Several social media users were angry and suspicious after the highly anticipated CNN/Des Moines Register Iowa poll was scrapped at the last minute.
Per ABC News the release of a highly anticipated poll from CNN and the Des Moines Register on the Democratic primary race in Iowa, which hosts the premier contest of the election season, was abruptly canceled at the last minute over concerns from one of the survey’s respondents.
The poll, the last in Iowa before Monday’s caucuses, was slated to be broadcast live on CNN Saturday night, but at the top of the 9 o’clock hour, CNN Political Director David Chalian announced: “It was brought to CNN’s attention earlier this evening someone questioned for the survey raised an issue the way their interview was conducted. That means the results of the poll would have been compromised.”
“We weren’t able to determine exactly what happened during this person’s interview, and we don’t know if it was an isolated incident,” he added. “So out of an abundance of caution, CNN and Des Moines Register and the company who conducts the poll decided not to release tonight’s poll.”
The chyrons and banners publicizing the release of the poll were taken down only minutes before the expected airtime.
Among the unproven conspiracy theories floating around were that the poll may have been scrapped because it was too favorable to Bernie Sanders, a candidate not favored by the Democratic party establishment.
The most recent NY Times Iowa poll had Sanders with a commanding lead.
Here is some of the social media reaction to the Des Moines / CNN poll being scrapped.
For those less familiar, it looks like the final call Iowa poll from the respected CNN / Des Moines Register poll has been scrapped due to concerns about data collection.
Cue wild conspiracy theories because this is the Internet.
— Keiran Pedley (@keiranpedley) February 2, 2020
"One of the rumors we've gotten is that we did really really well in that poll," Yang says of the scrapped Des Moines Register poll. He says he found out backstage before the event that it was cancelled.
— Ryan Brooks (@ryanbrooks) February 2, 2020
The truth about the Des Moines Register poll. Bernie Sanders is up, and up YUGGEEE. We had the biggest rally of any presidential candidate today. We knocked on 500,000 doors in IOWA. Our surge isn’t even at its peak, we are going to take Iowa by a LARGE margin. #IowaForBernie
— Ja'Mal Green (@JaymalGreen) February 2, 2020
The DNC / Democrat Primary Process is corrupt beyond belief.
1) DNC changed the debate rules to get Bloomberg on the stage. (He purchased his spot) After they wouldn’t change it for other candidates (specifically minorities)
2) Des Moines poll tossed because Bernie was winning.
— Lo Keys (@LoKeys910) February 2, 2020
CNN and Des Moines Register looking at the poll results showing Bernie crushing everyone else: pic.twitter.com/XmuBBxRDb5
— Danny Neary (@ChiDannyNeary) February 2, 2020
Bernie Sanders is Winning Iowa and the Des Moines Register not releasing their poll tonight over 1 poll voters concern proves they don't want to show how much Bernie's Winning and this was the easy way out.
LET'S WIN BIG ON MONDAY FOR BERNIE!
— kyle jones (@KyleLovesBernie) February 2, 2020
The Des Moines Register made the right decision to quash its final Iowa poll once it realized Buttigieg had been left out.
Legions of Bernie fans claiming tonight that this is somehow a conspiracy against Bernie.
Why do Bernie fans insist EVERYTHING is a conspiracy against him?
— Palmer Report (@PalmerReport) February 2, 2020
Let's be real. That Des Moines poll definitely had Bernie looking strong. Shame they can't admit the people have had it with bullshit from centrist Dems. #NotMeUs
— Bilby Spawn (@BilbySpawn) February 2, 2020
Des Moines Register and CNN:
"MAYDAY MAYDAY! Bernie is up by a landslide. Cancel the Iowa poll. We repeat… CANCEL THE IOWA POLL!" pic.twitter.com/ncRXeycnSo
— Estivel Garcia (@Estivel) February 2, 2020