This post, and this poll are not neccisarily a problem in themselves. And there is a world of difference between Trump pointing at bullshit or non-existent polls and complete outliers and covering a potentially significant poll in isolation. And there is not neccisarily a reason (or practical ability) to include or account for all polls in every post or article about any poll.
The problem arises from the total impression given by all such coverage. All Xeni is really doing is calling out a potentially significant poll the same way every other journalists has (and that’s her background Journalism). But across all the various Boingers, and all their poll coverage (particularly with one specific Boinger) there is pretty clear tendency going on. And that potentially creates an incorrect impression if BB is a primary source for such coverage for you. But it’s non Xeni driving it, BB doesn’t exactly have a single editorial viewpoint or dictate. There’s a flaw in their coverage here, and a fairly common one that a certain some one used to rail against. But a fairly perfunctory “look at this poll” post isn’t the root of the problem. And isn’t really cause to go screaming cherry picking and hypocrisy.
A 10% lead, at a total of 30% isn’t exactly a clear lead. Particularly at the point where polls lack pretty hard for utility. And the tendency to report Biden in a clear, unequivocal, lead. As a shoo in, a lock, and as difficult to over come is definitely part of the problem. As it is with Trump. We talk about how he’s immoveable in the polls and his approval rating. Without discussing how pathetic those support levels actually are. We talk about how intractable his base is. Without mentioning that that base is too small to win him an election, or anywhere near it, on its own.
“No clear leader” is frankly more accurate than Biden the juggernaut. And polls like this, even in isolation help demonstrate that.
Sticking with RCP, there are now 3 polls in the most recent polling cycle showing similar numbers with near identical movements. As compared to 6 showing Biden staying put, though those are a mix of no change, and Sanders and Warren shuffling around.
That’s most of them at this point. And 538 doesn’t even aggregate at this point because early stage polling, especially in primaries, ain’t great.
I wouldn’t go that far. Solid maybe.
The image is dated August 8th. The Tweet August 28th. The poll in question was conducted 8/16-8/20.
And like I said the poll has 2 friends now.
So something weird there. I don’t see one of them there check marks on that account (but then I don’t know how twitter works). But major press seem to be reporting it.
