Q: Are opinion polls usually designed to represent the opinions of a population by conducting a series of questions and then extrapolating generalities in ratio or within confidence intervals? ¶
A: Yes.
Q: Was an opinion poll a local straw poll conducted by The Aru Pennsylvanian in 1824? ¶
A: Yes, and showing Andrew Jackson leading John Quincy Adams by 335 votes to 169 in the contest for the United States Presidency.
Q: Are opinion polls actually a device for influencing public opinion? ¶
A: Yes.