Don’t Pay Attention To That Wisconsin Straw Poll

[Cosmic Dancer]

http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/dont-pay-attention-to-that-wisconsin-straw-poll/

[HassleCat]

1. Bernie is the nominee, I guess

According to the logic in the article, there is no way Clinton will win the nomination, since she won the Wisconsin straw poll.

[Dawgs]

2. Yep. n/t

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

3. Why 'Harry Entin' at 538 just doesn't get it...

No one with even a few brain cells to rub together thinks that a straw poll at a convention means anything in terms of the electorate at large. But what it DOES do is generate more media attention, and more general electorate interest in Bernie Sanders. People who AREN'T hardcore activists hear those numbers and ask themselves 'Who is this guy, and why is he getting so many votes, when the media has been telling us nothing but 'Hillary, Hillary, Hillary!'

So 'Don't pay attention' in the sense that it's statistically not important in predicting an eventual winner, sure. But people WILL pay attention, and that in itself will pay dividends that will help continue pushing up Bernie's overall numbers across the board.

[Agnosticsherbet]

4. Thank you Cosmic Dancer and 538...

This will not be the last meaningless poll taken before the primary begins. When a candidate does well, we will be told it is proof that Candidate (place favorite candidate name here) is blowing away the competition.

[Gothmog]

5. It is a straw poll and these polls are meaningless

Just ask President Bachmann

[Tarheel_Dem]

6. Shhhh. Let 'em think they've already won.

"Conventions by their nature attract the truly hard-core party faithful, so this is the perfect environment for a very liberal candidate like Sanders to do well. In addition, less than 40 percent of the more than 1,300 delegates who attended the convention even voted. We’re talking about a sliver of a sliver. It was in no way a random sample — or even a particularly meaningful sample."

As was stated above, just ask President Bachmann.

[cprise]

7. Echoes from 2008

Look who's pointing to the Right...