The great Drew Volturo of the Delaware State News reports (sorry no link) about a push poll being used in the 32nd Representative District on behalf of incumbent Donna Stone (R) and against her opponent, Brad Bennett (D):
Details of who authorized the poll and how many residents were called are unclear, but indications from those who received the call are that it could have been a “push poll” — a political campaign technique used to influence a voter by posing negative information about a candidate.
…
The [poll] asked about Rep. Stone’s work in passing manufactured housing legislation and whether her presidency of the National Conference of State Legislatures took away from her duties in Delaware[.]
“Then they turned around and started with questions about her opponent,” Ms. Clements [a district resident who received a call] said. “They asked, ‘Did you know the only reason Brad Bennett is running is to help his father- in- law get elected to the Senate?’” Mr. Bennett’s father-in-law is Brian J. Bushweller, a Democrat running for an open state Senate seat against former Dover mayor James L. Hutchison.
Ms. Clements said the pollster also asked if she was aware that Mr. Bennett is running for his dad’s old seat — Edward J. Bennett served 18 years in the House until 1994, when Rep. Stone won the open seat — and that his security company could get more state contracts if he wins in November.
“It was really annoying how they just bashed him,” said Ms. Clements, a registered Republican who said she has voted for Rep. Stone in the past. “It sickened me to the point where I wouldn’t consider (voting for Rep. Stone) this time.”
Brad Bennett told Volturo that he has received about 10 calls from other district residents who received the same push poll. Indeed, even Bennett himself received a call! (Now that is some negligence on the part of whomever is conducting this poll. Do they not have phone records listing Brad Bennett’s name on the number they are calling?). Bennett obviously thinks Donna Stone or the Republican Party (whether the national party or the state counterpart) has something to do with the calls. I would too, if I were in his shoes. Republicans have a history of these polls. Indeed, they are running some right now in Florida claiming that Obama is a friend of the PLO.
These push polls are not limited to the 32nd District race. The News Journal reports that Democrats Rebecca Walker, who is running against House Majority Leader Rep. Richard C, Cathcart in the 9th District; and Rep. Bryon H. Short, who is running against Republican Jim Bowers in the 4th District, have also been targeted.
The News Journal also found out who is responsible:
When calling, the pollsters identify themselves as being from Conquest Communications — a conservative campaign group located in Richmond, Va., that lists the Republican National Committee and more than 25 states’ Republican parties as clients, as well as a long list of smaller Republican organizations.
Delaware’s House Republican Campaign Committee, a political action committee organized by caucus members that helps fund Republican state House candidates, paid the company $5,480 in the past two months, according to campaign finance reports.
So Donna Stone and Dick Cathcart’s outrage is false. In both Volturo’s article and in the News Journal article, they both claim ignorance and say that they are outraged as well, since the pollsters asked negative questions about them as well. Indeed, no doubt such questions were asked to give these esteemed Republicans plausible denialibility and an avenue to expresss their indignity at being targeted. The important thing here is who is doing the polls, for whom, and who paid them. And the answer is the Republicans are responsible. So Ms. Stone and Mr. Cathcart can shove it. If they are really angry at the use of these polls, they can both publically refute the calls, demand the immediate cessation of these calls and for the refund of the money paid to Conquest Communications.