Matt Drudge of The Drudge Report teased the political and media establishment with a graphic seemingly vindicating his online polls after Donald Trump’s strong victory in the South Carolina presidential primary.
“OMG!” Drudge wrote on Twitter, captioning a graphic of the current delegate tally in the Republican presidential primary. “Looks like the latest DRUDGE REPORT poll results! How can that be?” He punctuated the message with a winking kiss emoji.
https://twitter.com/DRUDGE/status/701373416570560513
The graphic shows Donald Trump leading with 61 delegates, then Ted Cruz with eleven, Marco Rubio with ten, John Kasich with five, and Ben Carson with three.
For comparison, the latest Drudge poll after a debate in South Carolina showed these results:
And Drudge’s monster poll at the end of January, not linked to any debate–which gained nearly 1.5 million votes:
Drudge’s polls are not scientific in their methodology, but they do have a finger on the pulse of whose camp is most enthusiastic. In a year where conventional knowledge has predicted little, these snapshots of how the online world–trolls, spammers, and all–sees each candidate may end up surprisingly prescient. As Jimmy LaSalvia wrote in Salon before the Iowa caucus:
Again, the Drudge polls are immediate and unscientific. Anyone can participate. They’re not weighted for demographic balance, one person might vote multiple times from different computers, or their phone. It’s a snapshot of one piece of the conservative base. They might remind some of an online version of the 1936 survey that changed polling forever: the Literary Digest calling the presidential election for Alf Landon over Franklin Roosevelt, and getting it horribly wrong because their self-selected audience did not accurately reflect the country.
But this isn’t about who would win in November between Trump and Hillary. An online poll on a site beloved by conservatives would never accurately reflect that. But as a measure of fervor within a primary, it captures something real about the passion and the intensity of Trump’s support among the base.
While Drudge didn’t name names of the intended targets, Republican consultants, GOP moderates, establishment figures, reporters, and conservative Trump critics have mocked his polls often.
Signs you're a political idiot; " He won the Drudge poll!!!!!"
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) September 17, 2015
@mikerotondo86 Trump and his low information supporters like you thought the Drudge poll where you vote as many times as you like was real:)
— Cheri Jacobus (@CheriJacobus) September 15, 2015
The drudge poll is not scientific. This Google/IJ.com poll is. And it shows Carly won http://t.co/21shXmWaCg
— Joe Perticone (@JoePerticone) September 17, 2015
Trump’s evidence that he “won” debate: Drudge poll! NYT wrote about me on A1! WaPo too!
— Philip Rucker (@PhilipRucker) August 8, 2015
Watch the Drudge poll tonight. Spoiler: the Trumpbilles will produce the same results they do every time.
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) October 29, 2015
Roger Stone released tape showing how stupid @realDonaldTrump was believing Drudge poll was real. U trick ppl too https://t.co/lEqARz9qO3
— Cheri Jacobus (@CheriJacobus) September 17, 2015
"Those polls are losers, total, complete, absolute losers. I won the Drudge poll. I won all the online polls and the Twittersphere!"
— Jim Geraghty (@jimgeraghty) August 11, 2015
Trumpdiction: "This debate was totally unfair, but the Drudge Poll scientifically proves that I won. I'm the best, really."
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) October 29, 2015
Drudge "poll" — so funny:) https://t.co/1rp7alr6rk
— Cheri Jacobus (@CheriJacobus) September 17, 2015
Also, that really incredible Drudge Poll, the best poll ever except all you losers don't know it https://t.co/yOy7gb1LgT
— Toby Harnden (@tobyharnden) September 22, 2015
Has Trump won the Drudge Poll yet?
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) November 11, 2015
If only all of the Drudge poll voters were so sparing. https://t.co/prlb157f9N
— Ben (@BenHowe) January 29, 2016
RS:“You didn’t win debate.”
Trump:“Yes I did. Look at Drudge poll.”
RS: “Drudge Report poll isn’t a scientific poll" http://t.co/rTLiYS8d6A— Cheri Jacobus (@CheriJacobus) October 16, 2015
@MitchArseneau For the 7000th time the Drudge Poll is…not…a…poll.
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) November 11, 2015
@HouseCracka @MarkSteynOnline which part? btw u know that Drudge poll is not real. Why do u push that lie to your low information followers?
— Cheri Jacobus (@CheriJacobus) September 17, 2015
@whillxx @MacStipanovich Have you looked at the numbers, or just the Drudge "poll"?
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) December 1, 2015
@Ariel_Isles there's actually a scientific analysis in real time showing Fiorina & Rubio winning the debate.Your Drudge poll is meaningliess
— Cheri Jacobus (@CheriJacobus) September 17, 2015
Has Trump won the Drudge poll yet?
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) December 16, 2015
The drudge poll, which is not based on any science at all and is meaningless, is up now https://t.co/yOdC9QuFoB
— Joe Perticone (@JoePerticone) December 16, 2015
Trump is having a terrible night. But don't worry…he's ALREADY WON THE DRUDGE POLL.
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) January 15, 2016
According to Drudge poll, Trump won Iowa by 80 points. https://t.co/EatxLNgC8Y
— Ben White (@morningmoneyben) February 2, 2016
https://twitter.com/alweaver22/status/687874429246779392
Right? Then again, we have an election where a candidate unselfconsciously cites the Drudge poll. https://t.co/UGDXlTHxRV
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) February 1, 2016
@LoriPatriot @volpappaw lol a drudge poll
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) February 14, 2016
Waiting on the Drudge Poll. https://t.co/Tni0MDPpHw
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) February 8, 2016
https://twitter.com/BenHowe/status/700680431356813312
@Britinnv @blackrepublican stop embarrassing yourself. The Drudge poll is not a poll.
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) February 14, 2016
Drudge sent only one other tweet the same night, deleting all of the account’s past messages–as is his custom. He remarked in this first tweet: “Clinton vs. Trump is the race America deserves. EPIC. WILD. NASTY. FUN.”
https://twitter.com/DRUDGE/status/701206667342569472
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