Research Methods

OPINION POLLS IN AMERICAN POLITICS

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American opinion polls have been one of the many bases of individuals in terms of deciding or making plans . In the political arena , opinion polls have guided campaigning politicians as well as the voting public in forming their political perceptions . Three recent opinion polls were used in this : the Washington Post-ABC News telephone poll in

Ohio and Texas taken last February 16-20 , 2008 showing an `uphill ' battle for Sen . Hillary Clinton the poll done by the Politics and Media class from American University from October 19-29 , 2007 showing young voters are now more willing to vote in 2008 , and another Washington Post-ABC News poll showing that even though Americans have grown pessimistic they still want change . These three polls were chosen primarily because of their relevance to the decision-making aspect not only among politicians but also to the voters . These polls not only provide a bird 's eye-view of the political field but also guidance on how the nation is reacting and has reacted in the past few weeks or months

The telephone poll taken in Ohio and Texas by Washington Post and ABC News tells us that Senator Hillary Clinton will be having a tougher race with Senator Barack Obama . The poll taken last February 16 to 20 indicates that Obama has an advantage of 14 points in Ohio and 13 points in Texas (Woodward , 2008 . But as it turned out , Clinton clinched the two primaries , overturning the results of the polls earlier taken . The interesting point in this turn of event rests on the idea that , because of the results of the telephone polls , it must have been the case that Clinton was compelled to further drive her campaigns in both Texas and Ohio

According to Mark Barabak (2008 , a writer for the Los Angeles Times one of the reasons why Clinton eventually came up with the win in both Texas and Ohio is that she carried quite a number of the groups that served as the early foundations for her campaign in the regions . Clinton is also said to have obtained the sentiment or approval of the voters who were earning 50 ,000 or less annually and who comprise approximately half of the number of eligible voters in the regions

Even though the telephone polls had a different story than the actual results of the nominations in the two primaries , it can be said that the polls were still significant especially in forming the campaign strategies of Clinton and in creating public opinion . Clinton 's campaign advisers would have easily noted of the poll results and made the necessary adjustments to her campaign , targeting the most likely individuals who will support her by restating the policies being put forward by Clinton which will benefit these individuals

Another element that must be considered is the fact...