Bad polling, money influenced primary

Bad polling, money influenced primary

As one who came within two votes per precinct of the GOP nomination for governor, I read "Another lesson in the problems of political polling" carefully. I agree with Opinions Editor Jim Slusher's question "whether the polls did more harm than good." When the dust settled, Bruce Rauner's margin was about one-tenth of some predictions.

The grossly inaccurate polling distracted voters from a true discussion of issues, dried up my fundraising and importantly, kept major well-known business, labor and political figures from formally endorsing my candidacy. Polls change momentum and fundraising.

The media focus of critical elections like governor should be on issues. The glare should not be on the corrosive influence of campaign money or inaccurate polling (pundits wrote the race was over due to Rauner's record campaign spending and poll numbers). Sadly, no doubt campaign war chests and bad polling influenced the GOP Gubernatorial primary election.

Kirk W. Dillard

Hinsdale

Illinois State Senator