HS Student Pranked Mastriano Into Posting Fake Poll

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports:

State Sen. Doug Mastriano, the Republican nominee for governor in Pennsylvania, touted on social media the results of a new “poll” that for the first time showed him with a narrow lead over the Democratic nominee, state Attorney General Josh Shapiro.

What we don’t get: Why did Mastriano and campaign advisor Jenna Ellis leave up those social media posts for five days — as it soon became clear it was a hoax and the “pollster” had pranked him? Curious call for a cantankerous candidate who dismisses any media reporting that does not exalt him as “fake news.”

The “pollster” — who would only identify himself as “a high school student from southwestern Connecticut who likes politics” — told Clout in a Twitter message exchange that he created the Twitter account Carleton Polling this month to test a theory about a “double standard” for polling and political parties.

Read the full article.

As I reported earlier this week, Breitbart was duped by the same fake pollster but at least they deleted their tweet claiming that Oz was leading Fetterman.

State Sen. Doug Mastriano, the Republican nominee for governor in Pennsylvania, embraced a phony poll this week. Curious call for a cantankerous candidate who dismisses any media reporting that does not exalt him as “fake news.” https://t.co/vXtqa0TLB2 via @phillyinquirer

— Chris Brennan (@ByChrisBrennan) August 25, 2022