Politicians like to say the only poll that matters is the one taken on Election Day.(public opinion polls and political canvassing)(Brief article)

Politicians like to say the only poll that matters is the one taken on Election Day. If what are thought to be Obama's desires are met, the Census Bureau will "sample" Americans rather than count them in 2010. This is nothing but a glorified public-opinion survey, though it could have profound political consequences. For the GOP, most of them are bad. The fundamental idea is that because some people are difficult to locate with precision--the homeless, illegal aliens, etc.--the government's bean counters won't bother to try. Instead, they will strive to identify some fraction of total population, perhaps 90 percent. Then they will log their findings into computer models, mix them with demographic projections, add two cups of sheer guesswork, and shake vigorously. Advocates of the practice will claim to have produced a "scientifically" accurate census, even though it will be full of ...