In Reply to: Pollsters somehow have difficulty reading the zeitgeist posted by blindness on November 13, 2026 at 07:58:44
Mervin Field started his poll just after WWII. His first time polling a presidential election was 1948.
Late in the election cycle his numbers showed a move toward Truman. But he could see he was out of sync with other pollsters. He got nervous. To be so wrong his first time out would have been disastrous.
So he adjusted his figures to show Dewey ahead.
When Truman won he realized he'd lost his chance to make his reputation.
The Field Poll lasted about 70 years. Field said the 1948 election was his biggest regret.