Providence Democratic mayorial candidate Joe Paolino criticized a WLNE-TV survey released today showing David Cicilline with a growing lead in the primary. According to the television station, 47 percent of registered voters favored Cicilline, while 32 percent preferred Paolino, 11 percent chose David Igliozzi, 4 percent indicated they would vote for Keven McKenna, and 4 percent were undecided.
In a press release, the Paolino campaign noted that national publications have called the survey's methodology "inherently flawed". The survey was conducted by SurveyUSA and relies on automated phone calls which ask respondents to punch numbers expressing their preferences for a particular candidate. The campaign cited a Roll Call newspaper article from three weeks ago quoting several individuals who criticized the computerized phone calls. Among those making critical comments were Jennifer Duffy of the Cook Political Report and Professor Michael Traugott of the University of Michigan. The latter complained that these surveys have a lower response rate and do a poor job screening out unlikely voters.
Paolino asked that his supporters not be "disheartened by the results of poorly constructed polls" and that those who favored his candidacy "increase their efforts for the September 10th primary."
