politics
Karen Bass touted fake poll that showed big lead in LA mayoral race, firm says
The company behind a poll that Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass touted as showing her with a double-digit lead in the mayoral race said the survey was entirely fake and part of a social experiment.
TL;DR
- Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass shared a poll on X showing her with a 50% to 39% lead over rival Nithya Raman.
- The polling company, Median Strategies, admitted the survey was entirely fake and part of a social experiment.
- Median Strategies stated that all previously published polling releases have been withdrawn and should not be considered genuine.
- Bass has deleted her post that promoted the fake poll.
- A spokesperson for Bass defended the mayor and called for prosecution of those responsible for the phony poll.
- Political consultant Rick Taylor noted that the poll was shared among political operatives and there was no reason to doubt its authenticity at the time.