By Illinois Review
A newly released “poll” promoted by Chicago radio station AM 560 The Answer is raising serious questions about credibility, methodology, and conflicts of interest – especially given the station’s deep ties to Republican gubernatorial candidate Ted Dabrowski.
The survey, which claims Dabrowski is dominating the Republican primary field, was conducted among listeners of AM 560 and included just 164 respondents.
The results showed Dabrowski with nearly 69 percent support, followed by Darren Bailey at 13.4 percent, DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick at 12.8 percent, and businessman Rick Heidner at 4.8 percent.
But political professionals say the numbers are meaningless.
Several veteran pollsters told Illinois Review that a sample size of 164 people – especially from a self-selected radio audience – does not meet the basic standards of legitimate polling.
The concerns become even more significant when considering AM 560’s direct financial and political ties to Dabrowski’s campaign.
Two of the station’s most prominent hosts – Dan Proft and Jeanne Ives – are senior consultants to Dabrowski. According to campaign sources, Proft is reportedly being paid $25,000 per month by the Dabrowski campaign.
That relationship creates what many observers say is a glaring conflict of interest.
A media outlet whose hosts are financially tied to a political candidate is now publishing polling that shows that same candidate winning in a landslide.
Critics say the appearance is obvious: the “poll” looks less like journalism and more like campaign messaging.
“This is exactly the kind of thing legitimate pollsters avoid,” one Illinois political consultant told Illinois Review. “If your radio hosts are paid consultants to the candidate, you cannot credibly release polling that makes that candidate look unbeatable.”
The timing of the poll has also raised eyebrows.
With the Republican primary just days away, the results were released as Dabrowski continues to trail badly in every credible public poll of the race. In those surveys, Dabrowski has consistently lagged behind other candidates – often by double-digit margins.
That reality makes the AM 560 poll stand out even more.
Instead of reflecting broader Republican voters across Illinois, critics say the results likely capture the opinions of a narrow segment of highly engaged listeners – many of whom already follow Proft and Ives, the two hosts working directly for Dabrowski.
For that reason, veteran campaign strategists say the poll should not be interpreted as a real snapshot of the Republican primary.
“It’s not a poll,” one political analyst said. “It’s a promotional tool.”
With Election Day approaching, Republican voters will ultimately decide the race – not a 164-person listener survey broadcast by a station whose hosts are on the candidate’s payroll.
