I have a very rich white friend that lives in an exclusive neighborhood in Aurora, CO

[Horse with no Name]

We were chatting on our cell phones last night and her landline never ceased to ring.

She said that it rings non-stop with political polls.

She has quit answering, but says it has gotten to the point of being ridiculous and she can't wait until the election season is over.

On the other hand, I live in one of the poorest counties in Texas. I have NEVER been polled. Not one time.

I guess they don't consider me a "likely" voter.

[Butterbean]

1. I'm upper middle class, and my phone rings daily. Huh, never thought about that angle.

[gateley]

5. What State are you in?

[Butterbean]

8. North Carolina.

[gateley]

28. Well you're on their radar, but not as much a toss up as Colorado, maybe.

[Aerows]

6. I don't think it's the upper middle class part

I think it's the state you are in. It would be a waste of time to poll people in a place like CA or UT - you know how those two states are going to go.

[Butterbean]

10. True. I just hate to think that our income bracket has something to do with it. That

feels so sleazy. Ick.

[Tutonic]

16. Good to have this discussion of haves and have nots

first thing. We can get this out of the way early and move on to discussion of issues that don't pit one economic group against another. I bet a low income person with unpaid bills has their phone ringing off the hook day and night. DId you think about that angle?

[Butterbean]

18. Alrighty then. You're determined to be pissed off this morning, so I'm just going to let you be.

[mucifer]

2. She is in a swing state you are not.

[Horse with no Name]

7. Are the polls deliberately targeting what they perceive as upper middle or upper class?

I have to wonder because my friend is strongly in the Obama camp and she is no longer participating in the endless polling. I have to wonder how many other Obama supporters have reached this level of fatigue?
I don't question the veracity of the teabaggers and the republicans--I know they will participate in each and every thing that is asked of them, because that makes them confident that "their guy" is winning.

Just a thought.

[LukeFL]

36. That's it! It's not the income

It's the state. The OP isin TX - it's Romney country. They don't need poll there.

[liberal N proud]

3. Here in Ohio - earlier, it rang non-stop

Signed up to volunteer, it stopped.

[Horse with no Name]

34. That's interesting

I guess once they peg you as a dirty liberal activist, you are off the hook!

[gateley]

4. Interesting. But they're fighting tooth and nail for Colorado, Texas is pretty much a given for

Romney. I wonder if the poorest counties in Colorado are being as inundated as your friend's.

Did she give any indication of how she thought the State might go?

[Horse with no Name]

9. She doesn't get "that" involved in politics

She has some health issues that preclude her from doing so, but she says her entire family is voting for Obama.

[lalalu]

11. Have had the same in New Jersey.

The two reasons are that there are affluent areas in NJ and Christie convinced Romney he could put NJ in play. President Obama leads here by double digits and they are delusional.

Christie only won because of massive corruption by both parties including democrats. The democrats also refused to run a good candidate. Corzine was a disaster but purchased his way to run another term. Democratic leaders in NJ basically gave the state to Christie who fooled some people by running as a moderate.

[BVictor1]

12. One reason why the electoral college needs to be done away with.

There's actually an interesting discussion on Up/w Chris Hayes regarding this topic.

Because they know that Texa$ will be going red, you're disregarded.

[Tutonic]

13. Are you white?

You mention that your rich friend is white-- so I assume that this is an important part of your narrative.

[Horse with no Name]

14. My color doesn't matter

WHAT matters is if THIS is the Demographic that is being targeted for polling--because that would most definitely skew the polls.

[Tutonic]

17. OK let me get this straight. You mention that your friend is WHITE

But then state that your color does not matter. Correct me if I am wrong but I think your post is insensitive to people of color. I suggest you edit or delete your post. Thanks.

[Horse with no Name]

19. I don't do circular arguments

But thanks for playing!

[Logical]

26. You don't do common sense either! You brought up RACE first!

[LukeFL]

38. Oh god what's the big deAl?

It's too early to begin the bickering
Don't you think?

[Bluenorthwest]

15. Is Texas in play? No. Is Colorado? So they say...

Why poll Texas? To find out how big a win Mittens gets from the Lone Star State? That's the only question for Texas.

[Horse with no Name]

20. That is true

But I would think that if you wanted a true poll sample of the country, that you would hit all economies and all demographics.

[Bluenorthwest]

22. That's a huge 'if' you are foisting. Most polling in States which are in play is about

sampling that State. There is no reason to sample Texas at all to find out about Colorado. While you are sure the differences have to do with race and financial status, the difference is that you live in a deep red Republican bastion. I know how Texas will vote, they will vote Republican. Colorado is a toss up of sorts. That is why they are polling Colorado heavily. That is why they are not polling Texas.

[B Calm]

21. After we early voted, no one has called!

Before we voted we were getting called almost everyday by someone! Sucked, I work nights and I have to sleep during the daytime!

[slackmaster]

23. Affluent, middle-aged white female homeowners ARE the most likely voters

FWIW I haven't been polled even once. But that's probably because I live in California.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/158399/2012-electorate-looks-like-2008.aspx

[Horse with no Name]

35. Interesting. Then she IS the target demographic

That was what I was curious about. Thanks!

[lonestarnot]

24. Guess you don't count and nothing you say matters.

[Horse with no Name]

32. I'm used to that

I live in Texas...politically I haven't got what I wanted in a very long time!LOL

[nadinbrzezinski]

25. Gallup is increasingly having a ...

Dewey defeats Trumman methodology issue.

For the record the polling I have discualified myself from is local...we are talking Cali, we're not in play.

[Logical]

27. Why mention the color of this person???

[dems_rightnow]

29. As per one of their posts above

It's a not-so-subtle hint that the polls may be targeting upper-class white folks.

Based on the sample size of 1, there's some evidence of it.

[Logical]

30. Most polls publish stats to analyze this this if needed!

[TheKentuckian]

33. Why mention their economic status? Because they are concerned about a willful oversample

of demographics that lean right.

Actually "white" is more statistical likely to vote TeaPubliKlan than "rich".

Why is this upsetting? The numbers are the numbers and aren't new.

[Horse with no Name]

40. Exactly

and WHY would this ONE person be polled so many times that she won't even answer her telephone.

[treestar]

31. Swing state

Texas is not.

[Nay]

37. Interesting. We're in an upper middle class neighborhood ("good zip code") and we have been

polled dozens of times. I'm sure they're surprised when we say "Obama."

It also may have to do with the fact we're in VA.

[Samjm]

39. not just the state

But the county too. The Aurora area is the swingiest district in this swing state. We've been hearing since last year that Arapahoe County. Is one of 9 countries in the country that will determine this election. CO will go the way Arapahoe county goes.

[Horse with no Name]

41. Now I didn't know that.

Interesting information. Thanks!

[proud2BlibKansan]

42. I haven't received any calls either.

I did get 2 last weekend that said "Blocked" on the caller ID. But I don't answer those.

[Howler]

43. You Should see whats it like here in Ohio! :(

My Phone is ringing off the bloody hook!!! Even the Repukes are calling all damn day Everyday! And My Husband and I have been registered Democrats forever. NEVER having voted for even one repuke EVER! .
I empty my answering machine and its full in a matter of hours! And don't get me started on the T.V. political commercials. AAAARRRRRGGGGGGGGG!
Election years SUCK!!!!! I will be so glad when its over too!

[Horse with no Name]

44. That would drive me insane

I haven't seen many political ads...but the yard signs piss me off,lol

[Howler]

45. Actually Horse With No name.

Oddly enough I havent seen that many yard signs out for either candidate this year.
The 2008 election they were EVERYWHERE. 2012 not so much. At least here in Dayton Ohio where I live which is very close to U.D.and downtown.

[Horse with no Name]

46. I have seen yard signs

A lot for that idiot bagger Cruz (Texas) and a few for Romney.

Have seen a few for Obama...and a few for Sadler. Mostly local candidates.

But the television commercials (I do watch very limited TV) have been almost non-existent.

[Honeycombe8]

47. I'm in a middle class county in TX. I was polled by local poll, which incl. my Prez vote.

But mainly it was about local races.

In TX the pollsters know how most people vote here, maybe? It's also a much larger state than CO & others, so the odds of being polled are less.

[kaiden]

48. We live in Conifer, Colorado. I might take a hammer to our phone.

Constant, constant, constant. We don't answer, but grit our teeth until the ringing stops. Who calls? Telefund, Inc. (I believe this is Obama), Obama, Maine, Donor Services, Charity Pickup (probably telemarketers trying to hide behind charities), etc. I did answer last Saturday -- nice guy "Ray" from Obama office in Conifer making sure we'd received our mail-in ballot. Told him we'd not only received it but had sent it in.

Still, the national call centers continue to call us.