SMS Text Marketing

 As American citizens can almost taste the presidential election since it is so close, President Barack Obama leads Mitt Romney among “likely” voters and registered voters in the crucial swing states of Iowa and Colorado, according to two polls conducted by SMS text marketing provider CallFire.

To conduct this survey, the California-based company partnered with NGP VAN, a provider of voice broadcast and automated survey functionality to Democrats and progressives. The survey, which utilized both the SmartVAN data and CallFire telephone services, also probed various issues and attitudes among these voters.

Powering the important poll via cell phones and landlines, in the Hawkeye State the President is ahead by a 50 percent to 47 percent margin with both groups. In Colorado, Obama maintains a one-point edge with registered voters and “likely” voters, 49 to 48. 

On the other hand, in Iowa the poll reached out to 1,082 registered voters and 891 self-described “likely” voters throughout the state.  Out of the total respondents, 33 percent of “likely” voters identified with the Democratic Party, 31 percent with the Republican Party, and 35 percent listed themselves as “independent.” Among registered voters, 33 percent identified with the Democratic Party, 31 percent with the G.O.P. and 35 percent as independent. 

The Colorado poll reached out to 927 registered voters and 839 self-described “likely” voters throughout that state.  Of the total sample, 34 percent of “likely” voters identified with the Democratic Party, 32 percent with the Republican Party, and 33 percent listed themselves as “independent.” Among registered voters, 34 percent identified with the Democratic Party, 32 percent with the G.O.P. and 33 percent as independent. 

 “In partnership with NGP VAN and using its field survey tools, CallFire is now able to obtain salient data and voter feedback about political races at the national, state and local levels, including the presidential election,” said Dinesh Ravishanker, CEO of CallFire, in a statement. 

According to Ravishanker, the survey capabilities his organization offers can elicit key insights from voters – such as the recent presidential pulse sampling among respondents in Iowa and Colorado – among various campaigns and candidates for a fraction of the cost and on a much broader scale than ever before possible.

The survey also provides a valuable snapshot of the state of voter opinion during a time when every potential ballot selection cast will weigh heavily on the outcome of presidential election and other key races next week, Ravishanker added.

Additionally, President Obama scored slightly better than his rival Gov. Romney in women’s issues. When asked which candidate would be better for women’s issues, 61 percent of “likely” voters in Iowa said President Obama while 36 percent named Gov. Romney.  In Colorado, 64 percent of “likely” voters named the President, 33 percent Gov. Romney.

 When asked, “Do you think you are personally better off today than you were at the end of George W. Bush’s term?” 52 percent of “likely” voters in Iowa answered “better off” and 33 percent answered “worse.” In Colorado, 46 percent responded “better off,” while 39 percent answered “worse.”

CallFire has conducted a series of other surveys that measure voter pulse points and offer a broader “voice” to the public through its telephony-based communications that are helping to “democratize” and mobilize American voters in an entirely new way. 


Edited by Jamie Epstein