He already knows that. He doesn't need to know where he stands in national polls against other candidates because he can't do anything about that. So, I don't see the point of hiring a pollster either. Plus he talks directly to people on social media which IMO is much better than a poll.

Not to change his message, but to figure out where something might be dragging and to shore it up.

and spending big bucks to do it, to see which way the wind of the moment is blowing.

If part of of his campaign speech is especially effective or how he could better make in roads with groups he is struggling with to get support.

I'm not suggest change his opinion, merely the approach to his message to broaden his appeal. For example, Sanders has a solid record when it comes to a significant number of issues that are faced by blacks, but currently he has very limited support. I don't think that black voters voters are turned off by his work against mandatory minimum sentences. So why why not commission a poll to find issues that do appeal to black voters and frame how how his campaign and potential presidency would approach those issues? He doesn't need to "sell out" or take a position he doesn't believe in because Sanders certainly does want to do good things for for the black community.

C'mon, let's not pretend. There is a bubble around Bernie. It's not as airtight or expansive as ahem, some of the candidates, but it's still there, simply due to the physical realities of campaigning for president. There does need to be a way to gauge and examine how the campaign is going in the places where Bernie himself isn't present, or where there is no plan for him to go (no one campaigns in Alaska, but they still have issues, and they still vote.)

He doesn't need to spend - what was it, $990k? - on polling, no. But he does need to have the means to keep his ear t othe ground outside of his itinerary.

We need the fakes out of our party.

get his message out. The time for polling will come later. His wisdom in things such as this is the very reason he can effectively run a grass roots campaign without mega bucks.

I like Sanders but I have concerns as to whether he would be a viable general election candidate. Stories likes this one reinforce my concerns. The numbers are against Sanders becoming the nominee and so he is not running a normal campaign. In the real world, campaigns need information to function.

I really do not understand how Sanders intends to be a viable general election candidate in a race where the Kochs will be spending $887 million and the GOP nominee will be spending another billion dollars.

I am starting to now. The simplicity of the thought process the author displays shows a complete lack of understanding to politics. Polls are simply about message. The thought process of this author is so simplistic that they have had to ignore what polls are for in order to make his point.

that Bernie is so sure he knows what the country wants and needs with out checking to make sure!

He's been giving the same speech for 30 years. No reason to change now.

Which is why he's taking his message to the voters directly, and getting
record crowds, which should tell us how pathetically out-of-touch DC is
and has been, for way too long.

Obama was giving speeches in stadiums in 2008. I guess they are 2015 records.

You're right that Obama was also drawing large crowds at this point in 2007.

Sanders might not be paying for polling, but he is using it. It would truly be foolish if he didn't. It serves a great purpose, not just in politics. I'm not sure what point this actually gets across that leads to "he's presidential." It has so much more to do with politics than the amazingly simple thought process of this author.

I'm sure he and his team are watching polls funded by others, though. Candidate-funded polling is the least accurate, really, anyhow, and is only useful on specific issues that may need attention.

The polls funded by the media and independent polls are more than adequate right now. Buying his own polls doesn't make much sense this early. All he needs to know is whether he's gaining in the overall polls or losing ground at this point.

From what I'm seeing, his momentum right now is pretty flat, both nationwide and in the early primary and caucus states. That should be giving him some pause, I'd think. A stalled campaign when you're behind isn't a good sign.

creating a noble cause or issue doesn't make it more believable.


FWIW, I would fear any leader who doesn't want to tap into the needs and desires of it's constituency. Having the grandious ideas that one leader magically knows what's best for everyone else, well that leader should be feared, not revered.

On one hand, Hillary's over-reliance on polls has many people, myself included, questioning her sincerity and authenticity. I think she should trust her instincts and be as authentic as possible. We won't always agree but passion/honesty is something everyone respects.

On the other hand, a tiny bit of polling (and strategic focus groups) could have helped Bernie to avoid the missteps he's been making with regard to reaching out to the base.

Right now there's an opening for a sincere, in-touch candidate to get in the race.