Beware of bogus polling
For the second time in two months, a polling organization embraced by media outlets has admitted to fabricating its results. This time, the deception lasted much longer, fooled far more organizations, and appears to have inflicted greater electoral damage.
TL;DR
- Two polling organizations, Median Strategies and Wedgewood Polls, have admitted to fabricating their results.
- Median Strategies' fabricated polls showed false leads for candidates in Wisconsin and Los Angeles.
- Wedgewood Polls' fabricated numbers significantly impacted a Michigan Senate primary, with one candidate withdrawing due to lost donations and volunteer support.
- The fabricated polls influenced national aggregators like The New York Times and Silver Bulletin, but not RealClearPolitics.
- Both firms claimed their fabrications were 'social experiments' to expose industry weaknesses, but this explanation emerged after confrontation.
- Fabricated polling can shift resources, including media coverage, donations, and volunteers, away from legitimate candidates.
- The article suggests that Democrats, particularly left-wing Democrats, likely benefited from Wedgewood's false polling and may be behind the manipulation.
- Media organizations are urged to demand transparency and evidence from unfamiliar polling firms.
- Voters and donors are advised to be skeptical of polls, especially from organizations with no track record.