, we that hang out on political forums are far from "normal" compared to the general public.

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