Useless Numbers

Why do reporters insist on using statistics like this?

If the midterm elections were held today, 53 percent of those likely to go to the polls would vote for the Democratic candidate in their Congressional district versus just 39 percent who would vote for the Republican.

Why report the results of a national poll for state races? Why would you even ask the question when you can ask, "Are you voting for candidate X or candidate Y?"

Hats off to the 8 percent of people who didn't answer.