How Edwards Used Polling Data

Harrison Hickman, as mentioned in one of the other blogs, was the pollster in the Edwards Campaign. Hickman used the polls to help shape Edwards’ message and campaign strategy. Polls last October showed that Edwards was the only Democratic candidate with a significant lead over Giuiliani, the Republican front runner at the time. According to polls studied by Hickman, Edwards’ margin of victory was the same as Obama’s and Clinton’s against other republicans in hypothetical elections. Also, Hickman stated that Edwards does better in the important battle ground states of Iowa, Ohio, and Missouri. The Edwards campaign used this information from the polls to focus on Edwards’ electability. Obama also picked up on this theme and both he and Edwards claimed that they were the most electable, and that Hillary’s polarizing views would hurt Democrats’ chances of capturing the White House in 2008. Even though the Edwards Campaign was knowledgeable and used their polls to shape this strategy, he still ultimately could not make voters see that he was the most electable candidate. I think that if Edwards had had more money to get out his message of electability, then he might have been able to stay in the race longer.

--Kristin Herron

New York Times Link:
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2007/10/edwards_focuses.html