In all seriousness, I made that comment in jest based on some rumors I had heard some time ago. Looks like they're not unfounded: http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/about_us/faqs What Is Your Polling Methodology? Rasmussen Reports collects data for its survey research using an automated polling methodology. Survey questions are digitally recorded and fed to a calling program that determines question order, branching options, and other factors. Calls for part of our daily sample are placed to randomly-selected landline phone numbers through a process that insures appropriate geographic representation. Using a single, digitally-recorded voice to conduct landline interviews ensures that every respondent hears exactly the same question from the exact same voice asked with the exact same inflection every single time. And the process is completely private . There is no live operator to potentially pass judgment on the respondent’s answers. Like many other pollsters, we now also draw a sizable percentage of our daily sample survey results from special demographically balanced Internet Panels to capture the growing number of people who no longer have landline telephones. These panels are increasingly important because, unlike live-operator calls to cell phones, they both reach the younger demographic and do so while maintaining their personal privacy – just like in the voting booth. To learn more about the specifics of our polling procedures, please consult our methodology page. http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/about_us/methodology To reach those who have abandoned traditional landline telephones, Rasmussen Reports uses an online survey tool to interview randomly selected participants from a demographically diverse panel.
I like some of their methodology other than just calling land lines. Just calling landlands leaves one of the most important demographics out for the most part: Young swing voters. Based on what you are saying, Rasmussen polls have liitle value in guaging sentiment as a whole and is likely to have even less relevance moving forward. Millenials are just a few years away from reaching their peak homeownership rates, for example.
It's likely intentional to sell the results to right wing outlets. Their stat analysis isn't necessarily wrong, they just introduce tons of uncertainty by their methodology
Well, you would also have to question Gallup, Harris and Roper. http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/about_us/methodology Data for Rasmussen Reports survey research is collected using an automated polling methodology. Generally speaking, the automated survey process is identical to that of traditional, operator-assisted research firms such as Gallup, Harris, and Roper. However, automated polling systems use a single, digitally-recorded, voice to conduct the interview while traditional firms rely on phone banks, boiler rooms, and operator-assisted technology. For tracking surveys such as the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll, the automated technology ensures that every respondent hears exactly the same question, from the exact same voice, asked with the exact same inflection every single time. All Rasmussen Reports' survey questions are digitally recorded and fed to a calling program that determines question order, branching options, and other factors. Calls are placed to randomly-selected phone numbers through a process that ensures appropriate geographic representation. Typically, calls are placed from 5 pm to 9 pm local time during the week. Saturday calls are made from 11 am to 6 pm local time and Sunday calls from 1 pm to 9 pm local time. To reach those who have abandoned traditional landline telephones, Rasmussen Reports uses an online survey tool to interview randomly selected participants from a demographically diverse panel. After the surveys are completed, the raw data is processed through a weighting program to ensure that the sample reflects the overall population in terms of age, race, gender, political party, and other factors. The processing step is required because different segments of the population answer the phone in different ways. For example, women answer the phone more than men, older people are home more and answer more than younger people, and rural residents typically answer the phone more frequently than urban residents. For surveys of all adults, the population targets are determined by census bureau data. For political surveys, census bureau data provides a starting point and a series of screening questions are used to determine likely voters. The questions involve voting history, interest in the current campaign, and likely voting intentions. Rasmussen Reports determines its partisan weighting targets through a dynamic weighting system that takes into account the state’s voting history, national trends, and recent polling in a particular state or geographic area.
that statement in its entirety is contradictory. The rest is just advertising. Just think about it, "I'm going to compliment my phone polling w/voluntary online polling that only the most biased segments will likely give a damn to fill out."