Candidates and Positions
In theory, we vote for the candidate who shares our views on key issues. That’s in theory; in practice, we often vote based on personality, overall appeal, and other factors not related to actual views.
Rasmussen Reports conducted a poll a couple of weeks ago that demonstrates this pretty clearly.
Nearly two-thirds of the likely voters surveyed, 66 percent, said cutting taxes is a top issue for them in the upcoming presidential election…and of those, more than half said it was very important. That’s a pretty clear sign.
Similarly, more than half, 53 percent of likely voters now believe that Democrat presidential nominee Joe Biden will raise taxes if elected.
By those metrics, President Trump should be well ahead. But that’s not what you’re hearing, often from outlets and polls who’d like Biden to win, so their polling is of registered voters, rather than likely voters…a major flaw right there.
But maybe some are getting that message. Rasmussen’s most recent poll, again of likely voters, shows Biden leading President Trump 47 to 45 percent, well within the margin of error…and much closer than their poll on the topic as the summer began, which showed Biden with a 10 point lead. Again, it’s a somewhat meaningless poll, since we don’t elect presidents with popular vote, but it is telling.
Maybe, just maybe, when people focus on issues and stands and not on soundbites, their views and votes will be in line with one another.
