Polling Errors

Many folks here were challenging polling data. Rasmussen Reports has a nice page to compare its final poll numbers with the actual voting percentages in each state.

I've compiled a list of states where the poll results was greater than 3% off from the actual result. This is usually the stated error in their polls. I've grouped them together by which direction the error went for or against the candidates.

States McCain polled higher than actual result
Idaho
Rhode Island
Vermont

States McCain polled lower than actual result
Alabama
Alaska
Arkansas
West Virginia
Wyoming

States Obama polled higher than actual results
Alaska
Arkansas
Wyoming

States Obama polled lower than actual results
Conneticut
Delaware
Hawaii
Idaho
Indiana
Michigan
Nebraska
Nevada
New York
North Dakota
Rhode Island
Vermont
Washington
Wisconsin

 

The percentages in each state are what determines the electoral college votes, which is what these polls were looking at.

They also compared the popular vote poll as well and they were right on the dot with that one.

For those who were challenging polls because they didn't like what they saw, it looks like there were very few states where McCain's numbers were being underestimated and very many states where Obama's numbers were being underestimated.

 

I realized I posted the wrong link in the OP.

It should be this page: Final Rasmussen Poll Results