>>I was called by a pollster last night. The questions surprised me. Not once was I asked who I would vote for or if I had voted. Yet the purpose of the poll was determine who I would vote for. At the end of the poll, I asked the fellow how could he tell who I would vote when that question was never asked. He informed me that they could tell by how I answered the questions. I wonder...
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>>A sample (some of them I wrote down because they were so unusual):
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>>1. Are you more concerned about terrorism or the economy?
>>2. Which candidate would you invite over to your house for dinner?
>>3. Which candidate speaks more from the heart?
>>4. Do you think the money spent on the war in Iraq would be better served at home in the U.S.?
>>5. Do you think large corporations make too much money?
>>6. Do you think the U.S. welcomes immigrants from other countries and provides a chance for economic success?
>>7. If you or a family member gets sick, is it your fault?
>>8. Do you think healthcare should be available to everyone?
>>9. Do you pay too many taxes?
>>10. Do you think the government should protect those who cannot protect themselves?
>>11. Do you think the U.S. is viewed favorably by other countries?
>>12. Do you own a gun?
>>13. How much education do you have (a. no college b. some college c. a college degree)
>>14. Do you drink? If so how much and how frequently (a. daily b. one drink a week c. several drinks a week)
>>15. If you drink, do you (a. drink beer b. drink wine...)
>>16. Do you think too many soldiers died or were injured in Iraq?
>>17. When you hear Obama speak, do you feel: (a. relaxed b. worried c. excited)
>>18. when you hear McCain speak, do you feel: (a. relaxed b. worried c. excited)
>>
>>Now, which questions do you think suggest Obama? Which ones McCain? Most questions were similar to those above. I know how I answered, but I'm not sure it's an accurate reflection of how I voted.
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>>Update (I meant to post this under politics - don't know how it ended up in news section)
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>>Whenever I asked for clarification on a question such as: "What do you mean by 'protect?" the pollster said he couldn't add to any question; he had to ask the question the way it was written.
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>You really wrote down all those questions while you were on the phone?
>
>IAC you have more patience with cold calls on the phone than I am. I just ask them how much they're paying, and that's the end of it.

First I ask them for their full name and home phone number (since they have mine - fair is fair - right?).

I actually got names and numbers (which I verify on the other line) a couple of times.

If they are still on the phone, I want to know what their answer is to each question before we move to the next.

Never made it past that.