Why Do People Keep Posting Primary Poll Results?

Well, it's pretty simple, really. Most of us have a limited view on public opinion, really. We may know the views of friends, acquaintances and people who frequent websites we also visit. Most of us, though, have limited knowledge of what most people are thinking.

I live in Minnesota, for example, and am active in the local DFL Party organization. I have virtually zero knowledge, though, about what people's opinions about the primary races are in Illinois or South Dakota, however, even though they are nearby. I don't talk to people there, and most people, even on DU, don't disclose where they live.

I live in a relatively blue state, but have no idea, really, what Democrats in red states are thinking when it comes to the primary races. Arkansas? Alabama? Texas? Which candidate is likely to get the most delegates to the convention in those states? I have no idea.

That's where polls come in. I can easily go look at the most recent polls in any state for the Democratic Primary elections in those states. Wikipedia has a page that lets you see polling in every state:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statewide_opinion_polling_for_the_Democratic_Party_presidential_primaries,_2016

Frankly, I don't know when the primaries are in each state, nor how many delegates that state sends to the convention off-hand, so if I'm curious after seeing poll results, I go here:

http://www.thegreenpapers.com/P16/D

I do watch polls. I'm interested in them. I watch trends in polling, too. I can look at poll aggregation sites to check charts that plot poll results over time. This one is my current favorite, but there are others:

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2016/president/us/2016_democratic_presidential_nomination-3824.html

Finally, if I'm curious about how accurate polling companies are and have been in the past, I can check that here:

http://fivethirtyeight.com/interactives/pollster-ratings/

So, why do people keep posting poll results? Because they represent a glimpse into voter sentiment and decisions. No single poll is enough, either. In order to really have a good idea of what is going on, you have to look at lots of them and watch trends.

I'm glad people are posting poll results. It's helping me see where things are headed, and I like knowing things like that.