How did early pollsters and politicians attempt to influence and measure public opinion?

The first known poll was a local straw poll conducted by the Harrisburg Pennsylvanian in 1804, showing Andrew Jackson leading John Quincy Adams by 335 votes to 169, in the contest for the United States Presidency. Polls at that time attempted to measure public opinion much the same as they do today. Candidates in the 1800's used slogans and songs and were not much different than they are today, except there were less people and less money.