11-09-2015, 04:15 PM
I think the polls are interesting; I like seeing a gauge as to where candidates stand in terms of public support as the race progresses.
When you've got a large enough sample of voters across polls consistently rating some candidates at the top, some in the middle, and some at the bottom, it's useful in terms of comparing that to the candidates' current campaign strategies and media coverage (especially to the candidates and their backers).
But, polls are just a snapshot in time and do/should change as public opinion shifts -- I wouldn't rely on them to predict who will win, even when the polls are taken just before election.
When you've got a large enough sample of voters across polls consistently rating some candidates at the top, some in the middle, and some at the bottom, it's useful in terms of comparing that to the candidates' current campaign strategies and media coverage (especially to the candidates and their backers).
But, polls are just a snapshot in time and do/should change as public opinion shifts -- I wouldn't rely on them to predict who will win, even when the polls are taken just before election.