Simone Lawson
Push polls are a form of negative campaigning that use pseudo-opinion polls to influence voters' views and beliefs. They are typically conducted over the telephone and involve asking specific questions about an issue or a candidate to sway voters' opinions under the guise of conducting a legitimate opinion poll. Push polls are often short and focus on spreading negative and false information about a candidate or political office. While they are not considered legitimate polls, they are not prohibited by any state, although several states have introduced regulations requiring callers to provide certain information during the poll. The use of push polls has been a controversial topic, with organizations such as the American Association of Political Consultants (AAPC) condemning the practice as a violation of their Code of Ethics.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Political telemarketing masquerading as a poll |
| Purpose | To negatively influence voters and introduce scurrilous rumors into the political conversation |
| Examples | Jerry Voorhis is a communist; John McCain is a "cheat" and a "liar" |
| Requirements in Maine | Must identify the person or organization sponsoring or authorizing the call; disclose the sponsor's contact information and address; disclose the candidate's name and office sought if affiliated with a candidate |
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What You'll Learn
Push polls are a form of negative campaigning
Push polls are not genuine polls but attempts to negatively influence voters by introducing scurrilous rumours into the political conversation. They are a controversial form of campaigning that uses pseudo-opinion polls to influence the views and beliefs of voters. Push polls use loaded questions to actively influence the views of the electorate, typically through attempts to discredit opposition candidates. The use of leading questions in push polls allows politicians or parties to ""push"" voters towards a particular point of view.
Push polls are often short, with only a handful of questions, to maximise the number of calls that can be made. Any data obtained is secondary to the resulting negative effect on the targeted candidate. They are an effective way to malign an opponent while avoiding direct responsibility for the distorted or false information suggested in the push poll. Push polls may rely on innuendo or information obtained from opposition research.
Push polls have been used in several political campaigns in the United States. For example, in his first campaign in 1946, Richard Nixon used push polls to spread the rumour that his opponent, Jerry Voorhis, was a communist. In the 2000 United States Republican Party primaries, it was alleged that George W. Bush's campaign used push polling against Senator John McCain, asking voters if they would be more or less likely to vote for him if they knew he had "fathered an illegitimate black child".
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They are used to spread rumours and innuendos
Push polls are a form of political telemarketing disguised as polls. They are not actual polls, but rather attempts to spread negative information about opposing candidates and influence voters. They are often used to spread rumours and innuendos, such as in the case of the 1946 US House campaign, where voters reported receiving anonymous calls claiming that incumbent Jerry Voorhis was a communist. Similar tactics were used in the 2000 Republican Party's presidential nomination race, where George W. Bush's campaign spread rumours about rival John McCain, calling him a "cheat" and a "liar".
Push polls are designed to be very short, allowing them to reach a large number of potential voters. They typically do not include demographic questions and may ask to speak to a specific voter by name. While some push polls spread false information, others may simply remind voters of a particular issue or candidate's stance.
The mildest forms of push polling are designed to remind voters of a specific issue. For example, a push poll might ask respondents to rank candidates based on their support for an issue, with the intention of influencing the voter's perception of that candidate. Many push polls, however, take the form of negative attacks on candidates, spreading rumours or innuendos to damage their reputation.
Push polls are considered unethical and have been condemned by organisations such as AAPOR, which is committed to providing information and guidance on this deceptive campaign practice. Additionally, states like Maine have implemented laws to regulate push polls, requiring callers to disclose their identity and the organisation sponsoring the call. These measures aim to increase transparency and hold those conducting push polls accountable for their actions.
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They are disguised as opinion polls
Push polls are a form of political telemarketing disguised as opinion polls. They are designed to spread negative information about an opponent or introduce scurrilous rumours into the political conversation. While they may include some elements of truth, push polls are not conducted to collect or analyse data, but rather to influence voters.
Push polls are often short, sometimes taking the form of a brief phone call, and they do not include demographic questions. Instead, they may ask to speak to a specific voter by name. The content of a push poll might include negative information about an opponent, true or false, or remind voters of a particular issue. For example, in his first campaign in 1946, Richard Nixon used push polls to spread the rumour that his opponent, Jerry Voorhis, was a communist.
Push polls are not to be confused with legitimate polls, which may also contain negative information about an opposing candidate. These polls are conducted by candidate organisations for campaign research purposes and follow standard practices, including being full-length, covering a range of topics, and including demographic questions.
The American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) provides guidelines and best practices for survey research and has committed to providing information on how to identify and address unethical campaign practices, such as push polls. Additionally, certain states like Maine have laws in place to regulate push polls, requiring callers to identify themselves and the organisation they represent, as well as disclose specific information if they are affiliated with a particular candidate.
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They are not used to collect data
Push polls are not used to collect data. They are a form of political telemarketing disguised as polls. They are designed to negatively influence voters and spread rumours about opposing candidates. Push polls are not interested in gathering information or analysing data. They are short and often anonymous, spreading negative information about an opponent, which may or may not be true.
Push polls are often used in political campaigns to sway voters' opinions. For example, in the 1946 US House campaign, voters reported receiving anonymous phone calls claiming that Jerry Voorhis was a communist. Similarly, in 2000, John McCain accused George W. Bush of conducting push polls in South Carolina, which led to negative media attention for McCain.
Push polls are unethical and condemned by organisations like AAPOR, which provides information to help people identify and address this issue. Maine has also taken steps to address push polls by requiring callers to identify themselves and their sponsors, as well as disclose certain information if they are affiliated with a candidate.
While push polls are not interested in collecting data, they do aim to influence voters' decisions by spreading negative information about opposing candidates. This can include rumours or even lies, as seen in the example of Jerry Voorhis, where callers claimed he was a communist, which was not true. The purpose of push polls is to spread negative propaganda, not to gather information or conduct legitimate polling.
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They are most commonly used in elections with fewer voters
Push polls, or push polling, are a form of political telemarketing that masquerades as a poll. They are not legitimate polls, as no one is collecting information or analysing data. They are typically short and spread negative information about an opponent, which may or may not be true. Push polls are designed to negatively influence voters and introduce scurrilous rumours into the political conversation.
Push polls are most commonly used in elections with fewer voters. This is because they are designed to reach a large number of potential voters, one by one, in a short space of time. This makes them well-suited to elections with a smaller number of voters, where the impact of each individual's vote is greater.
For example, in a 1946 campaign for the U.S. House, voters reported receiving telephone calls claiming that incumbent Jerry Voorhis was a communist. This was not true, but the smear campaign may have influenced voters. Similarly, in the 2000 Republican Party's presidential nomination race, George W. Bush's campaign used push polls to spread negative information about his rival, John McCain.
Push polls can be effective in smaller elections because they can quickly reach a large proportion of the electorate with targeted, negative messages. This can influence voter perceptions and opinions, particularly in elections where voters may have less access to other sources of information or where the candidates are less well-known.
Some states, such as Maine, have introduced laws to regulate push polls. These laws require callers to identify the person or organisation sponsoring the call and to provide their contact information. This helps to increase transparency and accountability in the electoral process.
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Frequently asked questions
A push poll is a persuasive poll, typically conducted over the telephone, that is designed to change the respondent's mind by "pushing" them away from one candidate and toward another.
Push polls are a form of negative campaigning used to influence voters by spreading politically damaging rumours or innuendos about a candidate or their family. They are often used to discredit opposition candidates.
Push polls use leading or loaded questions to influence the views of voters. For example, a push poll might ask, "Would you be more or less likely to vote for John McCain if you knew he had fathered an illegitimate black child?".
Push polls can be effective in maligning an opponent while avoiding direct responsibility for the distorted or false information suggested. They are also difficult to trace, as they are often conducted anonymously, making it hard to hold the perpetrators accountable.
While no state in the US currently prohibits push polls, several states, including Idaho and Maine, have regulations in place requiring callers to provide certain information during the poll, such as the name and telephone number of the person or organization sponsoring the call.
