Polling: internals and reliability...

[Sulawesi]

I have had a question on my mind in every recent election. It is often heard that a certain candidates internals are accurate, and show a certain trend. This is usually in the context of some external media polls being in error, or lagging the trend.

The question I have is, why are internals inherently better? Are they?

Before you answer..."they have more at stake and put resources into reliable polling", consider that the media has more than enough resources to generate at least as accurate a picture as the internal polling of one candidate.

Thanks in advance for your expertise, or even your thoughts, on this.

[geek tragedy]

1. The media cares about a story and making money,

not about getting it right.

[sunonmars]

2. internals are paid for and include a larger sample than used in normal polls

Internal polls are very much more reliable.

[Sulawesi]

4. So then, Barack Obama's campaign is paying more money for a better poll than say CNN?

Not skeptical, just asking...(unfortunately, one has to have disclaimers about not being skeptical or otherwise on the attack on DU)

[OHdem10]

3. All polls have a history of being wrong in the days before

the vote takes place. It has been discussed or questioned that
sometimes reporters pull out old polls to keep the story and
the horse race going.