September 29, 2003

READERS ON RECALL

Panelists give views on polls

By NORA K. WALLACE
NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

With a shortened campaign period, media outlets and public interest groups are conducting polls in the gubernatorial recall. The News-Press asked its panel of readers tracking the recall: What impact does polling have on your decision making? Do you pay attention to the polls and do they help you decide how to vote on Election Day?

JIM CARUCCI, Democrat:
Polls seem to indicate broad social trends, but they do not represent hard data or facts with a high degree of reliability. I find polling data interesting, but they do not influence my opinions or my voting patterns.

AL NODARSE, nonpartisan:
They've never impacted my decision. I always read about them. Polls are just all over the map this time. Normally that doesn't happen. Sometimes we take polls too seriously. They help, but it sometimes helps determine elections before it happens. (Fomer independent candidate Peter) Ueberroth got out because he had only 5 percent.

PETER FYFE, Libertarian:
Polls are the worst thing ever invented in politics. Everything politicians say is structured to appeal to buzzwords and demographics. They tell us what we want to hear, and it's what we already know. Based on that, they govern and create policies. Give us a little credit. I think we deserve a little more detail, substance. All polls help do is strengthen those in the lead and marginalize those people who aren't. We shouldn't have people dropping out of the race because of what the polls say.

LINDA BISHOP, Republican:
I don't feel swayed by the polls. I would look at the trends that are interesting. I would never vote based on the polls. I'm an individualist. I'm not going along because somebody else thought it was good. I consider what they're telling me, and I vote accordingly.

NADIA KELADA, Democrat:
Polling doesn't help me decide how to vote. Does it enter into the big scheme of things? In a sense, you become more of an activist if they're going the wrong way from what you think. It might make me get off my rear end and do more. I know they affect most people. I watch them because they're a tool. But they come out the way the questions are asked.

DONNIE NAIR, Democrat:
I pay attention to them. I worked for the Field Poll 30 years ago. We had to ask questions exactly as they were written. Most of the time, the questions were quite slanted. Whoever seemed to be paying for the poll, was the way the questions were worded. Polls make a big difference in influencing the voter, but voters should find out what the questions are. I think they're just a political tool.

KARI NODARSE, nonpartisan:
The only thing I do with polls is look at the numbers. That's all they show. I don't use polls as a voting tool. My decision is based on investigating candidates and what they stand for.

BILL OWENS, Democrat:
I pay attention to them, but that doesn't influence my voting. I use it as a guideline, where people are at a time. They say polling is almost even with those for and against the recall. That's been the situation all along.

VADIM HSU, Democrat:
I'm interested in seeing where they're going. I see they're all over the map anyway. Recently, there's been a little more consistency. It's one of those things - it catches your eye on the front page, with a graphic format, it's an easy nugget to read. It's interesting to see what the poll numbers show. It's more interesting as people drop out on the Republican side, to see how it skews the public perception of the numbers.

CARL HOPKINS, Republican:
Normally, polling has very little impact on me. In this instance, because of the structure of the election, I'm paying very close attention to the polls. If it appears Bustamante will win, then I will vote no on recall. But if it appears Bustamante will lose, then I will vote yes on recall and vote for McClintock. But what if the polls show Arnold way ahead and the likely winner? Then I have to chose between Davis and Arnold.

VALERIE GIRARD, Democrat:
No on all counts. I hear about polls. I would never go with the wave of popularity. I'd be happy if the candidate I was choosing was in the forefront. Other than that, polls mean nothing to me.

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