The Oregonian reports today that Ginny Burdick, a candidate challenging Erik Sten for a seat on the Portland City Council, is using what amounts to push polls in her race.

If you haven’t fallen victim to a push poll before here is a pretty good definition:

A push poll is a political campaign technique in which an individual or organization attempts to influence or alter the view of respondents under the guise of conducting a poll. Push polls are generally viewed as a form of negative campaigning.

Perhaps the most famous alleged use of push polls is in the 2000 United States Republican Party primaries, when it was alleged that George W. Bush's campaign used push polling to torpedo the campaign of Senator John McCain. Voters in South Carolina reportedly were asked "Would you be more likely or less likely to vote for John McCain for president if you knew he had fathered an illegitimate black child?", an allegation that had no substance, but planted the idea of undisclosed allegations in the minds of thousands of primary voters[1]. McCain and his wife had in fact adopted a Bangladeshi girl.

Burdick was offered the support of the downtown business community if she would run for the council. The Portland Business Alliance and their allies oppose Sten’s re-election because of his support for homeless programs and campaign finance reform.

Burdick’s only hope in the race is to wage a negative campaign financed by the downtown groups who know they can own her vote and voice in a way they have never been able to own Sten’s.

Her campaign tactics are unworthy of Portland.

Related Post: Erik Sten for Portland City Council