Obama Campaign Criticizes New York Times Story On Poll

[ErinBerin84]

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/07/obama_campaign_slams_new_york.php

Obama Campaign Criticizes New York Times Story On Poll
By Greg Sargent - July 16, 2008, 9:35AM


The Obama campaign is taking issue with The New York Times this morning over the paper's front-page piece today on the Times poll released last night, faulting the story for omitting a great deal of the paper's own poll polling data that suggests a different conclusion than the story reached.

The Obama campaign sent over a detailed critique of the story, which concludes from the poll that Obama isn't closing the divide on race. The story's lead reporter was the paper's top political writer, Adam Nagourney.

"The NYT story about their poll ignores multiple and significant pieces of data that actually indicate a trend much different from that which the story suggests," the statement reads. It goes on to list "some straightforward points from their data that are omitted from the story."...

a) More white voters say Obama cares about people like them, than say the same thing about McCain by 31 to 23
b) On the essential issue in this campaign - bringing about change in Washington - Among white voters, Obama is seen as the change agent by 52% to 30%

c) Obama's 31% favorable rating among white voters is virtually identical to McCain's, which is at 34%.

d) By a 2 to 1 margin over McCain, white voters are more likely to say that Obama would improve America's image in the world

e) "Racial dissension" around Mrs. Obama's 24% favorable rating among whites is an extremely odd description given that Mrs. McCain's favorable rating among white voters is 20%.

f) Enthusiasm for Obama's candidacy is roughly 2.5 times higher among white voters than is enthusiasm for McCain's.

g) Obama is winning by 6 points against McCain and the gap among white voters is only -9 --- a margin smaller than independent expert on voting patterns, Ruy Texiera, said would give Obama a " solid win."

h) though there is a six-point margin of error among black voters the NYT describes the 7-point change in black voters' views that whites had a better chance of getting ahead as slightly higher than 8 years ago. Given that the Times reports horserace questions as statistically even when the margin falls within the margin, it seems that this shift from seven years ago among black voters is well within the margin of error.


More on this soon.

[still_one]

1. The NY Times helped lead us to war in Iraq based on lies

They are not the symbol of journalism that they used to represent

[ErinBerin84]

2. heh, in a perfect world, the Obama campaign could have included that in the memo

"paper of record" my ASS.

[Skwmom]

9. Exactly.

[flpoljunkie]

3. Credit Adam Nagourney for this biased reporting.

[high density]

4. I saw the headline of the NYT article on MSNBC.com this morning

I scanned right the hell past it. The media has no clue what they're talking about when it comes to politics or polling. Few of them have any idea what "margin of error" really means (Keith Olbermann included) and it just does downhill from there.

[crimsonblue]

10. I think KO does...

he did create the Keith Number, after all.

[blogslut]

5. Ad Nags wrote a slanty, insipid article that left out details?

Color me shocked.

[TexasObserver]

6. "Obama's 31% favorable rating among white voters is virtually identical to McCain's, which is at 34%

THAT is the most critical piece of information.

The NYT story and the media coverage of it focus only on Obama's number, implying that McCain is getting huge support.

If Obama only had 30% of the white vote, he could not have 47% of the voters.

[mopinko]

7. gobama. this is the way to take on the media. not wait until someone

says something tacky and demand their head. this is why he is my candidate. when he fights you, he brings ammunition, and he wins. he doesn't just raise a cloud of stink with only makes things worse. (which is how i fight most of my battles.)
the man knows how to win!

[glitch]

8. Adam Nagourney? Question answered. Good to see Obama calling them on his blatant lies. nt

[crimsonblue]

11. I just read the NYT article and man...

what a Fucking hit job! It took 3/4 of the article to mention that Obama was in the lead overall in the polls, and HOW THE FUCK could no data be mentioned about McSame? This is disgusting. I hope KO rips into the NYT big time tonight.

[Cha]

12. Adam Nagourney is the NYT's top political

whore.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

13. What the hell is going on with these polls? First WaPo, now NYTimes?

[Colobo]

14. I'm glad the Obama camp is keeping them honest.

[Number23]

15. But it's a Catch 22, isn't it?

If Obama complains about the media coverage, he gets portrayed as a whiner who wants special privileges, which could lead the media coverage to get even more unbalanced.

If he says nothing, then these tilted stories gain steam and get picked up and spread further.

Anyone reading just the numbers and not the accompanying article would have realized immediately that Obama is doing well across many, many segments of America. Which is phenomenal considering the many "whispers" surrounding him. Why the accompanying article only seemed to highlight his perceived "challenges" and "upcoming struggles" I really can't figure out.