I came across a recent FOX poll (full PDF here) and wanted to share some of the questions that were asked. The respondents are 900 registered voters, almost an even number of Obama supporters and McCain supporters, including a fair number of independents. I’m not a statistics expert, but I do recognize a leading question when I see one. Bias becomes especially obvious when a question is asked of one candidate, but not the other.
First, they ask fairly predictable questions about who people plan to vote for, how much they approve of the President, and favorability ratings of various politicians or parties. One question that surprised me:
19. Have you heard any of your friends and neighbors say there is something about Barack Obama that scares them?
To their credit, Fox asks this question about both Obama and McCain. The next question, however, is only asked with regard to Senator Obama:
23. Based on the campaign so far, has Barack Obama offered any truly new ideas?
And there is a follow-up, in order to catch you in case you think he does have new ideas. Prove it!
(If yes on Q. 23) Can you please tell me one of Obama’s new ideas?
And this pair of questions had me laughing out loud:
27. Some people believe Barack Obama, despite his professed Christianity, is secretly a Muslim. Others say that is just a rumor and Obama really is a Christian as he says, and point out he’s attended a Christian church for years. What do you believe — is Obama a Muslim or a Christian?
28. John McCain was held captive for five years in a North Vietnamese prisoner of war camp. Do you think that experience would make McCain a better president or a worse president?
Hmm…First, have you heard this completely false lie about Candidate A? Second, do you think heroic stories about Candidate B’s past will make him a good president?
Finally, there are a slew of questions only about Barack Obama related to his overseas trip. No questions at all about McCain in this section.
31. Does Barack Obama’s popularity overseas make you more likely or less likely to vote for him for president?
Surprise! Republicans report that Obama’s popularity overseas makes them four times less likely to vote for him.
32. Do you think Barack Obama’s trip to Iraq, Afghanistan and the Middle East is better described as a fact-finding trip or as a campaign event?
33. Do you think Barack Obama had already made up his mind on Iraq before the trip or could this week’s visit to Iraq change his mind?
As if fact-finding, campaigning, or mind-changing are the only reasons to travel abroad. And finally…hey, how did that McSurge talking point make its way into our ‘fair and balanced’ survey in the form of a question?
34. Do you think the increase in U.S. troops has led to major improvements in the situation in Iraq, minor improvements, or has the troop surge not made much of a difference at all?
