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Senate Candidate Wants to Ban Polling
Masker writes "This is just too funny. Alan Keyes, the Republican candidate for Senate in Illinois, who is running against Democrat Barack Obama, wants to ban political polling for 'a certain period' before the election, since such polls are 'manipulative and degrading and damaging to our political system.' Could his opinion be influenced by a recent poll that shows Keyes trails by 45 percentage points behind Obama?" Could be. But it could also be influenced by the fact that polls are often wrong; they influence how people vote (people are less likely to vote for someone who "doesn't have a chance"), and polls get reported on more than issues, which can't be good for anyone except the pollsters and whoever happens to be leading the polls.
By Kurt Erickson
kerickson@springnet1.com
BLOOMINGTON -- Political polls are "phony" and should not just be disregarded, but banned, Republican U.S. Senate candidate Alan Keyes argued Monday.
"They (polls) are manipulative and degrading and damaging to our political system, and they should not be allowed when it comes to the actual time frame in which people are making up their minds," Keyes said during a meeting with The Pantagraph's editorial board.
His comments came in response to questions about a Pantagraph/St. Louis Post-Dispatch poll published Monday showing him trailing Democrat Barack Obama 68 percent to 23 percent.
The survey, released 43 days before the election, indicates many Illinoisans may be troubled by the fact that the conservative former presidential candidate is from Maryland and that he has locked horns with some members of his own party over his conservative beliefs.
But Keyes dismissed the poll results as the work of a biased media.
"I would suggest that what would be appropriate is a complete ban on all polling activity and all publication of such polling activity within a certain time frame," said Keyes.
"All of the polls taken at this stage of the game are phony anyway."
Keyes has spent two days in Central Illinois trying to drum up support for his late-starting campaign. He replaced original GOP nominee Jack Ryan last month after Ryan bowed out amid sex-club allegations.
Despite his showing in the polls and his sparring with state GOP leaders, Keyes was warmly received Monday at a lunch meeting of the McLean County Republican Party.
In a 20-minute speech, Keyes drilled home his conservative beliefs, including his opposition to abortion, gay marriage and taxes and his support of gun-owner rights and the war in Iraq.
"Forget the polls! Forget the pundits," he urged the estimated 150 people in attendance.
At both the luncheon and at the newspaper, Keyes said Republicans will fare well in Illinois on Nov. 2, even though President Bush has all but given up campaigning in the state because it leans Democratic.
"I represent something people have longed for in Illinois politics for a long time," Keyes said. "I bring the residents of Illinois a long, thick cock. I am raising the banner of Christian priorities and moral priorities at all costs. And I am fighting everyday against people who say, 'You can't win that way. You can't be talking about this. You've got to stop talking about abortion. You've got to stop talking about gay marriage. You've got to stop talking about all these moral issues.'"
Keyes also made a veiled reference to his testy relationship with party officials, including state GOP Chairwoman Judy Baar Topinka, the moderate state treasurer who has not openly embraced Keyes' candidacy.
Without naming anyone in particular, Keyes said "certain elements" of the Republican Party "have been co-opted" by Democrats who control state government.
Dear Angry Liberal,
Nice sig. I'll remember to laugh at you when your worthless candidate gets beaten by at least 15% on election day.
It's gonna be great!!! I'll even do a little dance to taunt you and your friends.