News
Second Biased Phone Survey Sweeps 47th L.D., Hits Kauffman
State Senator Claudia Kauffman’s (D-47, Covington) campaign cried foul today saying that "Republican backers of King County staffer Joe Fain have funded 'push-poll' calls targeting State Senator Claudia Kauffman."
In the release, Kauffman’s campaign manager Jeremy Oslund said the survey is "disguised as an impartial poll distorting Claudia Kauffman’s record of opposing tax increases.”
Their source is Brian Kesterson, the Chair of the 47th Legislative District Democrats (not the most unbiased source, himself). Kesterson tells PubliCola he got a call from a polling firm asking about the State Senate race in his district, asking first “if this is a Democratic or Republican household,” before moving on to whom he would be supporting in November. When he responded that he was voting for Claudia Kauffman, the questions took a decisive turn.
Kesterson says that the pollster asked, “Would it make any difference if I told you that Claudia Kauffman voted to raise taxes?” and “Would it make any difference if I told you that Claudia Kauffman is a lobbyist for the Mukleshoot tribe?” And according to Oslund, both of those claims are false. Although Kauffman voted for the budget, she voted against this year's tax package and against repealing I-960. Kauffman, who is Native American, works for the tribe in fundraising and charity, but is not a lobbyist.
Kesterson is paraphrasing. “I wasn’t taking notes or anything, but that’s my recollection.”
This is the second alleged “push poll” in the district this season. Last time, though, it was Kauffman's opponent, Republican Fain, accusing Kauffman. In late July, the pro-Kauffman Washington State Labor Council's DIME PAC ran a poll “testing messages in order to identify how we best help our champions,” and according to the Tacoma News Tribune, the survey "delivered unflattering information" about Fain. Fain called their survey a push poll as well, and referred to them as calls that “mud-sling and distort the facts.”
Jeremy Osland said over the phone that “there’s nothing to lead me to believe that the Fain camp is paying for it, but it’s obviously people that support him.”
Joe Fain’s campaign did not return calls or emails for comment.
In the release, Kauffman’s campaign manager Jeremy Oslund said the survey is "disguised as an impartial poll distorting Claudia Kauffman’s record of opposing tax increases.”
Their source is Brian Kesterson, the Chair of the 47th Legislative District Democrats (not the most unbiased source, himself). Kesterson tells PubliCola he got a call from a polling firm asking about the State Senate race in his district, asking first “if this is a Democratic or Republican household,” before moving on to whom he would be supporting in November. When he responded that he was voting for Claudia Kauffman, the questions took a decisive turn.
Kesterson says that the pollster asked, “Would it make any difference if I told you that Claudia Kauffman voted to raise taxes?” and “Would it make any difference if I told you that Claudia Kauffman is a lobbyist for the Mukleshoot tribe?” And according to Oslund, both of those claims are false. Although Kauffman voted for the budget, she voted against this year's tax package and against repealing I-960. Kauffman, who is Native American, works for the tribe in fundraising and charity, but is not a lobbyist.
Kesterson is paraphrasing. “I wasn’t taking notes or anything, but that’s my recollection.”
This is the second alleged “push poll” in the district this season. Last time, though, it was Kauffman's opponent, Republican Fain, accusing Kauffman. In late July, the pro-Kauffman Washington State Labor Council's DIME PAC ran a poll “testing messages in order to identify how we best help our champions,” and according to the Tacoma News Tribune, the survey "delivered unflattering information" about Fain. Fain called their survey a push poll as well, and referred to them as calls that “mud-sling and distort the facts.”
Jeremy Osland said over the phone that “there’s nothing to lead me to believe that the Fain camp is paying for it, but it’s obviously people that support him.”
Joe Fain’s campaign did not return calls or emails for comment.
