Caffeinated Thoughts: IA Palin Favorable Rating Poll Lies

One of the latest memes making the rounds is that "Gov. Palin's favorable ratings are declining" in the Des Moines Register's Iowa Poll. Shane Vander Hart, Publisher of Caffeinated Thoughts explains succinctly this latest case of "lies, damned lies, and statistics."

The poll sampled 189 people, which is too small a sample for a reliable scientific poll. The current margin of error is 7.1%. Vander Hart cited a mutual colleague Josh Painter in pointing out that Gov. Palin's favorable rating in Iowa was last polled June 2010. With a 65% favorable rating in he current poll versus 58% in the prior one, Gov. Palin's favorable rating has increased.

Bottom Line: Reports of a decline in Gov. Palin's favorable rating in Iowa are baloney.