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DEL.ICIO.USAtlanta pollster says he’s received death threats — but not from here
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
An Atlanta pollster said this morning he’s gotten death threats via e-mail for reporting Republican presidential candidate John McCain ahead of Democrat Barack Obama in several states.
“It’s the crazy season. I don’t ascribe it to any campaign,” said David Johnson, CEO of Strategic Vision, a Republican-oriented firm. Still, he’s reported the messages to the FBI.
The threats, Johnson said, came from Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin — which means a long and difficult commute for those who warned him to check under his car for anything that ticks. “They’re probably still stuck in traffic,” he said.
The threats were first posted on National Review Online, a conservative web site:
One of the messages stated:
“My goodness, your polls stinks. There are 3 polls that have Obama by double digits and only yours has Obama down. WOW!. How come your poll is the only one giving Palin high favor ratings? I think you nee dto be careful tonight when you get in your car and might want to check underneath your car. SCRAP YOUR IDIOTIC POLLS OR ELSE!”
Another stated:
“A poll that gave Sarah Palin and Barack Obama the same favorability rating is wrong off the bat. Be careful going outside tonight because you might not see tomorrow.”
A third message stated:
“Why would your presidential election poll results be so drastically different from every other reputable poll taken over the same time period? Are they that dumb or are you guys that smart? Smart guys wind up dead.”
Johnson said he’s received death threats before — the last time from Washington state during the 2004 governor’s race.
None of the threats came from Georgia, where Strategic Vision last week gave McCain a six-point lead. The SV poll disagreed significantly with a same-day poll issued by Atlanta-based InsiderAdvantage, which said Obama had a razor-thin, one-point advantage.
Johnson, incidently said he’s assumed African-American turnout to be a dramatic 35 percent in SV polls, but says the presidential race is extremely polarized by race outside metro Atlanta. Johnson had the McCain/Pailin ticket at 51 percent in Georgia, and Obama/Biden at 45 percent.
Assuming 95 percent of the African-American vote going to Obama, that would mean that — according to Johnson — Obama is pulling less than 19 percent of the white vote in Georgia.
However, both the SV and IA polls had the U.S. Senate race in Georgia headed toward a runoff.
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Comments
By Sir Winston
October 27, 2008 11:41 AM | Link to this
I love the peace and tolerance of the left and the Democrat Party. The hope and change in those messages was truly inspiring. Is the coming of the Democrat/liberal Thugacracy? Peace.
By akiceman
October 27, 2008 11:52 AM | Link to this
If anonymous email comments are representative of a constituency then I suggest you read any online comments; everyone makes empty threats - regardless of race color or political leaning.
This story is right up there with the whackjob right winger who carved a backwards B on her face and claimed a black man did it!
By dave
October 27, 2008 11:53 AM | Link to this
They’re tolerant & inclusive as long as you agree with them. You disagree and you’re a racist.
By Jimmy
October 27, 2008 12:00 PM | Link to this
These threats are abhorrent and do not represent the views of any Democrat I know.
By sandra
October 27, 2008 12:12 PM | Link to this
I think the so called threats are as relevant as the lady that claimed to have been robbed and beaten with a B scratched on her face for having a Maccain Palain bumper sticker.
By sandra
October 27, 2008 12:16 PM | Link to this
I think the so called threats are as relevant as the lady that claimed to have been robbed and beaten with a B scratched on her face for having a Maccain Palain bumper sticker.
By Heather
October 27, 2008 1:05 PM | Link to this
What makes anyone so sure these “threats” came from an Obama/Biden supporter? What makes anyone so sure these “threats” came from anyone but the pollster.
If he feels like he is being threatened, he should do what plenty of Obama/Biden supporters have done when they’ve received threats of violence via emails, letters and bricks. Go to the police, not the media.
By lisa
October 28, 2008 2:53 PM | Link to this
It’s hardly suprising the Repubs are getting death threats. Have you seen what they’ve done to our country? lol I’m suprised no-one’s tried to take a shot at Bush yet. But that said, typing on the internet is a little different than actually going out there with two guns and aiming to kill 88 black children, and topping it off with plans to murder Obama. That, my friends, is a little more serious.
By andy
October 29, 2008 1:07 AM | Link to this
to Lisa: ^ George Bush has kept America safe ever since 9/11 that’s what he’s done for you and every person living/visiting in this country. and if you go back to the Clinton admin. they had chance after chance to get terrorists that were attacking our nation, and planning to attack our nation. way to go for being a closet republican, “my friend”
By patsy
October 30, 2008 12:43 AM | Link to this
If 95% of blacks are voting for Obama, that is the BEST example of being a racist I have ever seen, because they are only looking at his color. I think blacks are WAY more racist than whites, and they push and push and push and whites keep taking steps back and back and back. What’s up with that ?