Zogby's personal agenda: no credibility

[elixir]

In an article in today's Boston Globe, Zogby finally states what has been so apparent during this entire primary cycle, he doesn't like Hillary Clinton. I wouldn't mind so much if he weren't a pollster effectively shaping the political landscape. What a bore.

<snip>
"Making her closing argument to voters, Clinton contended that her experience makes her better qualified for the job, urging voters not to be wooed by personality."

<snip>
But the experience-vs.-personality argument "only works among the convinced," said John Zogby, an independent pollster. "Those who aren't convinced, aren't convinced because they don't like her," Zogby said in a phone interview."

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/03/03/urgency_growing_for_clinton?mode=PF

[mattclearing]

1. Zogby's personal opinion is not there...he is explaining voter behavior.

He is saying that people are only open to the experience over change argument if they like Hillary to begin with. Never does he say anything about his personal opinion of either candidate.

[stahbrett]

2. Where does it say that John Zogby doesn't like her (nt)

[mattclearing]

3. dupe.

[elixir]

4. He's interpreting polling data to state "the voters just don't like her". That wasn't the question.

[bowens43]

5. more swiftboating .......

this doesn't work, that's why your candidate is losing.

[NightWatcher]

6. if you lose the poll, trash the polls

[robcon]

7. A pollster doesn't interpret the data like Zogby.

An honest pollster would say that Clinton is liked/disliked by x%/y%, while Obama is liked/disliked by z%/a%. If the difference in likability between the candidates was significant (statistically) he should say so.

This was Obama-shilling by Zogby, IMO. Generalizing about motivations for being convinced vs. being liked is analysis by cross-tabs, which, as Zogby very well knows, is not statistically valid, since they are not independent variables.

Zogby is a phony.

[Renew Deal]

8. How does that show bias?

He doesn't say anything controversial there.

[robcon]

9. If he's a political commentator, he uses his judgement.

As a pollster, he should state he's going beyond the data for his conclusions. The data do not support those conclusions about likability being a problem for Clinton, but not for Obama. And he knows that.

Zogby is trading on his name - acting as if he has the facts to back up his bias.