Ballot Talks: On polling

Guests, Cliff Zukin, David Anderson, Frank Newport

On this week’s edition of Ballot Talks: we examine the methodology, accuracy and effect of polling in the presidential primary. Is polling even intended to predict the outcome of the election? Should campaigns give credence to polls considering their inaccuracy in the past? Also, what effect does poll data and the corresponding media cycle have on potential voters? We’ll talk with CLIFF ZUKIN, professor of public policy and political science at Rutgers University, and DAVID ANDERSON, assistant professor of political science at the Iowa State University who has conducted his own polls with a unique twist.  We’ll also here from FRANK NEWPORT, editor-in-chief of Gallup, about why his organization is getting out of “horse race” polling.