Blackwell demolishes Petro

Blackwell is beating Petro 39% - 28% with 33% undecided. The A.P. published the Columbus Dispatch's mail-in poll of 2,874 Republican and 2,894 Democrats, all of whom were Registered Voters. The margin of error is 2%. The full poll also looked at the remaining races.

There are problems with the poll. First, polling Registered Voters is less accurate than likely voters.
Second, there are no idependents and the poll should be changed to reflect reality: about 35% (R), 35%(D), and 30% Ind. Third, a phone poll, not a mail-in survey, is more accurate than a mail-in poll when it comes to measuring accurately the voting trends. At home a potential voter can wait and wait, whereas on voting day as on the phone the decision is split-second: I choose candidate A. A voter has minutes, not days to complete a ballot. Change these three characteristics and the sentiments of the voters will be more accurate. The poll is a Good star tbut be wary about reading too much into it. The Dispatch also defended its techniques. There is more statistical stuff for poll-wonks
Blackwell's almost insurmountable lead is a main reason why he will not debate Petro. Plus he is keeping his powder dry until the last few weeks of the season. Plus the voters already know who is the conservative candidate and who is a RINO.

( l-r) Ted Strickland(D) and Bryan Flannery(D) lunch with Jim Petro(RINO) at the Canton Forum on Wed 3-22-06. (courtesy Daniel Hockensmith of Kent State's 89.7 WKSU)
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