Presumptuousness is not a good approach when it comes to covering political campaigns and taking polls.

Much of the mainstream media got the US presidential election wrong, as did the vast majority of polls. The Los Angeles Times/USC poll appeared to be a rare, accurate outlier.

Whether it was wishful thinking, spin or perhaps some voters not wanting to say they were backing the controversial candidacy of now President-elect Donald Trump, the media and pollsters were left to do a lot of soul-searching on Nov 9.