the lesson notes section is nice but i wish there were a highlight tool. i want to treat this like a textbook and be able to return to my highlights at a later time. #feedback

I agree with your way of thinking in the real world - like - this is completely valid and I agree. However, the LSAT test makers probably would agree with this too, which is why it is a perfect and reasonable trap for us. The reason that A is the better option over E, is because it requires less assumptions to be made.

Looking at the Question Stem, "Almost half" (let's call them Group A) polls as thinking the Mayor is a "loser". Almost half? We can guess anywhere between 45-49%. Whereas the rest of the group, polls at 52% (meaning over half) SEEM to still like what he's done (Group B).

Looking at Option A, "ALMOST" here is used bc the answer doesn't want to be too assertive and aggressive stating "All of Group A has always been in complete agreement..." that's too overbearing and, from the info we have been given, there is nothing to back that up. So, saying almost all of Group A has never liked the Mayor (before the scandal and after the scandal), that would mean that the polling, virtually, looks the exact same on the first poll to this poll.

Well, ok, that would explain why his approval rating hasn't really gone up or down (as stated in the last sentence of the question stem). Not my most ideal answer, but not a bad one at all.

Looking at E, we would have to assume 1. that he is defending himself 2. that he even has staff under him 3. that his defense was good enough for people to actually believe 4. the people KNOW he is guilty (the question stem never reveals to us if he actually is or not, it only tells us that some people think he is).

In conclusion, E forces us to assume that there has been a crime committed in need of explanation or defense. We don't have enough ground under us (from the stem) to even get there, unfortunately. I hope this helps. I took my time with this question because I had to weed out my own personal biases and beliefs as well.

This is better than the original explanation!