On November 22, Pew published a report on the growing problem of polls that only query those with land lines. Because of the growing use of cell phones, this introduces an element of bias into polling that appears to benefit Republicans.
In a November 21 blog post, liberal New York Times columnist Paul Krugman criticized Barack Obama for implicitly accepting much of the conservative worldview.
On November 18, the American Enterprise Institute published an extensive analysis of the exit polls from the recent congressional elections.
Also on November 18, Pew released a poll examining the public’s knowledge of various facts about politics. On average, fewer than half of respondents were able to answer the questions correctly.
In a November 17 commentary, Brookings Institutions fellows E.J. Dionne and William Galston discuss the role of religion in the 2010 elections.
On November 15, Rasmussen released a new poll showing that 37 percent of voters believe that George W. Bush was among the worst presidents in American history; only 9 percent ranked him among the best.
On November 11, Yale economist Ray Fair updated his political-economic model to forecast the 2012 election. Conclusion: Obama should win easily unless there is a double-dip recession. Pollster Nate Silver commented on November 22.
In a November 9 commentary, pollster Mark Blumenthal criticized the media practice of citing polls generated by candidates in the closing days of campaigns when those polls don’t fully disclose critical details of their methodology.
In two posts on November 8 and November 9, Columbia University political scientist Nils August Andresen argued that despite their recent victory Republicans faced a long-term electoral problem by failing to attract highly educated voters.
A November 5 report from the Campaign Finance Institute found that outside spending was generally ineffective in the 2010 elections.
In a November 3 commentary, political scientists Jacob Hacker and Paul Pierson argued that Republicans intentionally blocked measures that would aid the economy so that they would benefit from a poor economy in the congressional elections.
I last posted items on this topic on November 8.
Bruce Bartlett is an American historian and columnist who focuses on the intersection between politics and economics. He blogs daily and writes a weekly column at The Fiscal Times. Read his most recent column here. Bartlett has written for Forbes Magazine and Creators Syndicate, and his work is informed by many years in government, including as a senior policy analyst in the Reagan White House. He is the author of seven books including the New York Times best-seller, Impostor: How George W. Bush Bankrupted America and Betrayed the Reagan Legacy (Doubleday, 2006).
