Election & Political
While working on his Ph.D. at the University of Illinois in Urbana, Richard conducted his first survey for a candidate for Congress in 1974. The success of this venture (and his client) spawned the political polling phase of RDR that lasted 18 years. RDR provided pre-election polling and advising for Congressional and Illinois State Senate candidates.
Beginning in 1974, Richard provided pre-election surveys and election night analysis for ABC TV in Chicago. That work continues to this day.
While working for ABC TV, RDR conducted and delivered the first 3-way exit poll for the Chicago Democratic Mayoral race in 1983 (Daley, Byrne, Washington). It was accurate within .3% of the outcome and delivered 8 hours before anyone else. In the 1980s RDR conducted highly accurate exit polls in Massachusetts, Michigan, and New Hampshire.
