They are missing the 41% entirely and many plan to vote.

Wow. I really wish I knew how you could come up with so many facts and SKEW them all together to make some rediculously off the wall point.

A lot more people are using cell phones as their primary phone with no land line so its a bit hard to poll them. Of course there are also polls OVER THE INTERNET. Hey I wonder what key demographic USES THE INTERNET. I bet the polls that use the net happen to be in Obama's favor and probably provide the justifications you used.

Also those who bought cell phones probably won't want to give up their precious minutes to answer some BS poll that doesn't even matter. You said it yourself, very few of your key demographic actually goes out and votes so who cares if they aren't polled? These idiots are probably spending election day teaching their kids to use that wind powered remote control car you preached that will clean up our mess.

By the way, as per usual, you've got your information a little mixed up. The 18-29 demographic is not what is going to make or break Obama's bid for the whitehouse IT IS WOMEN OVER 40! Unless Obama starts getting the cougar crowd on his side, the polls will be just fine.

Interesting argument - though we know that polls and exit polls mean nothing based on what happened in 2004.

Also, the bit about more cell phones being bought than cordless... well, cellphones break and new fancy one's come out every 3 seconds so unless you see a surge in i_cordless_Phone manufacturing, you'll always see an inflated cell phone market.

You can skew stats whichever way you wish - that's the beauty of Pew and others making lots of lots of money off this crap. Too many variables in this to make a logical conclusion.

The enire article could have been summed up in one line: "Cell phones aren't used in polls so it may be off somewhat." That's as accurate as one can be...

McCain needs a base to rally (he's still looking), and Obama needs to solidify his stance and not go on personality alone. Unless some stupid Swift Boat maneuver is in the pipeline or Obama screws up somehow between now and then, it's obv. that he'll take it. It'd be better for the country, however, if he was a tad more solid on his stance.

So a company that makes it's money doing polls did a poll that told them that the people they can't contact "makes little difference". I guess that's better for them than their research coming to the conclusions that their polls are invalid and they need to close up shop since they can no longer poll a significant section of society. (sarcasm)

Any statistics can be skewed to say whatever you want them to say. Anyone relying upon statistics to make decisions in their lives has issues.

Personally, I'm already paying enough in taxes. I'd rather keep Obama out of my wallet. The guy hasn't even gotten the official nod from the Democratic party and he's already promised 3 different tax hikes... the 'perfect' thing to do to an economy bordering on a recession.

If you think you should be paying more, be my guest and mail in extra next April 15th. I'd rather the economy limp than sink.

From the article
"it's more costly to survey cell-phone users since federal law prohibits automated calls to cell-phones. That means the calls to cell-phones must come from live interviewers"

How is this not considered phone spam. We don't put up with this on our email so why do we allow it into our homes through our land-line phones. My parents are considering going cell only since the majority of calls they get on their land line are from solicitors and pollsters. Would you pay a monthly fee to keep an email account open that only receives spam?

What would be nice is a voice mail only phone number that I can use so I can stop putting my cell phone on forms and online purchases.

So much for text messaging,his choice was in the Satueday morning paper - before he made it!

Vroom Vroom. Nice attempt to classify all McCain supporters as nascar watching hicks.

You realize that racism is only one form of bigotry, correct? And despite what most people seem to believe, all forms of bigotry are equally evil (not just white on black racism? WHAT? I thought that was the only one that even WAS bigotry!?!)

Well, go ahead. I am, personally, a hick. A redneck. A good 'ol boy. I'm proud of it. My mother, my father, and my step-father are all college educated. (Chemical Engineering, History/Business, Civil/Environmental Engineering, respectively). They got all of these things on their own - despite being white noone came along and handed them shit. My mom and step-dad's parents simply couldn't afford it, and my dad's parents didn't care enough to do it (and probably couldn't afford it either). They obtained their educations while raising myself and my brother, and managed to do a good enough job of both tasks at once that they're all making what most people would consider damn good money, and my brother and I turned out well enough that we're both going to college as well (though we very much DID have it handed to us, by those same parents who were given nothing). This is the hick of today, mister bigoted Dvice editor. This is the face of those "damn, bigoted, uneducated southerners" you and your liberal cronies so often deride. ANd we're doing a hell of a lot more for America, and the World, than the massive populations of factory workers and welfare zombies who are reproducing like rabbits and flooding the north.

So, kindly, bite me. And don't be mad when Obama's "vote for me or you're a racist" campaign fails.

RON PAUL 2012

Your premise is a bit off. I've already been called by pollsters twice on my cell phone so they are abviously calling cells. Could this explain why Obama consistently polled higher than the votes he got during the primaries?

I worked briefly at a political polling place and I was told we got most of our numbers from Voting registration records and Drivers Licence applications. Basically any place the States have you fill out forms.

I did get a few cell phones, but most people put their land line, house phones, down on official forms from what I could tell.

Obama is never going to get the cougar vote because he's too arrogant and cougars are not attracted to that personality trait. I would have voted for Hillary, but since that won't be the case I'm considering just writing her name in. While I dislike Obama as a person, I'm waiting to find out whether the CIA knocks him off before the election or if we as a society have grown up enough to accept the idea that ANYONE can be president of these United States. If Obama is allowed to win the presidency, he's still not going to get my support until I see some change in the way we treat people in this country.

I would bet Obama's numbers are better because all those people who sent in contributions to his campaign probably were asked for their phone numbers and if a cell is all they have that means he's got it! (One reason I keep a land line, so people can't bug the heck outta me trying to sell me things.)

hi ıt isnt important that who will win this race important is who is good enough for world peace because no peace no food no future no life anything else not important for the humanity

This was the first DEVICE article I have ever read. Some how I got on this mailing list and usually just open, take a quick look and delete it. For some reason, in this political season, I decided to read the article on Obama and cell phones. After reading this -trash-, I started to look for the unsubscribe link to DEVICE -trash-. I didn't feel the need to waste my time reading stuff -trash- like this, when there were so many more insightful political articles on the internet, being posted every few minutes.

I started to read the comments posted below, expecting the same totally lame arguments. DEVICE should thank all of you for keeping this consumer as a customer. If it were not for your comments, I would now be off this mailing list. I may still be if they read this. It is refreshing to know that there are other people out there like me, like all of you, who recognize a like when we see it or when we read it.

See, this is the kinda shit that pisses me off. Why does a tech page suddenly become a political rant? Well since thisi lefty decided to tell everyone his preference I'll glady tell mine. McCain, McCain, McCain. Come the begining of November it'll be President-elect McCain. Nuff said. Goodbye Osama OIbama

I read DVICE because of the cool stuff, not to hear some radical liberal express views about a candidate who is not competent nor qualifiesd to hold th ehighest office in the land. More of us old folks than you think own cell phones. Who do you think pays for my repulican college student to have one.

Since you seem to be an uninformed liberal parrot, I don't think you have any intelligent information to provide me about amazing technology.

Last comment I promise. I have unsubscribed to DVICE.

I don't really buy this "analysis" It sort of presupposes that if you have a cellphone you're leaning Democrat. Like Republicans wouldn't own a cellphone?

I got an email saying Obama is going to move all his Kenyan relatives to the White House if he wins. I dismissed that as propaganda just like I am this poor attempt at journalism. I am betting you got your degree on line?!? Stick w/ tech....

I don't know about Pew Research, but Gallup DOES poll people with cell phones. (See below) And they have Obama and McCain neck and neck, just like everyone else. And anyway, even if we accept for the sake of argument that Obama will win youngsters (Probably true), it's doubtful that they'll turn out in sufficient numbers to throw the election his way. Maybe that sucks, and maybe I'll be proven wrong - but I doubt it.

Gallup info:

Interviews are conducted with respondents on land-line telephones (for respondents with a land-line telephone) and cellular phones (for respondents who are cell-phone only).

http://www.gallup.com/poll/109873/Gallup-Daily-Race-Still-Close-Obama-45-McCain-44.aspx

The fact is, polls don't matter and nor do votes. If the last two elections have taught us nothing, they have taught us that elections can be stolen or bought...our democracy is an illusion..sorry, it's hard to hear, but there it is.

Puleeeze, stick with tech! That's why I read DViCE. If I want to read articles like these, I'll read it on MSN or my local newspaper, or somewhere else. Anywhere but here. I will unsubscribe (not that any will give a damn) if I get another of these in my email.

Take me off the DVICE email list. I don't read crap journalism, and this one lays out on the back lawn.

If you aren't part of the solution, you are part of the problem. The problem is Obama and McCain. Therefore Stewie, you are part of the problem.

I agree with several previous comments...
Nascar lovin, gun totin rednecks built and maintain this country! Obama has very limited experience in politics and does not have the qualifications to lead this country. He will, most likely, be voted into office merely because of the bigotry that is still rampant in America which is rapidly become black vs. white. I have met many more racist blacks than whites. Blacks vote black. Go ahead, flame me for my opinion but it IS a proven fact, do the research.
Finally, DVICE should remain a cutting edge technology article informing us of the new, wondrous and possibly absurd gadgets and devices being researched, developed and tested. We have enough bloggers, comedians and political rants out there, I also did not expect to find a political rant here... I expected the usual quality article referencing poll results and cellphones. Very disappointing!

ToryMom - NASCAR wasn't around in 1776 - THANK GOD.
I believe in the separation of Church and State, AND the separation of politics and DVICE. Don't fill my DVICE newsletter with politics! I know where to go find what I need - www.factcheck.org

Well, I don't think cell phones are going to skew to polls as much as you think. As for Obama, you can fal for the stage show if you wish, but I hope the rest of the country is smarter than that and does not elect someone who has no experience, lies about his background, has no plan on how to fix our problems, wants to raise our taxes and won't display an american flag or say the pledge of allegience! If he gets into office, I'm moving to another country because things are going to get bad QUICK. Wake up America!

This is a wild guess, but "little difference" is probably layman's terms for what those who know what they're talking about refer to as "statistically significant." You're right, you're no mathematician, which is why you come off sounding like an ignoramus when you try to convince people that you know more than the statisticians.

And keep the politics off Dvice!!!

Glad to see the DVICE audience is more sensible than one might have thought.

Keep the politics out of the DVICE articles. We can get more meaningful punditry elsewhere.

Lets see. Our choices are a guy who's so old he WILL die in office. Or the bastard child of an aethist and a moslem (a friend of mine has called HIM a 'bullet magnet' if he gets elected).

So, who gets elected as president won't matter. The VICE President will be the one to watch. Biden? What an Washington insider...

McCains choice? Who knows.

But keep an eye out on the Veep choices, because they will most likely finish out the term of which ever person gets elected prez.

And for the first time in 37 years, I AIN'T VOTING. That way you can't blame me for how bad thing are going to get. Because regardless of which party is in power, we are about to get the hosing of a lifetime.

Oh, and I agree with all who have said this is an inappropriate place for political rants. I read DVICE because I want to read tech stuff. Not political stuff.

Correction on my previous post: "statistically non-significant"

Wow. I am truly appalled at the lowliness of the comments posted. People who would stoop to calling Obama "Osama Olbama," claim he is an "atheist" (incorrectly spelled) and a "muslim" (also incorrectly spelled,) that he refuses to display an American flag or say the Pledge of Allegiance, and claim that his campaign is accusing non-supporters of being "racist" should not be allowed to vote, because clearly those individuals lack the ability to process simple factual information. I find it hard to believe you people can operate a computer at all, given your obvious lack of intellect.

You can vote for whomever you want to, but be advised that if you vote for McCain, you're guaranteed AT LEAST 4 more years of war, plummeting economy, further outsourcing of our jobs, shameless damage to the environment and no hope for improvement.

I thought this was pretty good! The "accomplishments" of Obama. Just watch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGeu_4Ekx-o

UPDATED: The following comment has been disemvoweled (not censored, but had all its vowels removed) for sheer ignorance, petty insults of other commenters, base vulgarity and stupidity of the highest order. -- DVICE Staff

Jst cs smn vts fr mccn dsnt mn th r rdnck nscr lvrs. G fck yrslvs. Srsl, gt f th fckng lbrl bnd wgn y sshls. nd rlz tht ths cntr s cmprsd f bth dmcrts, nd rpblcns. Yr n sdd y sght lss y cstmrs, bt gss yr jst t fckng stpd t rlz tht.

I am horrified, in every sense of the word, to think that Obama could be President. I wish he would go away. Think people!!!

God bless America

I Pledge Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands,
one Nation under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

I am sure that John McCain will be very excited to see all of the cretins he has out there who want to vote for him for such baseless "reasons" and he will be even more excited to send all of you, and your children, to die in Iraq.

Go get 'em... you reap what you sow. What a bunch of inbred, ignorant fools.

You wrote: "young people are more likely to have only a cellphone, and young people are more likely to support Obama. Ergo, since cellphone owners aren't polled and cellphone owners make up a significant portion of the Obama's support, the polls are wrong."

But you forgot one important thing in you syllogism, so your conclusion is wrong. Yes, young people use cell phoens more. yes, they tend to prefer Obama. But there's one more fact that Pew knows and you don't seem to: PEOPLE THAT AGE RARELY VOTE.

*EVERY* election it's the same story. Everyone shouts "The youth vote will win it! Whoever captures the youth vote will win! There are tons of disaffected youths!" And every election, teh result is the same: the old farts and working people go out to vote, and the "big you vote" decides it's not that important, they'd rather stay home and play Xbox Live or whatever. It's cool during the election to seem like you have a political opinion, but when it comes time to actually *do* something, like get off your ass and go vote, all of a sudden it doesn't seem so important.

Don't believe me? Check the voting turnout records. Happens *every* time.

This is a strange place for a political debate, but, since this IS America, even techies have an opinion, and a right to voice said opinion when they feel moved to do so.

Who says Obama won't get the women over 40 vote? (Ahem, I'm over 40, and last time I checked, I was a woman)... Who says you have to be a liberal to appreciate what Obama has to offer? I don't necessarily qualify as either a liberal or conservative; I am more complex than that! I did my research BEFORE jumping on the Obama bandwagon; who is this guy? What has he got to offer this country? What about his opponents? Before people criticize or extol the man, research should be conducted in an objective manner (minus the rhetoric flowing from the media). Pete's sake, people! At least APPLY the scientific method before you berate someone! After all, isn't that what techies do best?

As far as the cellphone debate, there are valid points for and against the findings in this article. I think I would crunch the numbers myself before I reach a viable conclusion. There are too many variables in statistics; it's one of the dirtiest forms of math there is!

Interesting post, my fingers are crossed that you're right & that this info will help balance out some of the less informed folks I've been reading comments on here from. The same tired talking points that pander to ignorance, fear & repressed anger seem to have done the trick with a lot of professed McCain supporters, while the Obama leaning crowd has a wider & less force-fed range of opinions. Interesting times we live in. Thanks DVICE.

Let's not be under the mistaken notion that we live in a democracy. The winner will be determined by manufacturers of the voting machines.

Why don't you leave your political views at home. Not everyone who has a cellphone as their only phone is 1. a young person and 2. an Obama lover. Let him prove to me that he is a legal US citizen and then we will talk about my vote. I truely resent your entire artical.

Interesting point regarding cell phones not being included in the polls.

But the spewing of ignorance, hatred, and misinformation here is amazing. Most of the anti-Obama people here have done no real research but have just read the emails that have been forwarded around. You guys are probably still waiting on your checks from Bill Gates' email tracking program too.

First off, the birth certificate issue is dead. Another false lie that has been disprove. Secondly, the tax increases Obama has proposed will only affect you if you're a large corporation or an oil company. If you're in the middle class you WILL GET A TAX BREAK. That's something you're not going to get from McCAin. Thirdly, Obama says the pledge and he's not a Muslim.

If you consider yourself technical then you should be able to use the Internet to research the truth and not a bunch of the same old crap.

The Obama campaign is about changing American politics by having more people take ownership in the process. No other candidate, not even Hillary, and certainly not McCain, has encouraged that level of ownership.

Quit griping about what's going on actually do something about it by getting involved beyond just voting.

It amazes me how many commenta are; 1. not even about this article, and 2. even when they are regarding this article, the poster of the comment either didn't even read more than the first 2 lines, or simply choose to ignore the portions that invalidated their chosen rant.

Although very entertaining, this article is full of inacuracies. Please check your facts before getting on your soap box next time. You're throwing out numbers like coins in a wishingwell. Be careful what you wish for.