The Worst Election Poll Ever Taken by Anyone
By David Weigel | Posted Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2012, at 10:19 AM ET
On August 1, the Detroit Free Press released the results of an EPIC-MRA poll of the GOP primary in the 11th congressional district. The question: Would voters get behind the libertarian rancher who accidentally became the only candidate on the ballot, or would they write in well-known local pol Nancy Cassis?
[Sen. Nancy] Cassis, of Novi, is leading her rival Kerry Bentivolio of Milford 52% to 36% in Tuesday’s Republican primary for the 11th Congressional idstrict, even though Bentivolio’s name is the only one on the ballot.
How could Bentivolio survive? Easily! He won 65.5% of the vote, helped by $500,000 of spending from the Ron Paul-inspired Super PAC Liberty for All. Our lesson: Do not believe surveys that ask people what they think of candidates that aren't on the ballot. Additional lesson: Follow the money.
