Re: <nettime> epistemological crisis for US tail-chasing politics

[Michael H Goldhaber <mgoldh@well.com>]

I'm not certain Breslin has all facts straight. The NY Times  
specifically claims to use random number generators to phone pollees,  
and if they really do, that should include cell phones. A different  
question is whether potential Kerry voters and potential Bush voters  
are equally likely to answer the phone, either because they don't want  
to be charged for a cell call while a pollster offers along list of  
questions, or because they screen calls or are out and about and   
available less, etc. The Gallup poll claims more Republicans than  
Democrats among its pollees, and that seems odd, quite possibly  
indicating a biased polling method. but Ted's remarks below seem valid.

Best,

Michael
On Oct 1, 2004, at 8:40 AM, t byfield wrote:

>     demolishing the received wisdom
>       that landline-based polls continue to present anything more
>       than the biases of a fading techno-social constellation. but,
>       then again, it seems like pretty much the same could be said
>       of the elections that the polls try to predict. cheers, t]
>
> <  
> http://www.newsday.com/news/columnists/ny- 
> nybres163973220sep16,0,2532038,print.column >
 <...>


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