Some survey results for you. The first helps us to understand why surveys are generally horseshit, but also how smelling the shit helps one distinguish better from worse. The survey firm Penn, Schoen & Berland released a surprising survey showing that Chávez is in a "vulnerable position," with 50% of the vote as compared to 37% for opposition candidate Manuel Rosales. These numbers—and the 20% increase they show for Rosales—are only surprising until we remember that the same firm, PS&B, in association with rabid opposition "NGO" Sumate, released a poll in August 2004 during the run up to the recall election showing 59% voting to recall Chávez and 39% against. I remind you that the actual result was 59% against the recall and only 41% for. There are also interesting reports on the political maneuvers of PS&B in the Serbian elections of 2000, specifically the use of exit polls to facilitate coups.

In other silly poll news, or lack of poll news as it were, trailing opposition candidate Benjamin Rausseo has dismissed polls which show him at around 1.6% as "manipulated." I also remember him claiming that his "unofficial" polling gave him around 16%. Sad, really.

Unrelated to elections, Datanálisis has released some interesting numbers. Evidently, 81% of those polled self-identify as middle class, whereas real economic conditions put the number closer to 16%. Moreover, this actual middle class has been on the losing end of inflation, whereas the income growth of the lower classes have actually managed to beat out inflation by a considerable percentage. Put together though, does the first result undermine the second with regard to the government?