Staff ReportsThe retirement of Ann Selzer, once a respected pollster at the Des Moines Register, has sparked quite the spectacle, drawing a call for investigation from none other than Donald Trump. The significance of this event cannot be underestimated, as it comes on the heels of Selzer’s infamous Iowa Poll that erroneously claimed Vice President Kamala Harris was in the lead by three points just before the 2024 election. This has left many wondering how a pollster of her repute could misjudge the public sentiment so grievously.
Selzer’s polling prowess is being put under the microscope following this misstep, which sent shockwaves through the political landscape. Her reliability had been taken as a given, but the misguided Iowa Poll sent Democrats into a frenzy of optimism, giving them a fleeting sense of victory. However, conservatives were not buying it for a second. Instead, they pointed to more reliable sources, like Rasmussen Reports, which indicated that Trump was comfortably ahead in Iowa and across battleground states. Ultimately, the election results vindicated the skeptics, showing Trump dominating by an impressive thirteen points.
🚨BREAKING: PRESIDENT TRUMP JUST CALLED FOR AN INVESTIGATION INTO FRAUD POLLSTER FOR ELECTION FRAUD!
"…possible ELECTION FRAUD by Ann Selzer and the now discredited 'newspaper' for which she works. An investigation is fully called for!" pic.twitter.com/eGeSUv2C6U
— Bo Loudon (@BoLoudon) November 17, 2024
Following Selzer’s announcement of her retirement, the cynical conservatives saw this as convenient timing, not just for her but for the narrative pushed by the left. Kristin Roberts of Gannett Media, the parent company of the Des Moines Register, has argued that the Iowa Poll will adapt to better capture public sentiment. However, that sounds a lot like a thinly veiled excuse to cover a disastrous polling failure. After all, their last poll did a poor job judging not only the zeitgeist of Iowans but also the mood of the nation.
Not surprisingly, Trump has called out Selzer for what many believe are more than just polling blunders. He suggested that her erroneous prediction released to the public was a classic case of manipulating public opinion, which he claims sowed seeds of distrust and uncertainty at a pivotal time. Taking to Truth Social, he expressed his gratitude for the “GREAT PEOPLE OF IOWA” who overwhelmingly supported him, while raising the prospect of election fraud thanks to Selzer’s apparent deception.
The fallout from this polling misstep has opened the floodgates for conservative voices to critique not only Selzer’s credibility but the reliability of polling data in general. Experts like Mark Mitchell have posited that Selzer’s flawed poll offered a glimmer of hope to Democrats when they needed it most, suggesting a deliberate attempt to bolster morale for a candidate with dwindling popularity. Ultimately, this fiasco serves as a stark reminder for conservatives to maintain skepticism when it comes to polls, especially those from names they once trusted. The future of polling might be uncertain, but for many, the narrative is clearer than ever.
