Posts
New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation primary is supposed to be retail politics at its most pure. The idea is that the candidates meet people from all walks of life, in every conceivable kind of setting, and the people make up their minds based on personal, elemental information gathering. At least, that’s the history and the theory.
Which is why a story on WBUR radio this morning was so disturbing. Reporter Fred Thys quotes N.H. primary voter Karen Eckilson at a Romney rally in Petersborough. She tells Thys “I was actually thinking of Huntsman, but I don’t think he can make it,” Eckilson said. “I don’t think he’s electable — poll numbers.”
If people vote based on polls, that diminishes the primary as a way to breathe life into a solid candidate with real potential for making a contribution, who may not have the money or ground organization to come fast out of the gate. Carry that to a logical conclusion, for that matter, and why have people vote at all? Just declare the winner to be the candidate with the greatest percentage of public opinion survey support on the first Tuesday after the first Monday or some other fixed point in time.
Polling is an inexact science, with wide variations in methodologies and margins of error. Polls often reflect undeveloped opinions and fail to reflect soft and changeable support for the candidates. Even in the entrance polls in Iowa, more than half those who voted for Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum said they hadn’t made up their minds until a day or less before the caucuses. Rick Santorum was ignored by the press because his poll numbers were so low. It's a vicious cycle, meaningless polls that often reflect name recognition.
Karen Eckilson is not alone in this wag-the-dog scenario. WBUR quotes a Suffolk University report that “Voters seem to be moving away from the former Utah governor [Jon Huntsman]and Texas Rep. Ron Paul toward being undecided again, as they reconsider their choices after the Iowa caucuses.”
If voters went by polls, Hillary Clinton would have been coronated before the first caucus in 2008. I keep thinking about how the late Minnesota Senator Gene McCarthy took his anti-Vietnam War message to every nook and cranny of New Hampshire. Opinion polls showed him at as little as 10 percent support, but he stuck with it. And many voters stuck with him, despite the polling numbers. When he garnered more than 42 percent, Lyndon Johnson announced his intention not to seek reelection as President.
Learning the party building benefits that accrued to the Democrats in 2008 from a drawn-out primary fight, Republicans this year for the first time have scrapped their winner-take-all balloting for the early stage of the process. The goal was to keep more candidates alive longer and kindle voter interest in the race.
If voters succumb to the polls and fail to vote their hearts and minds this early in the campaign, what else are we losing?
Please let me know your thoughts in the comments section below.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Hi, Marjoire
ReplyDeleteKaren Eckilson of Peterborough NH, responding to the article you wrote, based on my interview with, Reporter Fred Thys, last week. For the record, I do not base my vote totally on the polls. I do reflect on it as part of an overall decision making process. As a citizen, I feel it is important, to learn about all the candidates and what they stand for. It is imperative to be in the know, prior to making my candidate selection. Lucky for me, I live in Peterborough, NH. It has always been a stopping place for candidates. We are honored with the privilege and availability to see the candidates up close and personal. During the 2008 campaign process, my husband went to an Obama rally that took place in a field, at the end of the street we were living on.
Since, I have been unsure about casting my vote, I wanted to give Romney a second look. John McCain was an important part of taking a second look. My husband and I have always liked John McCain and feel he is a man of strong character. When John McCain endorsed Romney last week, it said something to me. I firmly believe, that Huntsman’s numbers in the polls maybe too low, even for an upset. Upon Michelle Bachman’s decision to drop out, I thought Huntsman’s poll numbers might go up enough for him to be viable.
Another step in the decision process, is learning about the candidates and how they work. Trying to learn about their character and thinking about the leadership they may offer. Last summer, I watched a Mitt Romney interview on a news program. Romney was asked about Mass healthcare, as some believe it has hurt the state of Mass. The interviewer asked if Mass healthcare would work on a national basis. As a voter, I liked his response. Romney relayed, that Mass healthcare was a great start. It may not be perfect and have some issues, but at least it working. Romney as a prior business man, stated when a business rolls out a new plan, it may not always be 100% effective. You keep what’s working, improve or change what isn’t. That response has stayed with me, as it is truthful. Another part of the decision process.
I thought your response, to my interview, was somewhat harsh, as you don’t know me or my thought process. It isn’t just about poll numbers, but they do pull some weight.
PS: My husband, Karl is a Ron Paul supporter and he has been watching the polls, but hasn’t wavered in his selection.
Karen, Thank you for explaining how you are sorting out the candidates. Clearly your thoughtfulness was short-changed in the WBUR radio piece. I will be watching eagerly today, as I am sure you will, to see how the results unfold. One way or another, I'd be interested should you be willing to share how you ended up voting.
ReplyDelete