I find polls interesting not so much for the top-line issue they seek to illuminate, but for the quirky results that often lie underneath. Like, who are those 3 percent of respondents who can’t even identify the name Dick Cheney?
Another example in today’s Playbook, as Mike Allen calls our attention to a Rasmussen poll on public attitudes of Ford Motor Company:
“Public opposition to the auto bailouts may be translating into consumer buying decisions, with 46 percent of Americans now saying they are more likely to buy a car from Ford because it did not take government money to stay in business. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 13 percent say they are less likely to buy a Ford because the company didn’t receive a bailout, and 37 percent say it has no impact on their car buying.”
Really, 13 percent are less likely to buy a Ford because the company did not get bailed out? These people insist on only supporting companies that are receiving government funds? Do they only buy insurance through AIG and bank exclusively at Citi?
The other number — 46 percent more supportive because Ford is making a go of things on its own — makes sense to me. In fact, I recently spoke with someone who purchased a Ford and told the dealer the only reason he was there was because the company stayed independent. (I try to surround myself with free-marketeers.)
This view presents an interesting opportunity for Ford — an opportunity to market itself as the only independent American car company. Judging by the company’s advertising, Ford execs are reluctant to go down that path. Perhaps because they don’t think they’re out of the woods yet. Perhaps because Ford shares up- and downstream partners with GM and Chrysler — suppliers, dealers, etc. who wouldn’t be thrilled about Ford dumping all over the other two.
But as Rasmussen shows, there is a constituency out there that is more inclined to support a company that shows some real American self-sufficiency.
And another constituency that’s ready to punish them for it.
