Does U.S. Poll Rule Out Fraud in Iran?

Authors of heavily-quoted poll changed their conclusion to support validity of Ahmadinejad landslide.

Western media, along with thousands of Iranians protesting around the world, have formed a rough consensus over the six days since Iran's Presidential Election that Ahmadinejad's victory was the result of widespread fraud. However, a recent Op-Ed in the Washington Post references a rare public opinion poll in suggesting that the election may indeed have been fair. While there is not enough information to determine whether or not the election was rigged, this poll certainly doesn't rule out the possibility. If only because the poll's authors concluded prior to the election that the very same data predicted a relatively close vote. Yet today, those same authors are claiming that their figures demonstrate the validity of Ahmadinejad's landslide victory.

Comments

[caryberry]

Regardless of the winner in the Iran election - the defining key to this argument is "IRAN". The election was in Iran. The people that voted live in Iran. This conflict belongs to Iran. Not the US, not the global media, not Facebook, not the UN. Iran.

Their problem - their solution. Enough said.

[zaz33]

Great to see the "real News" on HuffPo.

I'm still not sure anyone outside of Iran really knows who won.

There is no doubt in my mind that the Iranian people want democratic elections and more freedoms.

Ironic that our elections are becoming more questionable and we're losing more of our freedoms.

[rbenjamin]

So how do you explain the huge and sustained demonstrations against the election by ordinary citizens? I don't see comparable counter demonstrations by citizens who think it was fair, just government intimidation.
Seems pointless to run dubiously collected polling data into the ground.

[Princeton123]

Because Ahmedinijad's support comes from the rural part of the country not the major cities. The rural population is not as tech savy.

[rbenjamin]

Still can't see it. Do the majority of Iranians live in rural areas? Would not the government bend heaven and earth to organize and broadcast huge counter demonstrations? Why would they go heavy handed on Friday? Let's go for the simplest explanation - the cited poll isn't credible.

[zaz33]

rbenjamin - There were, and possibly still are counter demonstrations.

Apparently they haven't been reported by the MSM.

The BBC broadcast an Ahmad demonstration, removed him from the video, and claimed it was a Mousolvi demonsstration.

Propaganda ?

[rbenjamin]

Not many apparently. You tube etc. are easy access for everybody. Both sides have all the cell phones they need to get the evidence out. Propaganda? Right back at you.

[maddie0001]

George Bush lost the popular vote in 2000, started two wars, wrecked the economy and trashed the constitution and he STILL got reelected in 2004. Anything's possible.