Published: April 24, 2007 11:06 pm      

Push polling allegations surface in Carmel

Wilson Research blamed for tactic

Wilson Research Strategies, which is doing polling work for Kokomo Mayor Matt McKillip, is alleged to have used a similar tactic earlier this year in Carmel against incumbent Mayor Jim Brainard.

Allan Sutherlin, president of Stakeholders Inc., said Tuesday that a negative push poll was used against Brainard earlier this year.

“I was mad because it was happening to Brainard,” Sutherlin said.

Sutherlin said he was able to connect Wilson Research Strategies to an outfit called Central Marketing Services that has been accused of doing poison push polls around the country.

“I don’t know yet who hired Wilson Research,” Sutherlin said.

Ed Feigenbaum, editor of the Indiana Legislative Insight, said he reported earlier about push polling in Carmel and that it was being done by Wilson Research.

“The firm was identified at the beginning of the polling,” he said. “I couldn’t discover who was paying for the push poll.”

Feigenbaum said it was pretty obvious from the questions that it was a push poll.

Chris Wilson, owner of Wilson Research Strategies, denied engaging in push polling.

“We did run a legitimate survey in Carmel,” Wilson said.

He said a legitimate poll calls a limited number of registered voters and a push poll contacts thousands of people to spread a negative message.

“They have an inaccurate idea of polling,” Wilson said of the allegations.

Whit Ayres, vice president of the American Association of Political Consultants, said negative comments about a candidate can occur on a legitimate survey or push poll.

“A push poll is intended to spread negative information to persuade people to vote for or against a particular candidate,” he said.

When told the questions being asked in Kokomo, Ayres said it sounds like a push poll but said he would need more information.

Ayres said Chris Wilson is not a push-poller.

“I have never known Wilson to conduct a push poll,” he said.

Wilson Research Strategies and Wilson are members of the American Association of Political Consultants, according to Martha Lockwood, executive director.

No company called Central Research Services or Central Marketing Services has a membership with the organization, she said.

At the same time Kokomo mayoral candidate Rick Hamilton claims push polling was being done against him, Brainard’s opponent in the May 8 primary — Carmel Councilman John Kovan — said push polling was taking place in Carmel.

“To the best of our knowledge it started last Thursday,” Kovan said Wednesday. “It has to be my opponent or someone working for my opponent. There have been no personal attacks to my knowledge.”

Kovan said push polling was a tactic used four years ago against two of Brainard’s primary opponents.

“It wouldn’t surprise me,” Kovan said of any possible attacks before the voting.

Kovan said Stakeholders Inc. has been paid $141,000 by the Brainard campaign.

“I believe the electorate in Carmel and Kokomo would not react favorably to this kind of political tactic,” he said. “This is a distortion tactic to make an issue out of something that is not relative to the campaign.”

Sutherlin said his company was not doing any push polling.

“We do polls,” he said. “We are an advertising company that buys services from other vendors.”

Jeff Brantley with Proponent Consulting, which is working with the Kovan campaign, said the push polling in Carmel is nothing like what is happening in Kokomo.

“It starts out as a legitimate poll and then begins asking questions intended to persuade a person not to vote for John (Kovan),” he said. “Apparently quite a few calls were made.”

Brantley said he believes the push polling is being done by people connected to the Brainard campaign.

“I don’t know why anyone else would do it,” he said. “It doesn’t portray our candidate in a favorable way. It is obvious what side is doing it.

Brantley described push polling as a “low blow” and was done in the Carmel area by a professional organization.

The alleged push poll in Kokomo crossed the line, he said.

Ken de la Bastide can be reached at (765) 454 -8580 or via e-mail at ken.delabastide@kokomotribune.com