How has Public Policy Polling affected perceptions of the 2008 gubernatorial race?
The Raleigh polling firm has surveyed likely primary voters in the race between Beverly Perdue and Richard Moore since July of 2006, shortly after Attorney General Roy Cooper said he would not run.
Both campaigns say it has not affected their overall strategy, although they say the poll results are closely followed by political insiders.
"It's chatter," said Perdue's deputy campaign manager, David Kochman. "The chattering class of people who really talk politics day in and day out like to talk about these things, but I don't think it influences the race a whole lot."
He said "time will tell" whether the polls are accurate.
Moore's campaign manager, Jay Reiff, said that the polls can have an effect on fundraising, since donors are often among the "high-information insiders" reading about them.
He added that automated polls are good at "picking up movement" in high-profile races where the public is engaged, but there are limits to their value.
"It's kind of like buying a disposable camera," he said. "They probably have a fairly accurate picture of something that's happening, but at the end of the day if you want a really detailed look, you want to get a good Nikon."
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