Steyer Says He Is 'Talking to Lawyers' About Suing the Pollster Who Found Him Trailing

ALBANY — Steyer, the self-funding businessman running for an open House seat in some of his party's safest territory, announced this week that he is 'talking to lawyers' about a survey showing him trailing his opponent by four points, calling the poll 'totally fake' and its release an example of 'political corruption' undertaken 'for one reason only — to help the other party fundraise.'

The poll, commissioned by a local television station from a national firm, found the race at 43 to 39 in a district the businessman's party has carried comfortably for years. The Press's arithmetic desk notes that this is within the margin of error, and that the margin of error is not, under current law, a party to any lawsuit.

Steyer, whose campaign has been distinguished chiefly by the size of its checks and the size of the sign on his factory roof, did not say what cause of action a candidate has against a number, though the campaign's statement described the situation as 'seeing what can be done,' which is also how most litigation begins and how much of it ends.

The Press's polling desk observes that a survey is either a snapshot of a competitive race or a hoax perpetrated by paid liars, depending entirely on which candidate is looking at it, and that every candidate in American history who has threatened to sue a pollster has been trailing at the time. No candidate has yet sued over a poll that had them ahead.

Reaction followed the standing choreography. Supporters saw a fighter refusing to let a rigged number define his race. Opponents saw a rich man threatening to sue reality. The Press archives confirm both parties own the vocabulary — 'fake polls' and 'can't handle the truth' — and swap it, notarized, whenever the other side is behind.

The pollster, asked for comment, released the crosstabs, and the crosstabs declined to settle.