SC1 Voters: Push Polls Targeting Colbert Busch, Abortion

In the wake of the liberal news outlet Think Progress' report that voters in the First Congressional District had received push polls in February, Democratic sources said such calls were made in the past two weeks.

Democratic strategist Tyler Jones told Patch that he's heard from numerous voters in the district complaining about getting push polls against Elizabeth Colbert Busch.

Colbert Busch, the sister of TV comedian and faux news anchor Stephen Colbert, is facing former Gov. Mark Sanford in Tuesday's election.

Push polls are phone calls to voters that initially appear to be a traditional poll, but are in fact designed to steer the voter away from one candidate and/or toward another. There were accusations of such calls during the Republican primary.

Think Progress reported that some of the questions on the February calls were:

- “What would you think of Elizabeth Colbert Busch if I told you she had had an abortion?”

- “What would you think of Elizabeth Colbert Busch if I told you a judge held her in contempt of court at her divorce proceedings?

- “What would you think of Elizabeth Colbert Busch if she had done jail time?”

- “What would you think of Elizabeth Colbert Busch if I told you she was caught running up a charge account bill?”

- “What would you think of Elizabeth Colbert Busch if she supported the failed stimulus plan?”

- “What would you think of Elizabeth Colbert Busch if I told you unions contributed to her campaign?”

The calls appear to be targeted toward more conservative parts of the district who were considering staying home on Election Day.

The Colbert Busch campaign has not responded to a request for comment.

Sanford spokesperson Joel Sawyer told Patch: "If it's actually going on, it has nothing to do with us, and whoever is doing it should stop."

Tuesday is Election Day in the race to replace now-Sen. Tim Scott.

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