GOP Poll Has (Wait For It) Good News For Republicans

A poll paid for by the S.C. “Republican” Party and conducted by a “Republican” political consultant has … surprise, surprise … good news for “Republicans.”

We know … we couldn’t believe it either.

The poll, conducted by Richard Quinn’s “First Impressions, Inc.” alleges that 55% of South Carolina voters believe the GOP reflects their “views and values,” while only 35% said the same of the Democratic Party.

“As you know, some observers have raised the concern that the recent controversy surrounding Governor Mark Sanford may have damaged the image of the Republican Party and our candidates,” wrote GOP Chairwoman Karen Floyd in a briefing memo accompanying the poll. “I am very pleased to report those concerns are completely unfounded.”

Of course, Quinn’s polls are notoriously unreliable – which we found out last month.

After publishing the results of a Quinn poll that showed S.C. Attorney General Henry McMaster way out in front in the race for the 2010 Republican gubernatorial nomination, we later discovered that a sizable percentage of poll respondents said it was too early to make a choice.

McMaster’s lead exists “only holds if if the election were held today, and all the undecideds did not vote,” according to a rival consultant who reviewed the poll’s stated methodology.

“If the election is held in June as planned and some of the undecideds do make up their mind it is a different story,” the consultant concluded.

Also a different story?  The fact that the SCGOP is basically flat broke – and is choosing to devote its limited resources (and fund-raising capital) towards paying down the mortgage on its headquarters while at the same time making the structure “environmentally friendly.”

No really, that’s what they’re doing … well, in addition to making nifty videos that promote the party’s nonexistent diversity.

Nonetheless, let’s go ahead and cue the “Karen Floyd fan club” in 3, 2, 1 …

UPDATE: In fairness to Quinn, his poll – and its accompanying strategy memo – did cite the percentage of undecided voters.  Obviously, we are not alleging that he withheld that information when releasing the poll.  Also, a source familiar with Quinn’s polling history says his numbers are more accurate than internal polling conducted on behalf of his rival consultants.  As with all internal polling conducted on behalf of the entity releasing the information, we take them with “an ocean of salt.”

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