Stop if you’ve heard this one before…
In an e-mail sent last week to the “Foster Family”, Hizzoner writes, “(S)everal news outlets reported on the latest round of questionable polling results released by a company called StPetePolls. Not surprisingly they were once again not favorable to our campaign. ”
“Most responsible news outlets do not engage such polling methods,” Foster continued. “For whatever reason, however, that’s not the standard for the Tampa Bay Times whose writers and editors routinely insist on reporting this ‘junk science.’ “
Jeez, Bill, why don’t you just call them liars and be done with it.
For the record, the automated polls Foster is criticizing are directed by Matt Florell. I previously asked Florell to respond to Foster’s criticism.
“I am very confident in our polling results,” said Florell. “A few months ago, we predicted the outcome of the Gainesville Mayor’s race and the House District 2 Republican Primary, so we have a track record of recent accurate polling to stand behind.”
But Foster’s criticism of automated polling is besides the point. My issue is why is Foster calling out a poll I commissioned? What does he hope to gain by giving attention to a poll he doesn’t want his supporters to pay attention to?
I previously asked Foster about this and he said his e-mails have “absolutely nothing to do with” me. Really? Are there other local blogs which commissioned polling? (Yes, one time, Steve Lapinski’s, but Foster wouldn’t know that.)
“If you are polling, then check your science,” Foster told me. “Apparently your numbers are significantly different than ours.”
What Foster would have you believe is that the numbers from the Tampa Bay Times, which show Foster down by just one, are closer to reality than what our numbers show — even though the Times polling had Kriseman in third place in the primary (and, infamously, had Mitt Romney winning Florida by six points).
Hey, Mr. Mayor, do me a favor next time: Don’t piss on my leg and tell me it’s raining.
