One poll prediction already a reality

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, January 19, 2011

By David Vitrano

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – The results of last week’s online poll question are slightly skewed.

Last week, L’Observateur asked visitors to its website to vote for the choice they believed was most likely to happen in 2011.

When the question was written, the return of the ferry had hit yet another snag and no definite date could be put on its return. Shortly after that, however, it was announced that the problems had been resolved and the ferry would be returning on Monday, Jan. 17.

As one of the answers concerned the return of the ferry, it is unsurprising that in later voting that choice surged to the front of the pack, garnering over one-third of the vote.

Of the other answers, locals had the most faith that the economy would recover in 2011, as that choice earned nearly one-quarter of the vote.

It seems not everyone has lost faith in the Saints either as nearly two out of every 10 voters thought the team would win the NFC South this year.

Other local teams did not fare quite as well. Only a combined 15 percent of voters thought that LSU would win the College World Series or that a River Parishes football team would win a state championship.

Lastly, just over 10 percent thought the state would once again be spared a major storm in 2011.

A full breakdown of results follows:

• 6 percent of respondents chose “LSU will win the College World Series.”

• 9 percent of respondents chose “At least one team from the River Parishes will return to the Super Dome and win a state football championship.”

• 23 percent of respondents chose “The economy will finally start to pick up.”

• 11 percent of respondents chose “Louisiana will once again be spared a hit from a major hurricane.”

• 34 percent of respondents chose “The Reserve-Edgard ferry will finally start shuttling passengers and vehicles across the Mississippi River.”

• 17 percent of respondents chose “The Saints will win the NFC South.”