Release of major Iowa poll scrapped after Pete Buttigieg's name 'left off survey'

[usaf-vet]

The Des Moines Register and CNN canceled the release of one of the most influential polls of the Democratic presidential primaries on Saturday night, after candidate Pete Buttigieg reportedly complained that his name had been left off at least one survey.

CNN had dedicated an hour-long show to the poll, which was to be released in conjunction with the Des Moines Register and Mediacom. The survey was withheld, minutes before it was due to be released, after Buttigieg’s campaign contacted Selzer and Co, which conducted the poll.

The New York Times, citing a Buttigieg campaign aide, said a Buttigieg supporter was called by the pollster and asked their preferred presidential candidate. A list of candidates was read out but did not include Buttigieg’s name.

The survey, the final Register poll before the caucus on Monday, has been called “the most consequential poll in politics”, given the timing of its release and the impact it can have over voters. The Register has published a poll just before the caucuses for 76 years. The poll has predicted the correct winner in 10 out of the past 12 presidential primary races.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/feb/02/release-of-major-iowa-poll-scrapped-after-pete-buttigiegs-name-left-off-survey

[defacto7]

1. I'm always sceptical of such huge mistakes by major analysts slash media corporations.

Was there a statistical or manipulative reason to leave him off the poll then retract it? Maybe it was for a reason. It's too big of a mistake just to be a stupid mishap.

[Iliyah]

2. Something is very fishy . . .

Personally, the paper is professional . . .

[katmondoo]

3. I don't care who wins in Iowa, I will stay with my candidate.

[Rhiannon12866]

4. MSNBC just reported this.

[bluedye33139]

5. Good on them for pulling this

When they looked into it, they quickly learned that the computer screens were not showing the final name in the randomized list, and so the poll workers were not reading that name.

Undeniably that would skew the results.