<p>I’ve been polled a number of times, on a land line. I always turn the questions on the caller, shamed one of them into registering to vote in 2004, and persuaded her to vote for my candidate. Most of the callers know next to nothing about the issues or politicians. It’s a good opportunity to educate.</p>
<p>Clinton by 8.</p>
<p>Go Obama!</p>
<p>Can’t get my links to work, but CNN has a commentary by Tony Snow (yes, I know he is probably a Republican shill, but I also think he’s a nice smart guy who has little to lose in being relatively objective), on the Dem primaries, makes for interesting reading while we wait. Machine vs personality.</p>
<p>Lorelei: why do I lie? Because I think polling is a terrible concept. The only poll that matters is the actual vote–everything else gets used by someone for some sort of manipulation of the vote.</p>
<p>So, is it not the case that you are manipulating the vote by lying? Why bother? What does lying accomplish?</p>
<p>In defense of dmd77, I think that lying to someone who has intruded on your dinner hour, and who refuses to say who is sponsoring the poll, is perfectly acceptable. I think it is more entertaining to turn the tables on the caller; otherwise, I’d probably lie, too!</p>
<p>I also agree with other posters that the reliance on land-lines is making polls more and more inaccurate.</p>
<p>We have never had pollsters refuse to say who is sponsoring the poll. We have call waiting and do not answer the phone when we do not wish to talk. It still eludes me why one would lie as opposed to refusing to accept the call or to respond to the pollster…sorry to be dense. </p>
<p>Since they messed up the Truman/Dewey polling, it has been clear that the polls have flaws. Perhaps the politicians pay for the polls as a way to determine whether paying for campaign in a particular place is worth the effort.</p>
<p>I lie to callers all the time. Like when they ask to speak to my husband who “isn’t home”. It’s my home. I don’t have to speak to anybody I don’t want to speak to.</p>
<p>I can beat that. I’ll tell salespeople who call us that *I’m *not home. And to them, I’m not.</p>
<p>I tell callers that H is not available, if they ask for him, and he tells them the same thing if they ask for me. If they ask for the one of us who answers the phone, we tell them we are not interested and not to call again. If we feel annoyed, we tell them that, and why, i.e. repeat calls, etc., and we instruct them not to bother us. Why lie about it? Why not tell it like it is?</p>
<p>I guess, Lorelei, because telling them I’m not interested, it’s opening up a conversation (in their minds) to tell me why I should be. Much easier for the both of us for me not to be there. I have learned in the past that otherwise, I cannot end the conversation as quickly, or without seeming like I’m hanging up on them, as polite as I try to be.</p>
<p>wife unit claims that she is the maid - no speak English.</p>
<p>I check to see that the name the caller gives matches our called ID. If it does not, I then say I am not interested in answering and terminate the conversation. If the name and ID match, I answer or if I am busy, I say just that.</p>
<p>I just tell them they have called a registered “do not call” number and I am reporting their call. They never call back. Works every time.</p>
<p>I have no qualms about hanging up as soon as I have indicated I will not be speaking with them. I do hang up on the auto-dial calls, without speaking. We have found with our kids that we have to coach them to be direct in these conversations, we feed them a script, and then they know they can be dismissive without worrying about being rude. I am not interested in wasting anyone’s time, mine or theirs, and that is why we cut the calls off. None of this has anything to do with lying, which may be more an issue of gamesmanship, perhaps, than social inconvenience…and if that is rewarding, so be it.</p>
<p>I predict that Hillary will stay in PA tonight. Obama will run to NC with his tail between his leg (just like his debate).</p>
<p>He went to Indiana, not NC, probably because it is a tighter contest.</p>
<p>Wow! Polls closed and it’s too close to call. Should be an interesting night.</p>
<p>MSNBC is saying too close to call. But the patterns they are showing seem to favor Clinton. Oops scratch that Philadelphis is his at 69% so far. New voters 6 - 10 for Obama</p>
<p>HRC started PA with a 25+ lead on Obama, the governor and 100 mayors behind her, the Clinton brand name, the support of the dem PA establishment AND her husband, <who w=“” o=“” him=“” she’d=“” be=“” no=“” where=“” near=“” a=“” presidential=“” race,=“” but=“” i=“” digress=“”> a popular former president in every corner of the state. If he can close that gap, then he is the man! </who></p>
<p>Mamma 4 Obama!</p>
<p>I think I must have missed a news day. I’m hearing reports that Clinton’s campaign is millions of dollars in debt (I think I read $10 M). I realize her win in PA will replenish some of the coffers, but does anyone have any sort of link to the story that shows how much they are in debt?</p>