Pollsters, once again, are utterly, completely wrong

OPINION:

CNN’s notables, in early morning discussion of election results, nodded and smiled when the subject of polling came up, and pundit S.E. Cupp said this: “I want to caution against calling the death of polling just yet.”

Wrong.

It is the death of polling.

It’s time for the burial.

On Monday, Monmouth had Democrat Joe Biden beating President Donald Trump in Pennsylvania, 51 to 44. By 7 points. On Monday, CNBC/Change Research had Biden beating Trump 51 to 44 in Michigan. By 7 points. Reuters/Ipsos had Biden beating Trump in the general election 52 to 45. By 7 points. CNBC/Change Research had Biden beating Trump in the general election 52 to 42. By 10 points.

Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa was a goner.

Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina was a has-been.

Sen. Susan Collins in Maine was no more.

Sen. Thom Tillis in North Carolina hadn’t a chance.

And surprise, surprise — to the pollsters, anyway: Republican Tommy Tuberville in Alabama defeated incumbent Democrat Sen. Doug Jones. That wasn’t supposed to happen.

Neither was the tight Trump-Biden race.

Biden, depending on the month and week of polling, depending on the polling firm, depending on how his fawning supporters in the media spun it — Biden had upwards of 15-point leads in some spots, had double-digit leads in others, had comfortably wide single-digit margin leads in still others.

Biden was going to beat Trump, and beat him but good.

So said the pollsters.

So said CNN and MSNBC and CBS and NBC and yes, even FOX, the supposed home of all-Trump, all-the-time fans.

It was never supposed to be this tight.

Guess who said it would be this tight?

Trafalgar.

The Trafalgar Group put the election on a path of Trump win, albeit by only a few electoral votes.

It’s the death of polling, all right.

“We’re learning things about this country,” CNN’s Chris Cuomo said, surveying the field of red, counting the Senate seats that stayed red, acknowledging the flaws of pollsters.

Yes. Just as America is learning things about pollsters and the field of political polling.

Like, don’t trust the polls. They’re wrong. Always, always wrong.

• Cheryl Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com or on Twitter, @ckchumley. Listen to her podcast “Bold and Blunt” by clicking HERE. And never miss her column; subscribe to her newsletter by clicking HERE.