Can someone explain in polling what does

[OBAMAWILLWIN]

D+6 mean? Does it mean they expect the Democratic candidate to have a 6 point victory after voting takes place or what? Sometimes I see it in a poll and I always wondered if that is what they are referring to?

TIM KAINE 2012

OBAMA/BIDEN 2012

VIRGINIA VOTER!!!!!!

[PsychProfessor]

1. It simply tells you how many of those who were contacted

reported themselves a D, R or I. The pollsters don't go out looking for specific numbers of each party. They take what they get. The key lately seems to be that given the strong rightward shift of the Republicans and the overall diminishing of the alleged Republican brand there are fewer folks self-identifying as R. Many of these have shifted to I. The D+6 would mean that the survey found a democratic affiliation advantage of 6 percent.

[flowomo]

2. how much the sample was skewed toward D or R or I or whatever....

based on voter registration in the polled area.

[PsychProfessor]

4. It is not about "skewing," actually

This is only true if you think of party affiliation as a demographic characteristic similar to gender, race, or ethnicity. It is not of course. It can change. Calling it "skewed" implies some kind of sampling error. It is not something the pollsters are doing. It is simply the results of people identifying on these random calls.

[flowomo]

5. You're right...

I meant that in a neutral sense, but should have avoided it.

[texasmomof3]

3. also based on their assumption of actually turnout generally based on 2008 and or 2004.