GOP urges members to 'vote early and often' in online poll

[Judi Lynn]

January 20, 2006

Last modified January 20, 2006 - 4:14 pm

GOP urges members to 'vote early and often' in online poll
By MATT GOURAS
Associated Press

HELENA - The state Republican Party asked supporters Friday to influence a newspaper's Internet poll that posed a question about Sen. Conrad Burns and lobbyist Jack Abramoff, hoping to sway the unscientific survey's results.

A GOP spokesman said the party was responding to what it saw as a curious jump in anti-Burns responses it thought may have been fueled by opposition groups.

The online poll by The Billings Gazette asked: "How concerned are you about Senator Burns' relationship with indicted D.C. lobbyist Jack Abramoff?" Readers could respond with "very concerned," "somewhat concerned," "not too concerned," "not at all concerned" or "not sure."

Newspapers often run such queries on their Web sites as a way to engage readers. They are very different from the scientific telephone polls that newspapers occasionally commission to gauge public sentiment on issues for news stories.
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http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2006/01/20/build/state/44-poll.inc