UNPACKING THE GALLUP POLLS. Here's a wonderful deconstruction of why the Gallup polls have become such out-liers in this current political season. Thomas Lang, a 20-something reporter for the indispensible Columbia Journalism Review's "Campaign Desk," gives himself the same test that Gallup gives to the people they reach via telephone to screen for "likely voters." And though he is certain to vote this year, Lang flunks Gallup's test as a "likely voter." And exposes the Gallup's prejudice against first-time (i.e., young) voters.