Challenger disputes accuracy of District 2 Congressional poll

ALBANY — U.S. House District 2 Republican challenger Wayne Johnson, in response to an article that appeared in Saturday’s Albany Herald indicating incumbent Democrat Sanford Bishop had a double-digit lead over Johnson in their race, has provided the newspaper results of a poll he said was conducted by national polling firm co/efficient.org that shows the two candidates in a virtual dead-heat a week before the election.

The results of the poll conducted by co/efficient.org, Johnson said, differ materially from poll results provided by Bishop. In what he called an effort “to deliver full transparency,” Johnson offered details from the co/efficient poll, which he said was far different from the Bishop poll which “only provided summary information.”

“It should be noted that the sample size of the co/efficient.org poll was 847 likely voters throughout the district, and the sample size of the Public Policy Poll was only 400 likely voters, believed to be isolated to Columbus,” Johnson said. “When conducting polls, a larger sample size provides for more statistically reliable information.”

Bishop responded to Johnson’s charges Monday morning by saying, “The polls we’ve done privately are consistent with the independent poll we released last week, but the ultimate poll is coming Nov. 5.”

Specifics of the poll authorized for release by Johnson show Bishop at 45%, Johnson at 42%, “other” at 1% and “undecided” at 12%. Polling related to an “informed ballot” shows Johnson leading Bishop by 4%, with Johnson at 47%, Bishop at 43%, other at 1% and undecided at 9%. The margin of error of this poll of 847 likely voters is plus or minus 3.36%.

The Republican candidate said “of particular note, the poll shows the ‘unfavorable’ rating of Sanford Bishop to be at 32%, and his ‘favorable rating’ to be only 45%.”

But pollster Ron Lester, who said Monday he has been conducting political polls since 1992, said Johnson’s complaints sound like the rumblings of a “sore loser.”

“Sore losers tend to make up bogus information,” Lester, whose work is available online at lester–research. com, said. “I have a master’s degree from MIT. I worked two long years at MIT and have been doing this for the last 35 years. Our poll uses correct methodology. This guy (Johnson) is just lying.”

Another pollster who asked that his comments be used for background information only, said that even with the weighted data of the presidential contest, race and age, all of the polls conducted for the 2nd District race have been “outside the margin of error” in Bishop’s favor.

This co/efficient.org poll in District 2 also shows presidential candidates Donald Trump and Kamala Harris basically in a dead heat as well, with Harris at 48%, Trump at 46% and undecided at 4%.

“My team and I are in the field, meeting with more than 500 people per day,” Johnson said. “We are ‘feeling the vibe,’ in a highly positive way and hearing from almost everyone we meet that they are ready for a change. And they are saying, ‘Change will be good.’

“We find this poll as accurately affirming what we believe to be the state of my campaign for this Congressional seat. Election Day should be quite interesting for many political watchers. We believe we will deliver the biggest Congressional upset of this election cycle.”

A summary of the “Georgia’s 2nd Congressional District 2024 General Election” Oct. 4 poll results may be viewed at www.coefficient.org.

Johnson said he believes voters in District 2 are ready for a change from the 32-year reign of Bishop in southwest and middle Georgia

“My message has been and will continue to be that we must address the kitchen table issues impacting every family in our district,” the challenger said. “A change will be good for the citizens of middle and southwest Georgia, and with their help, we will make a change happen this November.”

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