Wisconsin Republican Poll Deliberately Omits Mention of Neumann and Westlake

I had the privilege yesterday of participating in a telephone poll conducted by the Republican Party of Wisconsin. A live person called my landline and asked me some general questions about my political leanings and my likely votes in the 2010 election for Governor and Senator.  All normal except:

• The wording of basic questions like my opinion of the effectiveness of the stimulus legislation was skewed heavily towards Republican positions.
• I was not asked whether it was likely that I'd vote in the primary or general elections.
• I was not asked any of the normal socio-economic questions that allow the results to be adjusted to account for under-polled groups.
• The question about the Governor's race only mentioned Scott Walker and Tom Barrett, not Mark Neumann.
• The question about the Senate race only mentioned Ron Johnson and Russ Feingold, not Dave Westlake.

If Neumann won't listen to his former backer, Jim "kingmaker" Klauser, and just quit the race and send Klauser back his money, the Republican Party of Wisconsin will simply act as if Neumann does not exist. As for Westlake, a nice, humble guy who actually believes those "tea party" nostrums his supporters spout, for the GOP, politically he really does not exist.

Maybe this is the year that some Wisconsin Democrats decide to participate in the Republican primary.  It might be hard to vote for Neumann given his awful political history, but a vote for Westlake could feel good and send a message to the Republican Party of Wisconsin.

- Barry Orton

Comments

[AJ]

There are people in the GOP who are vehemently fighting the state party. We will continue our fight for an open process. The state GOP is going to continue to lose elections with these tactics. This type of behavior will have consequences for them.

[jim guilfoil]

None of the Above is never mentioned in such 'polls' since these polls are not seeking truth so much as social science appearing 'data' which can be used for attracting funds. A question which fits its 'answers' into already alloted slots is not a real question in the human sense.
Do I really want to know what you think? Then I must ask you, not test you for the answers.

[michael donnelly]

The poll isn't looking for anything. The people who make this sort of poll aren't interested in what you already think before they talk to you. They're trying to influence your position.