Western Wats, the company involved in the anti-Romney push-polling scandal, is basically a sophisticated telephone bank.  Polling firms and other clients contract with Western Wats to ask questions the clients have developed.  As the company describes itself on its web site:

Western Wats is the leading provider of survey research data collection. We empower decision makers to advance their interests with accurate, timely information. We specialize in quantitative research data collection via live telephone interviewer, automated telephony and the web.

The company is a data collection enterprise, not a survey research firm.  It has been around since 1987 - hence the name "Wats."  People my age will recall "Wide Area Telephone Service," or WATS.  In 1987, a WATS line was typical for any company making a large number of long-distance phone calls - like telephone survey companies!  I suspect Western Wats it is located in Utah because there is a lot of cheap labor in that state.  I'll bet that the company employs several hundred college students and others who want part-time work. 

If I am right (and I am very confident that I am) this means, among other things:

1. Those who are focusing on  Western Wats as the culprit, or even as an important source of information about the push-polling scandal, are probably barking up the wrong tree.
2. The location of the firm in Utah is irrelevant.  It's there because of the availability of well-educated, low-wage labor in that state. 
3. With no. 2 in mind, even the presence of Mormons on the Western Wats payroll is likely irrelevant.  The company's located in Utah.  What else can we expect?
4. Similarly, that some Western Wats employees have donated to Romney, as David Freddoso notes here; or that people with the company are allegedly connected to Romney (see related debunking here), is also irrelevant and unsurprising, for the same reasons.
5. The real focus of any investigation should be, and will be, asking who is Western Wats' client?

We will probably find out sooner or later.  One thing I'll bet the farm on:  The client has no connection to Romney.  My money (but not my farm) is on either (a) a Huckabee-friendly 527 organization or (b) a Democrat-left 527. 

Would Huckabee do something so stupid? I don't think so, but there those among his supporters who definitely would.

Why do I suspect the Democrats?  Because there are many on the left would like to roll a hand grenade into the Republican primaries, as this well-known Democrat hit man, Garry South, already tried to do here.  (We have commented in some depth on South.  If you don't think this is push poll is the kind of thing he, or others of his ilk, would do, read this.)

Final thought:  Western Wats is furiously denying that it does push-polling. Using that term according to its technical meaning, they're probably right.  But the effect of the polling they did is much the same as a real push poll.  I wonder if the company regrets having taken on the anti-Romney client?  I doubt it; they're probably happy to have the publicity.

This is going to be interesting to watch.

UPDATE:  mymanmitt offers further facts about Western Wats.

Technorati Tags: push polling,  Mitt Romney, anti-Mormon, bigotry, Western Wats, Huckabee, Garry South, Democrat, Democrat-left, 527 organization

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