Pollster Ann Selzer, known for her accuracy in election polling, recently shocked pundits with a poll showing Vice President Kamala Harris leading former President Donald Trump in Iowa before the 2024 Presidential Election. However, after Trump won decisively, Selzer called the poll a “spectacular miss” and announced her departure from public election polling. Selzer had been considering this move for some time, as she wanted to shift her focus to private polling clients.
Selzer founded Selzer and Company in 1996 and received high praise for her accurate polling, earning an A+ grade from FiveThirtyEight. Despite the significant discrepancy in her last poll, Selzer remains proud of her career and plans to continue polling on issues like soil health and conservation.
Reflecting on the technological changes that have impacted polling, Selzer acknowledged the challenges that arise from declining cooperation from voters and the prevalence of caller ID and cell phones. Following accusations from Republicans that she was trying to influence the electorate, Selzer defended her integrity and emphasized the lack of evidence to support such claims.
Moving forward, Selzer plans to focus on a variety of polling topics for private clients and maintain her reputation as a respected pollster. Despite the “spectacular miss” in her final election poll, Selzer is able to laugh at herself and looks forward to new opportunities in her career. Ultimately, she remains dedicated to providing valuable insights to her clients and the public.
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