According to Jeffrey M. Jones’ Aug. 12 article on the Gallup website, Gallup asks respondents only about Obama and McCain in its daily USA Today tracking polls. Yet in its Aug. 7-10 survey on third-party candidates, they did not even mention the names of those candidates.

How can either of these methods possibly give an accurate picture of the voters’ interests and wishes? Both polls seem designed to “black out” candidates like Nader, who is on the ballot in 45 states. The Aug. 7-10 poll seems especially unfair, in spite of Jones’ assertion that Gallup leaves out the candidates’ names in the interest of “putting all candidates on equal footing.”

“Equal”? In fact, Gallup’s methods put even more distance between the major-party and minor-party candidates. With the USA Today poll, Gallup gives the two major-party candidates a veritable daily advertisement in a nationwide newspaper that reaches millions. But in the poll that supposedly focuses on third-party candidates, Gallup is suddenly interested in “equal” treatment. This, even though major media chronically give the Democratic and Republican nominees round-the-clock coverage of every move they make and every word they say, while providing hardly any time at all to third-party candidates.

Gallup needs to revise its methodology, in order to make its polling fair—and accurate.

According to polls I have seen, about half of the country opposed the recent $700 billion bailout.

Both Obama and McCain came out in favor of the bailout and ALL of the significant third party candidates, regardless of their political affiliations, came out against it.

So, how do you explain any exclusion of the latter candidates from your polling efforts? Or is your purpose not to gauge public opinion, but to manage it?

Dear Mr. Newport,
During an important election cycle such as this, where more and more Americans are becoming disenchanted with the corporate controlled two-party system, I request that you consider including third party candidates in your phone surveys. Without them being included, it marginalizes their campaigns and does not providing scientific methodology, thus obtaining skewed results.
With the economy collapsing, along with our environment and liberties, I feel it is imperative that you provide a fair playing field and allow the individuals being polled a more honest representation of what their choices are on November 4th.

Thank you for your consideration in this matter,

Danene Provencher,
Mound, MN