Polling may not appear to be relaible at times but it is, in fact, a science using both statistical analysis and social science to try and determine what the electorate is thinking at any given moment.There are many reasons polls differ wildly. Different weighting being given to the same group is one big reason. If one poll directs 35% of its interviews to self-described Republicans while another interviews only 27% of Republicans, there is an attempt by the pollster to "weight" the average by using other polling data on party ID to try and get an accurate picture of the electorate. It may sound like a guessing game but the practice is rooted in solid science and is accepted as such.Yesterday, CBS-New York Times released a poll showing Barack Obama comfortably ahead of John McCain 51-40. It also showed that the Wright controversy did not affect people's opinion of Obama.Today, USA Today-Gallup released a poll showing that Obama's...(Read Full Post)