Isn't that a good thing? If people don't know it means they haven't looked and don't care. Who wants idiots to act as electors or shape public policy?

I think the poll is flawed. No way 25% know who is running.

Who IS running? :o}

Other than Wamp, that is...

Are the Dems so "slow" that they are actually putting someone up for the job? Does he/she wear a hair shirt?

Rolando- if you know that Zach Wamp is running, you'd be be in the 1 out of 4 group. It wasn't that 3 of 4 didn't know ALL of the candidates running for governor... they didn't know even one single candidate in the race.

The poll broke down knowledge of the candidates like this:

19% had heard that Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam was running. 10% knew of Zach Wamp's candidacy. Knowledge of the other two Republican candidates (Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, and Shelby County District Attorney Bill Gibbons) was less than 4%. The two Democratic candidates (former state House Majority Leader Kim McMillan, and businessman Mike McWherter of Jackson, TN) were both in the under 4% range as well.

I surmised a long time ago, after watching the likes of Edgar Bergen and Paul Winchell, dummies and polls say exactly what those who commissioned them (pull the strings et al) want them to say...

Strictly speaking for myself,
Woody

I knew of Haslam and Wamp. I claim apathy because I am a Georgian.

Bill Haslam will be the next Governor of Tennessee.

I'm not so cynical as to think that EVERY poll has an agenda. Some surely do, but many are conducted to get a true measure of public opinion.

I would agree with you on many polls, Woody, but what would be the motives behind this particular poll.? Who in the world would WANT to promote the conclusion that almost three quarters of adults in Tennessee can't even name ONE of the gubernatorial candidates?

OllieH, on second thought, and after your reply I see the error of my assumption. (It's no wonder they came up with the definition "*ss of u and me".)

However, I must inquire (before I start seeing Republicans in every board room and Democrats behind every tax increase), have you ever known a poll being initiated with the public's good in mind??

Inquiring minds want to know,
Woody

When I recall the 2008 primary and general elections, OllieH, the inability of the electorate to name anybody doesn't surprise me. . .but it sure is disappointing.

woody asks, "have you ever known a poll being initiated with the public's good in mind??"

It's difficult to recall any off-hand, but there are many polls conducted for purely statistical purposes. For instance, one of our most famous polls-The Nielsen Rating is conducted simply to establish the public's TV viewing habits. I don't think it has any motive other than to honestly quantify the popularity of any given show or network.

Whether that's for public's good, or just to establish ad rates is another question, but I could argue that if a Nielsen rating does truly reflect a program's popularity, and if a higher rating results in that show continuing to broadcast, then it may well be serving the public good. That good being that the public continues to see the programing that they prefer.

Polls are done every day across the country with the public good in mind. It might be as elaborate as a telephone survey of thousands, or as simple as a card you fill out in a restaurant or store grading the service. And yes, I do believe that many are aiming at nothing more than better understanding, or better serving, the public.

By the way- GREAT cartoon, Clay! Very funny!

Yesterday's piece on the Kanku's store was stellar as well. I would say that you're "on a roll", but how can you be if you always seem to be "rolling"?

We still don't know one of the candidates who ran in the last presidential election. He had no resume, no experience, nothing, but he was still elected. For that matter, we still don't know who he is, he hasn't said anything of substance yet. He sure does spend our money like a drunken sailor on leave though...my ex was like that and I got rid of her, too.

redbearded --

As someone named Beeker Tombstone [nfi] commented on http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnew...

- "Nobody wants to admit Obama's obvious agenda is his hero Alinski philosophy: -- Collapse the system by overwhelming it (debt, spending, 2000 page omnibus bills) then when the US economy is no more, bring in the fascist, communist regime by Marshall law. It just a matter of time (short) now and Obama isn't worried about being popular because he will be the next Hitler....very, very soon."

Dear Leader knows there will not be an election in 2012. He intends on becoming another Castro or another Chavez -- President-for-Life.