H oO E 1299 Penrsyhania Avenue, NW f Washington, DC 20004-2802 war hewey.com Richard W. Beckler Partner 1202:383,6673, : F202 383.6610 June 29, 2010 bbecklerr@hawrey.com Via E-Mail Mr, Nate Silver nysilver@gmail.com Re: Cease and Desist Demand Dear Mr. Silver: Tam writing on behalf of Delair D. Ali and Research 2000 (R2K) (“the Company”). It has come to my firm’s attention that you have engaged in a campaign to discredit and damage ROK by posting negative comments regarding Mr. Ali, the Company, and its work products on the “Daily Kos” blog. You state that “this posting is a careful initial report of our findings, not intended to be a full formal analysis, but rather to alert people not to rely on R2K’s results.” You also state that “Daily Kos then terminated the relationship” based on a rating given to R2K by FiveThirtyBight.com on June 6, 2010, Such comments have the effect of damaging the ‘Company's reputation and the Company’s existing and prospective business relationships. At the same time, you failed to acknowledge or recognize the contractual obligations that Daily Kos has with R2K. Pursuant to this letter, we demand that you cease and desist all such activity, negative to Mr. Ali and the Company, In this situation, you and Michael B, Weissman, Jonathan S, Weissman, Nate Silver, ‘Markos Moulitsas and others are acting in concert to destroy Mr. Ali and the Company’s existing and prospective business relationships as exemplified by the following Internet postings: © Nate Silver's Twitter account, FiveThirtyBight, on June 2, 2010 at 8:41 AM: “]t’s a BIG problem that the two most prolific pollsters—Research 2000 and Rasmussen—are both producing work or marginal quality.” © Nate Silver's Twitter account, FiveThirtyEight, on June 6, 2010 at 7:21 PM: -asmussen’s rating has slipped some, but remains above-average. Research 2000 now considerably below average.” © Daily Kos posting, “Polling,” by Kos on June 9, 2010 at 10:33 AM: “Every pollster has hits and misses, and R2K was no different. But in an industry ‘measured in percentages, fact is [R2K] underperformed their peers.” AMSTERDAM. BRUSSELS CHICAGO EASTPALO ALTO HOUSTON IRVINE LONDON {OS ANGELES MADRID MUNICH NEWYORK NORTHERN VIRGINIA PARIS SALT LAKE CITY SAN FRANCISCO TAIPE! WASHINGTON, DCHOWREY. Mr. Nate Silver Tune 29, 2010 Page 2 | ‘These baseless and unfounded comments against Mr. Ali and the Company serve only as a means to discredit his reputation and damage the Company's existing and prospective business relationships. Unless you immediately cease and desist all such activities, and retract all previous publicly transmitted statements, the Company will have no choice but to take the appropriate legal steps to enforce and protect its rights including, without limitation, filing claims for unfair business practices under the laws of the State of Maryland, the District of Columbia, or any other applicable jurisdiction, and for trade libel and interference with the Company's business relationships, The remedies for such causes of action include injunctive relief and substantial monetary damages. Please contact me with any questions regarding this letter and refrain from further contact | with Mr. Ali in any form, electronic or otherwise. Additionally, please immediately acknowledge your receipt of this letter and your intent to comply with the requests as set forth herein. Ican be reached at 202.383.6673. | ‘Thank you for your cooperation in this matter. | Very truly yours, ji : AK: chark Lee Klid),_ Richard W. Beckler