With Tampa’s mayoral race heating up, a new controversy has emerged over a political survey that some believe is being used to manipulate public perception in favor of candidate Bill Carlson.

Multiple residents have reported receiving phone calls or digital surveys that appear to artificially promote Carlson under the guise of neutral polling. The survey, while seemingly objective on the surface, has raised red flags due to its leading questions and framing techniques that subtly cast Carlson in a more favorable light than his opponents.

What is push polling?
Political experts suggest this may be an example of “push polling”, a tactic used to sway public opinion rather than measure it. Unlike legitimate surveys, push polls disguise themselves as research while delivering targeted messages meant to influence rather than inform.

“These surveys don’t want your opinion—they want to give you one,” said a local political analyst. “It’s marketing disguised as polling.”

Carlson campaign responds
As criticism mounted, a spokesperson for Bill Carlson’s campaign denied any involvement with misleading polling tactics, stating:

“Our campaign has not commissioned any push polls and does not condone manipulative survey practices. We are committed to a transparent and fair election.”

Despite this, the incident has already fueled debate among voters and candidates alike, some calling for stricter regulations and greater transparency in campaign communications.

Voter trust at stake
For many Tampa residents, the issue underscores a larger concern: the erosion of trust in political messaging. With early voting approaching, there’s growing pressure on all candidates to ensure ethical campaigning and respect for voter intelligence.

“It’s hard enough to decide who to vote for,” said one voter. “When you start seeing biased questions disguised as facts, it just feels dishonest.”

What’s next?
Local watchdog groups are urging residents to report any questionable polling activity and encouraging the media to scrutinize the origins of such surveys. As Tampa prepares for a critical election, public awareness and informed decision-making are more important than ever.