News-Record.com

There's a reason you don't see us do much with political polls and here is the best example I can think of. The Pew Research Center is a reputable company with, best I can tell, high standards. Here's its latest survey synopsis:

"The latest national survey of 1,972 registered voters by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, conducted in two waves over a seven-day period, finds that the president's large margin of support in the initial period (Sept. 8-10) dissipated in the polling conducted Sept. 11-14. Among all registered voters Bush initially led Kerry by 52%-40%. However, the second wave of interviewing shows the race even among registered voters, at 46%-46%. When the sample is narrowed to likely voters, Bush holds a statistically insignificant lead of 47%-46% in the second wave, down from a huge 54%-38% advantage he held in the first wave of interviews."

Want a different result? Go here. Or here. Or here.

Because political polls measure the daily horse race and don't shed much light, we rarely display them prominently in the newspaper, a point partisans on both sides occasionally complain about when it suits their purposes. They're political meringue: lightweight, vaguely interesting and with no real significance.

Frankly, I've always wondered why so many news organizations sponsor them. I know that political junkies enjoy them. But I also khow expensive they are. I wish WE had that money to spend on content that would enlighten readers.