* Yesterday was a light blogging day because I was on the road, speaking to a large group of insurance agents in Rosemont for their annual legislative/political conference.

During the speech, I asked for a show of hands of who reads the Chicago Tribune editorial page.

Just three people raised their hands, out of a hundred or so participants.

I was shocked. These were not liberals, and they’re politically engaged or they wouldn’t have taken time off from work to attend the conference.

Just for fun, I asked how many of the people who read the Trib’s editorials actually believe them. Nobody raised their hands.

Heh.

* As fun as that story is, anecdotes ain’t data. So that brings me to a Capitol Fax/We Ask America poll I commissioned back in early June. One of the questions I asked was “How would you describe the influence the Chicago Tribune’s endorsement of a candidate has on your voting?”

Just 11 percent of subscribers said the paper’s endorsement was “very influential,” while 45 percent said it had no influence and 41 percent it was somewhat influential.

Only 9 percent of non-subscribers said it was “very influential,” 62 percent said it had no influence and 18 percent said it was “somewhat influential.”

How can non-subscribers be influenced by the Trib? Well, they can buy a copy or read it online. They will also likely see such an endorsement in campaign advertising.

There were 1,489 respondents for a margin of error of +/- 2.85 percent. 41 percent of the universe were self-described Tribune subscribers.

* I also asked this question…

Recently, the Chicago Tribune endorsed a state public pension reform bill that would save taxpayers billions of dollars, but which public employee unions claim is unconstitutional and cuts too deeply into their pensions. The unions have proposed an alternative plan that doesn’t save as much as the Tribune-endorsed plan, but which they claim is constitutional. Do you agree, or disagree with the Tribune’s endorsement?

49 percent of subscribers agreed with the Trib’s endorsement, while 27 percent disagreed and 23 percent were uncertain.

Among non-subscribers, just 24 percent agreed with the Trib, while 36 percent disagreed and 39 percent were uncertain.

* So the next time you see the Tribune editorial board assert things like the failure to enact its own favored pension reform plan is “thoroughly disgusting the people of Illinois,” well, take it with a big grain of salt.