How Much Would Polling In Delaware Cost?

Filed in National by on July 16, 2008

Delaware’s poltical junkies live in a knowledge vaccum.

Other states are crawling with pollsters, but little Delaware gets a measly Farleigh Dickinson polls every five years.

It seems to me that polling would be newsmaking, so I have to wonder would it be worth it to use our collective buying power to get some polls done?

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Jason330 is a deep cover double agent working for the GOP. Don't tell anybody.

Comments (12)

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  1. kavips says:

    …one or two dollars….. Just make it up like all the others do… Call a couple of people so they complain to the News Journal, and when contacted, give them your made up results….

    The one or two dollars are for the coffee drunk during the process…

    Don’t tell me anyone out there still believe in polls, now?

  2. jason330 says:

    Not a bad idea Kavips. Tom Ross got a lot of coverage for his “poll” which was about as elaborate as what you describe.

  3. delawaredem says:

    There is internal polling, but that is usually biased towards the campaigns running them.

    I will be speaking to Markos this weekend about adding Delaware to Research 2000’s polling field. Normally, Delaware is ignored because we usually do not have competitive races. But Markell-Carney is competitive. And I have a feeling a Carney-Lee race will be competitive as well. And then there is the mystery as to who has the upper hand in the Denn-Copeland race.

  4. NotSoAnon says:

    $12-15,000. Maybe $10K for limited questions. Maybe as low as $7,500 for one race.

  5. jason330 says:

    And I have a feeling a Carney-Lee race will be competitive as well.

    D’oh!

    That’s the Dem primary outcome that the GOP is praying for.

  6. RickJ19958 says:

    There is internal polling, but that is usually biased towards the campaigns running them.

    I will be speaking to Markos this weekend about adding Delaware to Research 2000’s polling field. Normally, Delaware is ignored because we usually do not have competitive races. But Markell-Carney is competitive. And I have a feeling a Carney-Lee race will be competitive as well. And then there is the mystery as to who has the upper hand in the Denn-Copeland race.

    The polling we would see now is useless to observers. Any polling done in July for a November race is to tell a candidate what to do next. Polling weak on crime? Send out a new position paper. Not catching on with soccer moms? Adjust your position on child care.

    I agree with your assessment of those races, DD, but so much will change between now and November. Keep in mind that it takes just one good (or bad) statement to affect a voter’s decision. Kilroy left the GOP after being triggered by a general statement from the Lee campaign. Carney’s eminent domain position has weakened him as the second choice for a lot of Markell D’s. There are four more months of happenings for voters to digest. They will decide these races.

  7. G Rex says:

    You want polls? Okay, so it’s just one district, not statewide, but here you go:

    State Representative Vince Lofink’s
    Spring 2008 Survey Results

    1. Should Delawareans vote for the Governor and Lieutenant Governor as one unified ticket, similar to the way we vote for President and Vice President?

    Yes 54%
    No 46%

    2. Would you support adding a small additional fee onto the sale of new or existing homes that would be used to deal with the storm water management and flooding problems that are partially caused by new development?

    Yes 36%
    No 64%

    3. Would you be in favor of a mandatory curbside recycling program that would cost homeowners $3 to $7 a month?

    Yes 37%
    No 63%

    4. Do you support increasing the amount of pension income retirees can shield from the state personal income tax? The current pension income exclusion is $12,500.

    Yes 87%
    No 13%

    5. Do you believe drivers should be barred from using a cell phone while operating a motor vehicle?

    Yes 75%
    No 25%

    6. More specifically, do you believe drivers should be barred from text messaging on a cell phone while operating a motor vehicle?

    Yes 95%
    No 5%

    7. Should the state abandon the Delaware Student Testing Program in favor of using an established testing system that provides teachers and parents with faster and more useful information on what students are learning?

    Yes 84%
    No 16%

    8. Do you think Delaware’s education reform effort is on the right track for improving the quality of our public schools?

    Yes 39%
    No 61%

    9. At the present time, only registered Republicans and Democrats have the right to vote in a Presidential primary election. Would you support changing the law to allow “open primaries” where anyone, regardless of party affiliation, would be allowed to vote?

    Yes 58%
    No 42%

    10. If the price of electricity remained stable for the next 25 years, would you be willing to pay an average of $7 to $15 extra a month on your electric bill to help offset the cost of establishing offshore wind power generation capabilities as a renewable energy source?

    Yes 60%
    No 40%

    11. Would you support capping the growth of the state budget to no more than the annual rate of inflation? (Spending in time of state emergencies would be exempted.)

    Yes 84%
    No 16%

  8. jason330 says:

    10. If the price of electricity remained stable for the next 25 years, would you be willing to pay an average of $7 to $15 extra a month on your electric bill to help offset the cost of establishing offshore wind power generation capabilities as a renewable energy source?

    Yes 60%
    No 40%

    I guess we know Vince’s take on Blue Water Wind.

  9. Que Qhe says:

    Why exactly can’t UD poly sci do this?

  10. jason330 says:

    I asked about that once and got nothing back. I think that the state is so small that they are worried about getting in hot water with some folks.

    That and there are a couple profs who like being the sages of election time.

  11. G Rex says:

    You know, Bethany Hall-Long teaches at UD, and so does Alan Loudell.

  12. anon says:

    Speaking of polls… I got robo-polled moments ago, purportedly by Rasmussen. I think I got the gist of all the questions (paraphrased).

    There was a lot of immigration stuff, and in places it seemed like a Repub push poll. It was pretty sophisticated and I assume it fed me different questions after I responded I was for Obama and a Dem:

    1. Is country going in the right direction?
    2. Do you approve/disapprove/strongly disapprove of GWB?
    3. Are you male or female.
    4. Your age (pick a range)
    5. Your race
    6. Do you always vote.
    7. Are you a Repub or Dem.
    8. Are you going to vote for McCain or Obama
    9. Are you REALLY sure you are going to vote for Obama?
    10. For Congress will you vote Repub or Dem?
    11. McCain – choose range from very favorable/very unfavorable
    12. Obama – choose range from very favorable/very unfavorable
    13. How closely are you following the campaign?
    14. If McCain is elected will his policies be pretty much the same as Bush?
    15. If Obama is elected will he offer liberal big government solutions?
    16. Are you most interested in: National security, economy, domestic, cultural, fiscal issues?
    17. Do you agree with statement: US has the best economy in the world?
    18. When reporting on the economy, do reporters and the media make the economy seem better, or worse, or accurate?
    19. Who do you trust more to give an accurate picture of the economy – reporters or stockbrokers?
    20. Do reporters and the media believe US society is basically fair and decent, or unfair and discriminatory?
    21. When reporting on Iraq, do reporters and the media make it seem better, worse, or accurate?
    22. Where are you on the political spectrum? (pick from very con through very lib.
    23. Which is more important – to control borders, or to legalize illegal aliens who are already here?
    24. Some people believe… “goal of immigration policy is to keep out national security threats, criminals, and those who would live off our welfare – otherwise immigrants are welcome.” Do you agree or diagree with this statement?
    25. Is the Fed Govt. doing enough to secure the border and reduce illegal immigration?
    26. Is it possible to end illegal immigration?
    27. Does the current immigration situation make you angry, mildly frustrated, or is it just one of many issues for you?
    28. Were you born in the US?
    29. Do you live in the state you were born in?
    30. Are you married?