We lack the data to predict Nevada’s outcome. Be wary of pundits’ gut instincts.

… In a normal election, this lack of concrete information wouldn’t be a problem: Nobody ever died because they didn’t see enough Nevada polling. But primaries aren’t normal elections. The trajectory of the race is often influenced by media-created “expectations” and narratives about “momentum.” And in Nevada, many political pros […] Read more »

Democrats are picking a nominee based on the factor they’re worst at evaluating

The incident that served as the best predictor of the 2020 Democratic presidential primary actually happened in 2011. That October, then-Gov. Rick Perry (R-Tex.) was leading the Republican field as the party tried to identify a candidate who could beat incumbent President Barack Obama. In a Washington Post-ABC News poll, […] Read more »

Five things we can say based on the latest polling about the Democratic race

A trio of national polls conducted after the New Hampshire primary have provided a lot of fresh data that gives us a sense of how Democrats view their choices for president. Here are five of the most interesting findings from those polls. CONT. Emily Guskin & Scott Clement, Washington Post Read more »