A new survey undertaken by WHDH-7 TV and Suffolk University is generating a lot of headlines today. It shows widespread opposition to the state income tax repeal and heavy support for Barack Obama.
And while I would never underestimate the masochistic nature of Massachusetts voters, where evil and corrupt tyrants are consistently rewarded with re-election, this poll’s findings should go straight into the circular file.
In addition, the news media has cherry-picked the data, leaving out inconvenient results.
For one thing, it surveyed only registered voters, not those likely to actually cast a ballot. The sample size is a tiny 400.
In addition, Deval Patrick scores suspiciously high approval ratings (57%) that seem inconsistent with conventional political wisdom. If you asked ten pedestrians at random whether they like Deval at this point, I doubt more than two or three are going to provide glowing reviews. Many people despise Patrick, go ahead, ask your friends and neighbors.
Next, the media isn’t reporting a key finding: 47% of residents think Massachusetts is on the wrong track, while only 32% believe it is moving in the right direction.
Though it found 47% of voters leaning toward Obama and 31% for McCain, a full 17% were still undecided. That seems shocking at this late date.
While they were fuzzy about the presidential race, they sure had strong opinions about Question One: only 26% were in favor, with 59% against and 14% undecided.
These people have actually thought more about Question One than the the presidential race? Not bloody likely.
But 44% said that if it passes, Beacon Hill will circumvent it anyway. So they are aware of The Felon factor.
Fifty-nine percent believe our corruptocrats will raise taxes to deal with the budget mess.
But here’s why this entire survey should be thrown in the trash:
Q22. Do you think anyone will die because of the state budget cut backs?
Yes …………………………………….. 1 ( 1/122) 89 22%
No ……………………………………… 2 209 52%
Undecided ……………………………….. 3 78 20%
Refused …………………………………. 4 24 6%
HUH?
Next, a full 37% say they personally know someone that has entered into a gay marriage. That number doesn’t seem plausible, does it?
But amazingly, 44% were AGAINST gay marriage (a majority of that group support civil unions), while 41% support it. Now we know why the legislature wouldn’t place it on the ballot!
While I’m not going to claim McCain has a chance of winning Massachusetts, I do think this poll should be used for entertainment purposes only.
If the income tax repeal is really that unpopular, then why are public sector unions spending so much money to defeat it? They wouldn’t waste their money unless their own internal polling told them otherwise.
Every dollar spent fighting Question One is a buck that could have gone to helping Obama and Shaheen win in New Hampshire. That’s why even if it fails, the measure has accomplished something meaningful.
Ahhhh…one of those ‘Obama-is-way-way-out-in-front-so-all-you-Republicans-can-just-stay-home-on-election-Day-and-not-bother-voting’ polls.
I love when numbers are skewed to affect opinion. I also want to meet the whackjob who thinks people are going to die becasue of cutting the state budget.