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Playing games with polls in Iowa

This is neither an Iowa prediction nor a Ron Paul commercial, but an observation that complements the one Dana made over on Delaware Watch about excluding Paul from debates.

Here's how Newsmax presents the latest Zogby tracking poll that ended yesterday:


With a Huckabee surge and a Romney dip, the former Arkansas governor opened up a six-point lead over his nearest rival. Former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson also lost a point, and Arizona Sen. John McCain, who has been surging in New Hampshire, faded here into a tie for fourth place.


Notice that the poll doesn't say who McCain is in a tie for fourth place with.

From Real Clear Politics here's the breakdown of the same Zogby tracking poll:

Huckabee=31%
Romney=25%
Thompson=11%
McCain=10%
Paul=10%

Funny, when you look at the numbers it would seem that the real news is that Ron Paul has risen into double digits and entered a virtual three-way tie for third place, given the usual margin for error.

Newmax is not always the most credible of sources, but it is generally well to the right of center.

Why is it also participating in the "Ron Paul blackout?"

Let's say, for the sake of argument, that Paul pulls off an upset and finishes third by a point ahead of Thompson and McCain. Is this how the news lead tomorrow will read?

As expected, Mick Huckabee held onto his lead to take 31% of the Iowa caucus vote, with Mitt Romney managing only a disappointing second place at 25%. John McCain and Fred Thompson tied for fourth place with 10% each, performing about as expected. Moving on to New Hampshire....


If you read this blog regularly, you will know I am NOT a Ron Paul fanatic, but you really do have to wonder what's going on here.
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Comments

The Last Ephor said…
What's going on? Simply put: the piggies at the trough know that Ron Paul is serious about putting K Street out of business and ending spending on a fundamental, radical level. I don't know how much he'd actually be able to accomplish but you can bet nobody wants to find out. That they are going to such lengths to marginalize and silence the man speaks volumes. I'm not raging Ron Paul fan but it's pretty clear they're pulling out all the stops to keep him from going anywhere.
January 3, 2008 at 2:10 PM
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