You gotta be kidding me

[sleigh]

This older Gallup Poll suggests that 28% of Clinton supports would vote for McCain rather than Obama. And this CNN poll from yesterday says it's 27%...

While my good friend davidbcoe crafted a fine and well-reasoned post on the subject, I find that my reaction is more visceral.

Are these people insane?

Comments

[casaubon.livejournal.com]

That was in March. Is there a more recent poll?
And 19% of Obama supporters said they'd rather vote for McCain than Clinton, so I guess the batshit crazy population is at least 20-25% in any political persuasion. :)

Of course, the really crazy people are the 3% who'd vote for McCain even if their chosen Democratic was chosen as the candidate.

[sleigh.livejournal.com]

Here's one from yesterday: http://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/08/24/election.2008.poll/

"Sixty-six percent of Clinton supporters -- registered Democrats who want Clinton as the nominee -- are now backing Obama. That's down from 75 percent in the end of June. Twenty-seven percent of them now say they'll support McCain, up from 16 percent in late June." (emphasis mine)

[sleigh.livejournal.com]

I'd heard the percentage cited on CNN, and when I went to google the source, I came across the Gallup Poll. Since it had essentially the same percentage, I thought it was the same poll and didn't check the date. Bad research, Steve!

It's interesting, though, that the percentage doesn't seem to have radically changed in several months.

I was hoping it'd go in the other direction.

[casaubon.livejournal.com]

I suppose if they really really want Clinton as president at some point then voting for McCain is about the only way they'll get it.

There's an error of +/- 7.5% on that poll. Maybe they just phoned up the crazy people.

Re: I was hoping it'd go in the other direction.

[sleigh.livejournal.com]

I'm becoming increasingly skeptical of polls, I have to admit. I don't answer my phone if I don't recognize the number that's calling or if the number is blocked -- therefore any pollster will absolutely miss me (and anyone else who screens calls with Caller ID). And neither of my children, both of whom are old enough to vote, have a landline at all, only their cell phones -- so again, any pollster will miss them.

And then there are the people (and I have to admit that I'm included) who will simply lie outrageously just to be contrary if someone tries to snag them for an in-person poll.

I still watch the polls, though -- it's a character flaw. Unfortunately, polls are still an important barometer for most people, and the news organizations are addicted to them. So sometimes poll results become reality even if they're mostly fantasy to start with.