Background Memo  

The most recent poll by Fairleigh Dickinson University's PublicMind was conducted by telephone from September 14 through September 19 using a statewide, randomly selected sample of 651 registered voters in Delaware aged 18 and over. The sampling error for 651 adults is +/-4 percentage points at the 95 percent level of confidence.  Survey results are also subject to non-sampling error. This kind of error, which cannot be measured, arises from a number of factors including, but not limited to, non-response (eligible individuals refusing to be interviewed), question wording, the order in which questions are asked, and variations among interviewers. All PublicMind interviews are conducted by TMR, Inc. of Cedar Knolls, NJ. using professional interviewers. Random selection >is achieved through computerized random-digit dialing. This technique gives every person with a phone number (including those with unlisted numbers) an equal chance of being selected.

The wording of the questions included in this release are as follows:

Question:  Now, turning to a different election, this November there will also be an election for the House of Representatives in Washington.  Do you plan to vote for… or… ? [If “don't know,” ask “which way do you lean?”]

• Mike Castle, the Republican candidate for Congress
• Dennis Spivak, the Democratic candidate for Congress

Question Ordering: Questions about President Bush and the military action in Iraq were placed either before questions about the Senate race or after the questions about the Senate race.

see also:
Survey Analysis
Democratic Analysis
Republican Analysis
Tabular Results