MSNBC host Chuck Todd welcomed Gallup editor-in-chief Frank Newport on his program Thursday to discuss the embattled pollster’s efforts to remedy some of the failures that typified its performance in last year’s election.
Todd wondered if Newport felt any frustration toward “irresponsible pollsters” such as right-leaning Rasmussen Reports that have joined Gallup in conducting a daily tracking poll.
“Did you feel pressure that you had these frankly irresponsible pollsters like Rasmussen, the robo-pollsters and some of these other ones who were just sort of stealing the thunder of the brand and do you think you ever rushed too quickly to the daily tracking poll game?” Todd asked.
Newport declined to take a swipe at his competitors, but did acknowledge the “downsides” of conducting a daily tracking poll that invariably shows ever-changing results.
Gallup and Rasmussen actually both had rough outings in the 2012 campaign. A study from Fordham University that evaluated the most accurate pollsters in 2012 placed them in a tie for 24th on a list of 28 outlets. The same study ranked Democratic-leaning Public Policy Polling — a robo-pollster — as the most accurate of last year’s cycle.
