Oct. 15, 2010
EDITORIAL: Marshall University U.S. Senate Poll Deserves Scrutiny
Marshall University has gotten into the business of partisan politics, and that
should be of serious concerns to the school's alumni, students, faculty, staff,
and supporters in Huntington and across West Virginia and the country.
What in the world is Marshall University doing commissioning polls for a U.S. Senate race? Doesn't it need to have a constructive relationship with whomever is elected? What benefit does Marshall University derive from commissioning a highly partisan pollster to help the school weigh in to the current close contest for U.S. Senate?
Curt Wilkerson is the Democratic owner of Orion Strategies. He is also the campaign manager for Mike Oliverio, Democratic candidate for the First Congressional District. Oliverio is currently involved in a highly contentious contest in that race with Republican David McKinley. Previous to the Marshall poll, Wilkerson threw in the Raese/Manchin contest in his polling for Oliverio, perhaps as a favor for fellow Democrat Manchin.
To no one's surprise, Wilkerson's polls--both for Oliverio and now for
Marshall--always come out bad for John Raese.
This particular poll has dragged Marshall into an unnecessary position. Every credible poll by national pollsters--PPP, Rasmussen, and now CNN-- show this U.S. Senate race to be a total toss-up between Raese and Manchin. PPP has Manchin up by three, Rasmussen has Raese up by three, and CNN has it as a tie.
Yet somehow, Curt Wilkerson and Marshall University say that Manchin has "opened up a double digit lead." Many are laughing around the state at this shameless attempt by Wilkerson to pull our leg. But how did he get Marshall to lend its prestige to this effort?
That prestige is diminished today, that's for sure. Marshall alumni and donors, along with faculty, students, and staff, should tell their school's officials that they don't like their school taking anyone's side in a political contest.
After all, this is the 21st Century.
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EDITORIAL: Marshall University U.S. Senate Poll Deserves Scrutiny
Marshall University has gotten into the business of partisan politics, and that
should be of serious concerns to the school's alumni, students, faculty, staff,
and supporters in Huntington and across West Virginia and the country.
What in the world is Marshall University doing commissioning polls for a U.S. Senate race? Doesn't it need to have a constructive relationship with whomever is elected? What benefit does Marshall University derive from commissioning a highly partisan pollster to help the school weigh in to the current close contest for U.S. Senate?
Curt Wilkerson is the Democratic owner of Orion Strategies. He is also the campaign manager for Mike Oliverio, Democratic candidate for the First Congressional District. Oliverio is currently involved in a highly contentious contest in that race with Republican David McKinley. Previous to the Marshall poll, Wilkerson threw in the Raese/Manchin contest in his polling for Oliverio, perhaps as a favor for fellow Democrat Manchin.
To no one's surprise, Wilkerson's polls--both for Oliverio and now for
Marshall--always come out bad for John Raese.
This particular poll has dragged Marshall into an unnecessary position. Every credible poll by national pollsters--PPP, Rasmussen, and now CNN-- show this U.S. Senate race to be a total toss-up between Raese and Manchin. PPP has Manchin up by three, Rasmussen has Raese up by three, and CNN has it as a tie.
Yet somehow, Curt Wilkerson and Marshall University say that Manchin has "opened up a double digit lead." Many are laughing around the state at this shameless attempt by Wilkerson to pull our leg. But how did he get Marshall to lend its prestige to this effort?
That prestige is diminished today, that's for sure. Marshall alumni and donors, along with faculty, students, and staff, should tell their school's officials that they don't like their school taking anyone's side in a political contest.
After all, this is the 21st Century.
Share This Story:
Make HNN Your Homepage (IE Users Only)
