Which of the following is most likely to happen when an electoral candidate, to gain popularity, claims that all the polls show that he or she is ahead in the race?
a. All the other candidates will form a partnership with this candidate to increase the voter turnout.
b. Journalists are likely to participate in rallies to raise a voice against such false declarations.
c. The candidate will be banned from contesting the elections.
d. The turnover at the voting booths will increase.
e. People who want to support the winner will back this candidate despite their true feelings.

As long as the leading candidate belongs to the same party or has the same ideology, the average voter will consider voting for him or her instead of another candidate, even if the other candidate fits his political worldview better.

This is a pragmatic stance that many voters have, and happens in every election.

For example, if a conservative voter has the following options for choosing the President:

A conservative candidate who is polling a very low 2%
A moderate candidate who is polling a very high 50%
A non-conservative candidate who is polling a very high 48%

He will likely vote for the moderate candidate instead of the conservative candidate because the moderate candidate is the only one who can defeat the non-conservative candidate.