Is the NH Democratic Party Running Illegal Push Polls?

September 21, 2010

Attorney General Michael Delaney

Department of Justice

Concord, NH   03301

Dear General Delaney:

On Sunday afternoon, Sept. 19, at 3:13 p.m., I received a call which I believe you should know about.  The female caller noted that she was conducting a survey.  She asked if I would be willing to "help her".   I said yes, and she put me on hold, apparently confused about the script she was supposed to read.  She returned and at no time, until I asked her specifically, did she identify for whom she was calling or by whom she was employed.  When I asked, she told me that she was working for PCG, that she was based in Arizona, that the phone number there was 520-327,0901, and that the New Hampshire Democratic Party was paying for the survey.

As part of her survey, about the New Hampshire District 18 State Senate race (Manchester Wards 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and Litchfield), in regard to Republican candidate Tom DeBlois, she asked me to listen to the following statement (I attempted to slow her down, so I believe I have it verbatim here):  Tom DeBlois is "a shady business owner.  He has failed to pay his taxes and has been cited for unsafe working conditions for his employees."  She then asked that, if knowing that I would be much less likely, somewhat less likely to vote for him or that it made no difference or I had no opinion.

I informed her that what she was doing sounded very much like a push poll and that since she had not volunteered whom she was working for at the outset, she was probably breaking New Hampshire law.  She then discontinued the conversation.

I then called candidate DeBlois who later returned my call and denied all the charges made against him by this "PCG" caller.

Whether the charges are true or not is not really the point.  It appears the New Hampshire Democratic Party, whether or not with the knowledge of incumbent Senator Betsi DeVries, has decided to smear Mr. DeBlois before he can even get his message out.  That is sad enough, but it enters the realm of illegality if in fact they are using a push poll.  Deputy Secretary of State David Scanlan referred me to RSA 664:16-a in this regard and noted that I should contact a Matt Mavogeorge in your office.  I trust you will pass this along to him.

I have since learned that other people have received similar calls.

Sincerely,

Rep. Steve Vaillancourt, Hills. 15

161 Faith Lane

Manchester, NH 03103

cc:  Secretary of State William Gardner

      Governor John Lynch

      NH Reps and Senators

      Media



Comments

[OleCurmudgeon]

The Democrat Party is definitely push polling, I was the recipient of two in a row last Sunday, I purposely skewered the poll and when it came down to Tom Deblois and their attempt to smear him. I told them he was not in my district, they quickly hung up. However 2 minutes later I received another call with the same voice and they asked me the same question even down to Tom Deblois so I told them he was not in my district again they quckly hung up. I guess they thought that if they did it twice I would give the answers they wanted. That was not to be. This push poll shows that they are worried about the DeBlois DeVries race, why would they worry about a race that is usually with a few exceptions a Democrat victory. I guess Whining Ray Buckley is bored with You Tube and My space, and Kathy Sullivan is running out of ambulances to chase. I can't wait to get a phone call of the D'Allesandro and Joe Three names, I will have fun with this one.

[Alicia]

I just received a phone call "survey" that was anti-Hodes (i.e. Dem). So it's going both ways.

[Rick Olson]

Alicia...you missed the point here....Granted, both camps do some negative polling. It becomes an illegal "push" poll, however when the caller fails to identify "who" is paying for it.