Alan I. Abramowitz, Alben W. Barkley Professor of Political Science, B.A. (1969), University of Rochester; M.A., Ph.D. (1976), Stanford University. Previous appointments at William and Mary (1976-82) and SUNY Stony Brook (1982-87). Areas of Specialization: American politics, political parties, elections, and voting behavior. Current research involves party realignment in the U.S. and its consequences for presidential and congressional elections

Blog Entries by Alan Abramowitz

Remembering Gallup's Wacky 2000 Tracking Poll

Posted August 7, 2008 | 05:49 PM (EST)


Everyone remembers the 2000 presidential election with its excruciating post-election vote counting controversy in Florida and the Supreme Court decision that awarded the presidency to George W. Bush. But how many people remember the Gallup 2000 election tracking poll? I'm sure the Gallup folks would like us to forget it,...

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About that New USA Today/Gallup Poll

Posted July 29, 2008 | 02:26 PM (EST)


A newly released USA Today/Gallup Poll shows John McCain leading Barack Obama by four points, 49% to 45%, among likely voters. This on the heels of the latest Gallup tracking poll, which is based on a completely separate and much larger sample, that shows Obama leading McCain by 8 points...

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The Color Purple: An Examination of the 2008 Presidential Election in the Swing States

Posted July 25, 2008 | 04:36 PM (EST)


When it comes to presidential politics, in the words of the immortal Duke Ellington, "it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing." Because presidential elections are decided by the electoral vote and not the popular vote, and because every state except Nebraska and Maine awards all of...

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