A recently conducted Rasmussen automated poll of voter attitudes in the state of Arizona focused considerable media attention on certain issues and political assessments. It is FSPA’s view that automated polls are not the most objective method for ascertaining voter attitudes in a statistically meaningful way. With automated polling, the respondent punches in keys on their phone for their replies and no human can check the veracity of demographic replies and no one is available to provide guidance if a respondent needs clarification.

In addition, our experience has been that this methodology favors younger voters and more intensely attuned voters since these are the most likely to participate in an interaction that is wholly automated. For this particular election, this methodology would provide a strong bias towards Hayworth since his supporters tend to skew younger and be more attuned to the possibility of a primary election. However, all historical trends indicate that mid-term elections, even primaries, tend to dominated by older voters, which is an area of strength for McCain.

We believe it is in the best interests of the media and policymakers, and the public at large to understand certain fundamentals in polling methodology and, therefore, contracted with the Tarrance Group, a GOP polling firm of national repute, to conduct our own survey of Republican primary voters in the state of Arizona. The results of that survey can be found here on our web-site.

The survey was conducted December 8-10 and is based on live interviews with 600 likely Republican primary voters in Arizona.

View documents:
Poll Analysis
Poll Questionnaire

Now I would like to read you a list of issues that some people from this part of Arizona have said are important to them. Please listen as I read the list and tell me which one issue you think is most important.

Do you approve or disapprove of the way John McCain is handling his job as Senator?

If the Republican primary election for United States Senate were held today and you had to make a choice, for whom would you vote… John McCain,or J.D. Hayworth?Now I would like to read you a list of characteristics or issue positions about J.D. Hayworth, a potential candidate for the United States Senate. Please listen as I read this list and tell me, for each one, whether knowing about this characteristic or issue position would make you more likely or less likely to vote for J.D. Hayworth.

Now I would like to read you a list of characteristics or issue positions about J.D. Hayworth, a potential candidate for the United States Senate. Please listen as I read this list and tell me, for each one, whether knowing about this characteristic or issue position would make you more likely or less likely to vote for J.D. Hayworth.

If the Republican primary election for United States Senate were held today and you had to make a choice, for whom would you vote… John McCain, or J.D. Hayworth?