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Politics November 21,2024 | Independence Journal Editorial Team

Trump Slams Iowa Poll For Misleading Results, Calls For Investigation Into Pollster

President-elect Donald Trump has called for an investigation into a last-minute Iowa poll that showed Kamala Harris leading him by three percentage points, a prediction that sharply contradicted the actual results, where Trump won the state by 13 points. The poll, conducted by veteran pollster J. Ann Selzer, was published by the Des Moines Register just days before Election Day and claimed Harris had “leapt” into a commanding lead.

Trump took to Truth Social, criticizing the poll as “totally Fake” and accusing Selzer of spreading misinformation during a critical period of the election. “She knew exactly what she was doing,” Trump wrote, suggesting that the poll was part of a broader effort to create doubt and uncertainty ahead of the election. He also hinted at “possible election fraud,” pointing the finger at both Selzer and the Des Moines Register, which had published the poll.

The poll’s timing and the suggestion that the race was tightening in Iowa were seen by many as an attempt to shift momentum in favor of Harris, a claim Trump has vehemently denied. Trump’s comments reflect a deep frustration with the polling industry, which he believes has often been biased against him and misleading in its predictions.

Despite the poll’s prediction, Trump’s victory in Iowa was decisive, with him winning the state by a wide margin. In response, Selzer admitted to being surprised by the results, acknowledging the inherent uncertainty in polling. In an Op-Ed, she expressed her disappointment that her final poll didn’t align with the actual outcome and announced that she would be stepping away from election polling.

Trump’s campaign has been outspoken in calling for accountability, with spokesperson Steven Cheung claiming that Selzer intentionally misled the public for Harris’ benefit. “She beclowned herself,” Cheung said, doubling down on Trump’s demand for an investigation. The call for an inquiry into the poll’s methodology has sparked broader discussions about the reliability of polls and their potential to influence voters in the days leading up to an election.

With Trump continuing to question the legitimacy of the polling results, the controversy has raised concerns about the role of media and polling organizations in shaping public opinion. As Selzer steps away from election polling, her analysis of what went wrong will be scrutinized, though the damage to the credibility of polling in the 2024 race may already be done.

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