Alaska Democrats Call For End Of Bogus Poll On Palin Support Of Stevens

Alaska Democratic Party Release | September 4, 2008

Does The Alaska Republican Party Know Something The Rest Of Us Don’t – Has Palin Endorsed Indicted Senator Stevens?

Shady Push Poll Floats Possible Republican Replacements For Senate Race

Anchorage, Alaska – The Alaska Democratic Party today called for an end to bogus Republican push poll calls in Anchorage. Several local residents have reported receiving a push poll which tells voters that Governor Sarah Palin has endorsed indicted Senator Ted Stevens, and ask if Palin’s support will lead to their vote.

“Does the Alaska Republican Party know something the rest of us don’t?” said Bethany Lesser, spokeswoman for the Alaska Democratic Party. “Just last night, Governor Palin claimed to be a reformer, taking on corruption in Alaska. Endorsing Senator Stevens would undermine the anti-corruption image she’s running on for Vice President. In fact, Palin has not endorsed Senator Stevens and commented that his indictment rocked the foundation of our state.”

Those who have received the telephone push poll report the callers identify themselves as being with RDD Field Services, a firm well-known for fielding these types of misleading telephone push polls. Push polls are a negative campaign tactic designed to sound like a regular poll call but instead is an attempt to spread false information about a race. The same firm is accused of push polling a ballot initiative in Oregon on a liquid natural gas project. [“LNG push poll angers opponents; Company’s polling strategy upsets some people; pollsters don’t know who hired them,” Daily Astorian, 8/6/08]

In addition, the fake push poll floats the names of several high profile Alaska Republicans that could replace Stevens in the Senate race this November. The Alaska Republican Party has until September 17 to change their candidate for Senate, which would sideline the bid of indicted Senator Stevens.

“We call on the Alaska Republican Party to stop using shady campaign tactics to mislead voters on the Senate race,” Lesser added.

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