Brother Maurer has an interesting point. He posits a class of people who have no opinion -- who arguably lack the capacity independently to form any opinion -- on the subject, but who simply flock to the perceived plurality of the poll. You might call this Class P, as the common term to describe this class is "politician." (They are also sometimes known as "soul discounters," since they will sell their own for a very low price.)
Obviously, there is only one way to address a Class P person: with poll numbers. Otherwise, they are immune to logical arguments, intellectual embarassment, or anything else. This class doesn't really fit on my sliding scale, since a Class P will change his position just as often and as quickly as the polls appear to change.
I can certify that, at least until after his first election as Attorney General, Tom Reilly was not in Class P. In fact, one of the reservations that some of his advisors had when he announced for Attorney General was that he was insufficiently a politician. Whether time in grade has turned him into a politician is something I do not know.
(Should anyone care, Tom Reilly was a superb District Attorney, a man in the tradition of Gary Byrne, John Droney or Frank Hogan. Decisions were made on the basis of the law and the facts, with no favoritism or prejudice for or against anyone. He played no games, and his people knew that playing games would not be tolerated in his office. Now, I recognize that this is for naught if, in fact, he has since become an anti-gun politician, but it is a fact nonetheless.)
I should add: I read the material to which you directed me, Len, and it was quite informative. I'm surprised that no one ever took this material to Tom Finneran when he was Speaker, or that if they did, that nothing came of it.