No poll is perfect, but this year’s pollsters did better than average in predicting the presidential race, especially in swing states. What lessons can we learn, and why do pollsters need to tell the right story, not just get the right numbers?
Join Steve Odland and guest Clifford Young, President of Ipsos Public Affairs in the United States, to find out lessons learned from the 2024 cycle, the differences between public and private polling, and how pollsters find people to interview.
(00:40) Accuracy of Election Polls
(02:06) Expectations vs. Reality in Polling
(03:29) Methodological Bias in Polling
(07:28) Senate and House Race Polling
(10:18) Impact of Third-Party Candidates
(14:02) Private vs. Public Polling
(22:15) Polling Methodologies and Voter Rolls
(26:13) International Polling Perspectives
For more from The Conference Board:
C-Suite Perspectives is a series hosted by our President & CEO, Steve Odland. This weekly conversation takes an objective, data-driven look at a range of business topics aimed at executives. Listeners will come away with what The Conference Board does best: Trusted Insights for What’s Ahead®.
C-Suite Perspectives provides unique insights for C-Suite executives on timely topics that matter most to businesses as selected by The Conference Board. If you would like to suggest a guest for the podcast series, please email csuite.perspectives@conference-board.org. Note: As a non-profit organization under 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code, The Conference Board cannot promote or offer marketing opportunities to for-profit entities.
C-Suite Perspectives / 12 Oct 2026
Learn about what it will take to meet America’s rising demand for reliable, affordable power.
C-Suite Perspectives / 08 Oct 2026
Learn how customer empathy informs strategy, why CEOs must be willing to say no, and how authenticity can help employees understand difficult decisions.
C-Suite Perspectives / 05 Oct 2026
No CEO can personally master every technological, geopolitical, and economic challenge confronting a modern organization.
C-Suite Perspectives / 02 Oct 2026
US salary increase budgets are projected to remain at 3.5% in 2027, unchanged from 2026.
C-Suite Perspectives / 01 Oct 2026
In this episode of C-Suite Perspectives we discuss how boards can identify strategic errors before they threaten the future of the company.
C-Suite Perspectives / 29 Sep 2026
US Consumer Confidence fell to 81.9 in September, marking a third consecutive monthly decline.