newsobserver.com projects - Marcus Williams - Comments

Re: Hagan and Neal in dead heat

FFC1304 — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 22:21:13 -0400

Why wont she debate? Is she a fool?

Re: Hagan and Neal in dead heat

Cdickson — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 19:07:28 -0400

Yep, the Fred Smith plan.

I hope Hagan and Neal spend the next 3 weeks trying to meet all 1 million people that will vote in the Democrat Primary.

Jim

Re: Hagan and Neal in dead heat

Proctor — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 17:57:50 -0400

This is anybody's race. But this is fitting since there was so much early uncertainty as to who would be entering. So from a former senatorial candidate in a Democratic primary (1978), this advice to all the candidates, both the co-favorites and the underdogs: don't spend time reading the polls but spend it instead out there making contact with the voters between now and Election Day.

Issues are of course of the utmost importance, but meeting the people one-on-one is a great way to advance your campaign.

David McKnight

Re: Hagan 19, Neal 11, Undecided 58

mustang_dvs — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 15:32:36 -0400

I'm a bit suspicious of PPP's polling accuracy, since in another recent poll, they claim that there has been a 28-point swing in the Pennsylvania Democratic Presidential primary numbers in less than a week, numbers which do not at all correspond to those put out by other polling firms.

http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Penn_Release_040208.pdf

Re: Poll: Neal and Hagan in tight race

liam — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 10:26:00 -0400

SurveyUSA uses an automated "push button" survey as well. They are one of the oldest practitioners of this method. It's how they can poll instantly on any number of issues in all 50 states at the drop of a hat.
Both SurveyUSA and PPP make their crosstabs available. They both record demographic information as well. Just so we're clear.

Re: Poll: Neal and Hagan in tight race

liam — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 10:22:58 -0400

I suspect this is an outlier rather than a show of any momentum on the part of Neal or his campaign. Although he has been campaigning hard in recent weeks.

Given that neither candidate has done more than a little bit of retail politicin' around the state, I don't think this survey is of much use. Wait until the television and serious voter contact start up, then let's measure support.

On the point of SurveyUSA being more reliable than PPP, I don't see any reason to make that assertion.

Re: Poll: Neal and Hagan in tight race

livinthedream1013 — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 10:22:06 -0400

The fact is that Hagan has been a tremendous failure as a candidate, hasnt done anything to earn votes, and is weak on issues that matter to Democrats (Iraq, Waterboarding (how do you NOT know your position on torture?), FISA, Health Care), she hasnt stated any real issue positions or how she thinks. She cashes the checks, and builds her backroll from her well-connected lobbyist buddies.

SurveyUSA and PPP can easily have such a huge difference. Why? SurveyUSA is actually a real polling firm. They actually do POLLING: calling people on the phone, having a real live person asking the question, and registering demographic information. PPP is a push button "survey", and that is being generous. It has no scientific validity, no crosstabs, and no reason for being able to call it a poll.

So, I guess what I am saying is that I cant believe anyone put any stock in PPP before.

Re: Poll: Neal and Hagan in tight race

FSUNoles46 — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 23:38:23 -0400

I'm simply confused as to how Survey USA and PPP can both continue to poll Jim Neal in much different ways. Neal is still only a few percentage points over Williams according to PPP yet he's a few over Hagen now in Survey USA. Survey USA is usually considered more reliable, but i simply can't believe that Neal is leading Hagen from what i've seen before.

Re: Poll: Neal and Hagan in tight race

racpsyd — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 21:56:20 -0400

I am teetering between McCrory and Smith. But the teeter is teetering a little bit more towards McCrory.