Testing Your Poll Knowledge
Posted in The Gnovis Blog
At first, I wanted to post today about the incredible proliferation of poll-watching websites in this election cycle. Then, I realized that what those poll sites are really good for is helping you handicap your election night predictions. After a 2-year campaign, isn’t it really about bragging rights at your local watering hole? Thus, behold the election night game sheet (via MurphyJ).
As someone who does not read FiveThirtyEight.com or Poll Tracker religiously, I probably wont do too well at this game. On the other hand, I am tempted to remind everyone that no matter what all the projection polls say, the only poll that really matters is the last one. I understand that when I campaign goes on and on for years, eventually, you run out of stuff to talk about– poll numbers always provide a new topic to chew on, but I wonder what they really reveal about the electorate?
After McCain’s apperance on SNL this weekend, I feel okay about taking the election seriously but also not taking it too seriously. It’s been long enough– I’ve made calls, licked envelopes, begged friends to vote… at this point, I feel like its got to be okay to start laughing and engaging in some friendly punditry with our friends. Isn’t it time for us to get to call elections like the talking heads on TV? Yes. It. Is.