Anyone who follows data seriously is continually amused and angered by its use. From Booman citing of a Loras Iowa poll that virtually everyone knew was bad, to this morning’s MD poll of Florida.
So some history. Mason-Dixon did polling on Florida for the St Pete Times. Their last poll had Romney up 6.
That poll had an effect on people. The St Pete Times is well regarded, and their poll suggested Florida was gone. I well remember the Obama campaign reacting saying they KNEW the number was wrong.
Except MD was way off. So Adam Smith and the St Pete Times staff reviewed the results:
AND FIRED MASON-DIXON.
So MD is back at it this morning. But of course the reporting on it makes no mention of MD’s miss in ’12.
No accountability. Not even any attempt to ask the question.
Which is the way it is in politics generally.