So, how accurate are all of these polls we're seeing? What has been the impact of new technology, like cell phones and caller ID, on prognostications?
I know I've missed several pollers calling me. One, I use my cell phone more than anything and in fact keep my landline ringer turned off most of the time. Also, I have caller ID on it, so even if I see that someone is ringing, if I don't know who it is, I don't answer. So, I'm not being included in these polls.
What can be done to make polls more accurate and capture those who are missed?
Well, one thought I have is that perhaps polls should allow people to call back in for a response. I don't think I've gotten one that allows for that. Perhaps that's a technological nightmare. Or alternatively it might skew the results. But, the results are so skewed already that they might as well be skewed better!
The article linked above indicates that there's also a class disparity in polling. I actually don't think so. There are extremely few people, I believe, who don't have any sort of phone. It is more like electricity these days in that it is an essential utility. Now, that doesn't mean that everyone has one. But, I think, and having grown up poor, black and in the South, that the number of folks who don't have any phone is rather miniscule.
I'm inclined to agree with jgkojak that Dean is polling low because of his bringing in the politically disaffected. But, I think a loarge part of that is the methodology for reaching folks is now backwards or at the least partially ineffectual.
Note: I searched to see if this had been talked about previously, but I couldn't locate anything. So, please forgive me if this is a redundant topic. Also, whatever happened to Kos' idea of us launching a poll?