Playing for Keeps

Last night, I received a phone call from a woman who identified hereself as working for a polling organization. In a friendly, Canadian-sounding dialect, she told me that I was selected at random to answer some questions about local politicians to gauge voter mood in my district.

After being queried about my party affiliation and my likelihood to vote in the upcoming primaries, I was asked to rate my familiarity and impressions of various politicans including Weinberg, Johnson, Wildes, Zisa, Rothman and Corzine as well as my impressions of the Bergen Democratic Organization.

I was then asked, "If the election was held today for State Senate and Assembly, was I likely to vote for Weinberg, Huttle and Johnson or the team endorsed by the Bergen Democratic Organization?"

I responded that I intend to support Weinberg, Huttle and Johnson.

The caller then read a long and somewhat rambling statement about the glowing accomplishments of Michael Wildes. While I glazed over for most of it, my impression is that it went one step short of saying that he saves kittens from trees and has discovered a cure for dementia. I was then asked, whether this information had influenced my opinion of and likelihood to vote for him.

I was beginning to get suspicious that I was victim of a push polling effort...

She then read a series of statements about Loretta Weinberg that went something like this (paraphrased):

"What if I told you that Loretta Weinberg gave a job to a lawyer who had done pro bono work for her, would that influence my likelihood to vote for her?"

"...and how about if I told you that Loretta Weinberg is just another a tax and spend liberal...?"

"...and how about that she failed to bring the homeland security bacon home to the district...?"

"...and what if I told you that Loretta Weinberg favored civil unions between men and box turtles...?"

When the caller began the same line of questioning about Valerie Huttle, I cut her off. I told her that attempts by the Bergen Democratic Organization to influence my vote were not going to work and that they were actually having the reverse effect, strengthening my resolve to work harder to elect Weinberg, Huttle and Johnson.