By Matt Rooney | The Save Jersey Blog
Residents in New Jersey’s 1st Legislative District are in an uproar today, Save Jerseyans, after a particularly aggressive “push poll” reportedly made the rounds on Thursday night throughout the district.
For those of you unfamiliar with the term, a push poll superficially sounds like any other telephone survey conducted during an election cycle except that the “questions” are not designed to obtain data so much as disseminate negative or false information about a political opponent. Example: “Does the fact that Candidate John Doe hates puppies make you more or less likely to support him?”
The LD1 Republican ticket is understandably steamed over it. “This is why good people don’t get into politics and run for office,” said Susan Adelizzi-Schmidt, the GOP’s Senate nominee seeking to unseat the incumbent, Jeff Van Drew (D-Cape May), in November’s general election. “From what people have told me, this negative push poll had nothing to do with my stance on issues, it was largely about my business and personal life. Its sole objective was to poison the minds of voters with a campaign tactic that has been discredited by legitimate pollsters and members of the media for years.” According to the campaign, at least one recipient’s caller ID registered a Florida-based phone number.
The million dollar question remains “who commissioned it?” The LD1 slate is asking their opponent to disclaim responsibility or, at the very least, condemn the call regardless of who actually produced, paid and executed it. Click here to read a copy of the scathing letter that the LD1 GOP ticket sent to Sen. Van Drew after the incident. The only thing that’s certain? Someone somewhere (1) doesn’t want the Adelizzi-Schmidt team to win but (2) thinks it’s a distinct possibility four months out.
I am stating to get push polls for Christie. I am in Camden County. I am stil voting forhim but yelled at the pollster for asking stupid push questions supporting him.
I actually like push polls. It gives me a chance to unload on the lies.
What is a push poll?