Daily Show uses strongarm polling tactics to ensure results

David Edwards and Muriel Kane

Published: Thursday February 7, 2008



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In the aftermath of Super Tuesday, questions have been raised about the unreliability of the pre-election polls, leading Jon Stewart to wonder, "Can these polls be made to be more reliable?"

In pursuit of the answer, the Daily Show's John Oliver asked pollster Neil Newhouse, "So, after you've done all that hard work, how is it that I still end up looking like a god-damned idiot on national tv?"

"Polls are a snapshot in time of people's attitudes," Newhouse replied defensively. "It's not meant to be predictive."

"I'm going to put my own polling team together," proclaimed Oliver, "and we're going to crush you!"

"This Super Tuesday, I'd make sure that the numbers came out right," Oliver explained in a voice-over. "We don't ask for Super Tuesday results, we take them!"

Five Daily Show correspondents then unleashed a reign of terror in midtown Manhattan, leaping out at innocent passersby to demand that they say who they intended to vote for and promising vengeance if they didn't stick by their statements.

Rob Riggle threatened one interviewee, "If you change your mind, it'll be the worst mistake you ever made in your entire fucking life."

Samantha Bee pursued another across an intersection, yelling, "Come back here. I'm pregnant. Jesus."

"If you change your mind, I will find you and I will kill you," John Oliver told a third, but he lacked Riggle's self-assurance and took to his heels when the man coolly replied, "I might have to take you up on that offer."

When the pollsters met back in the studio after Super Tuesday, Jon Stewart pointed out to them that their numbers still weren't accurate.

"You're saying that someone lied to us?" asked Oliver in amazement. "Who would say a thing like that?"

The camera then panned around the audience, zooming in on an apprehensive-looking man who was easily identifiable as one of the interviewees. "You, right there!" screamed Rob Riggle. "You die tonight motherfucker."



This video is from Comedy Central's A Daily Show, broadcast February 6, 2008.









