Robot Dreams

Now that the primaries are "over" and we are all watching the general election I thought I'd point people to some of the online polling maps that show results in terms of the electoral vote totals.

Wikipedia has a lengthy page with a variety of individual poll results plus overall electoral counts. The maps at the bottom are the most digestible piece of information on the page. Unfortunately it's not clear what the counts are based on other than "using latest polling when available".

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statewide_opinion_polling_for_the_United_States_presidential_election%2C_2008

FiveThirtyEight has lengthy and detailed number and very clear maps and charts of both overall electoral counts and per state counts. They make it clear where the counts from and try to correct bias and instability in the polls the sample from. Of special note is the "Swing State Analysis" chart.

• http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/

Last on my list is the "easiest to read at a glance" page, from "Electoral Vote". The algorithm (a.k.a. method for those not mathematically inclined) used is explained. And the person running the site is nice enough to provide raw poll data for download.

• http://www.electoral-vote.com/

As can be expected from any polling they all arrive at different counts. But the also all put Barack Obama ahead.