Prof: Political polls meaningless

WLUK TV

Updated: Nov 4, 2012 9:41 PM

WHITEFISH BAY, Wis. — Recent polls show President Obama is the front runner in Wisconsin.

But one political expert says you can throw out all of the polls, adding this election really is unpredictable.

The final push, the closing argument. This weekend is it. Time to make up your mind, with the election clock ticking down to just hours.

If you're looking for predictions how tight this race is, just look at all of the campaign stops by the candidates themselves in the final week in Wisconsin.

"A real phenomenon of Wisconsin is that people make up their minds over the last weekend," said Mordecai Lee, professor of governmental affairs at UW-Milwaukee.

Lee said those looking at polls, as a prediction to how Tuesday night will turn out, might not be the best idea.

"We have to remember that, generally speaking, the wording of a poll is, 'If the election were held today, how would you vote?'" Lee said.

The final Marquette University Law School poll has President Obama with a lead over rival Mitt Romney, and Tammy Baldwin up on Tommy Thompson.

But even the pollsters admit, they are focused on voter trends, not a final result.

"One of the reasons we release the poll a full week before is we are not trying to get the race right. If we were, we would be trying to wait the day before the election," said poll director Charles Franklin.

Franklin said research shows there is room for movement in the final days.

Lee said it's a trait that is unique to the Badger State.

"People feel free to change their minds in Wisconsin. Cross over voting is a very common thing," Lee said.

And if you need any indication how close this race is, just take a peak at who has been coming to town. A swing state, on battleground, in a race that is truly unpredictable.

"It is just as likely that Romney will win Wisconsin, as Obama will win Wisconsin," said Franklin.

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