Summary
Renowned pollster Ann Selzer is defending herself against accusations from Donald Trump and his supporters after her final Iowa pre-election poll underestimated Trump’s support by 19 points.
The poll showed Trump losing by 3 points, but he won by 16.
Trump alleged on Truth Social that Selzer deliberately rigged the poll, calling for an investigation.
Selzer denied the claims on Iowa PBS, asserting she has never intentionally manipulated poll results and finds the accusations serious and baseless.
“I am mystified about what the motivation anybody thinks I had and would act on in such a public poll,” Selzer said. “I don’t understand it. And the allegations I take very seriously. They’re saying that this was election interference, which is a crime. So, the idea that I intentionally set up to deliver this response, when I’ve never done that before, I’ve had plenty of opportunities to do it, it’s not my ethic.”
Selzer added, “To suggest without a single shred of evidence that I was in cahoots with somebody, I was being paid by somebody, it’s all just kind of…it’s hard to pay too much attention to it except that they are accusing me of a crime.”
Sue them for defamation. Don’t just complain, hit them back hard and fast. If you act mystified, that’s just what they want. They will suggest all sorts of things without evidence. That which is asserted without evidence may be dismissed without evidence.