The team of NBC and Wall Street Journal (Rupert Murdoch owned) has struck again with their latest highly coordinated and heavily manufactured latest “Agenda Poll”. We have previously revealed NBC/WSJ’s prior two constructs HERE and HERE….

[AND now you know why we proactively do so.]

NBC’s Chief Pollster Propagandist, Mark Murray et al, is out with yet another ridiculous poll (exceptionally high Brian Williams as a verb factor). This time showing Donald Trump trailing Ted Cruz in an “explosive new development“…. Oh my.

However, this time it appears Murray has learned to insert an exit strategy to avoid the egg-face/embarrassing-sunlight factor of prior exhibitions. In a not-so-subtle veiled attempt to save face, they have written an excuse directly in the heart of their own polled results.

It really is funny to read:

[…] “So, one poll post-Saturday debate can only reflect there may have been a ‘pause’ as Republican voters take another look at Trump. This happened earlier this summer and he bounced back stronger. We will have to wait this time and see what voters decide.” (link)

Yes, that little disclaimer is more than a little humorous when you know the backstory.

What they are referencing (trying to save face upon) is NBC’s own prior agenda polling last year – hence the “earlier this summer” reference. When we called out pollster/promoter Mark Murray on the last one, he ran away for several weeks.

Remember, an “agenda poll” is not created to show a statistical snapshot of the presidential race. An “agenda poll” has nothing to do with the support. Agenda Polls are manufactured to create media talking points, to create media narratives.

Agenda polling is about setting out to make a story, to sell a specific narrative, by using polling as the means to justify the story you are selling. Nothing more, and nothing less.

In this NBC story, the Wall Street Journal, owned by Rupert Murdoch who is promoting Marco Rubio 24/7 in all his executive media decision-making, is merely trying to diminish candidate Donald Trump. They are trying to blunt momentum and block the inevitability factor, that’s all. Period.

Go here to look at the part of the poll they will release – Now, notice the organization doing the polling. It is a government contract PR firm “Public Opinion Strategies“:

Public Opinion Strategies is a national political and public affairs research firm. Founded in 1991, we have conducted more than eight million interviews with voters and consumers in all fifty states and over two dozen foreign countries. Headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, our nationwide presence is achieved through a strategically sited office in Colorado, with nine partners and two Vice Presidents leading research efforts. About half of our research is dedicated to winning elections. Our political client base includes thirteen U.S. Senators, six Governors, over sixty-five Members of Congress, and numerous state legislative caucuses. The other half of our work is involved in complex public policy battles, working with industry coalitions, government entities and private companies. This work includes corporate image, community relations, and crisis management research for local companies, Fortune 500 corporations and industry associations throughout the country. (link)

This poll is not data from a valid polling organization, it’s from a PR firm. NBC/WSJ take the PR firm data and sell it as if they themselves, the media, conducted the poll. They didn’t.

The technique the media use is the same as all previous attempts and carried the same basic elements in delivery:

♦ #1 – The polling sample size is heavily manipulated and intensely small. This “national poll” result is based on 400 contacts.

♦ #2 – To hide what is transparent in #1, they do not reveal the polling methodology or internals. (Same as all prior agenda polling.) They hide the poll data – SEE HERE – You’ll immediately note how chopped up it is.

♦ #3 – To protect their lack of integrity being fully dismissed they use multiple “disclaimers” (as noted above)

♦ #4 – Agenda Pollsters have a history which evidences the first three elements. Meaning they are repeat offenders.

♦ #5 – And lastly, yet again, an “agenda poll” doesn’t match anyone else’s polling, and it doesn’t even remotely pass the proverbial “sniff test”.

All five of the above factors are evident in all noted and previously explained agenda polling examples –SEE HERE– The purpose is to create a narrative for the media to sell – and you can expect to see almost all media jump into action to assist their corporate colleague.

It is simply what they do.