Primary Voting - A Great Opportunity to Influence Politics

[MineralMan]

My wife and I just got back from our polling place in St. Paul, MN. It's Primary Election Day here in Minnesota. Unlike in the general election, turnout is sparse for primary elections. I was voter #10, at 11AM. While that seems disappointing, it also represents a real opportunity. Most of the races are givens in my precinct. Our congressional representative, Betty McCollum has a sure lock on the Democratic side, as does our Senate candidate, Amy Klobuchar. Both will win handily in the primary, and in the general election. However, we also had a race for the State Senate Candidate for our district.

At the DFL Senate District Convention this year, none of the three candidates won the endorsement of the delegates there. That was surprising, in a way, since the incumbent usually gets the endorsement. Not this year, and the incumbent withdrew from running after the convention. There are still three candidates, with the new one being endorsed by the incumbent who withdrew. Both the incumbent and this new candidate are essentially Blue Dog Democrats, and shouldn't win. That third candidate stepped in at the deadline. Both of the other two candidates are solid progressives. I'm hoping for the one I know best to win, and I've talked to all three.

So, a low turnout means that every vote in this primary election has added importance in that particular race.

That's what primaries are about...deciding who will be on the ballot in November, and that's why they're so important. If you have a primary coming up, don't skip it. Go and vote. While major offices may be pretty much decided, there are usually offices for which the candidate will be selected from a group on primary day. It's a great opportunity to have your vote be as meaningful as possible.

GOTV 2012!

[HopeHoops]

1. That's why I'm a registered Republican. It's called "strategic voting".

[MineralMan]

2. In Minnesota, we have open primaries.

All of the parties are on the ballot, but you have to select one party. I could vote as a Republican in primaries, but I do not. There's always a least one Democratic race that needs attention, and I just can't bring myself to vote for a Republican anyhow.

[Brickbat]

3. I was No. 42 in my rural precinct in the 8th. We usually have pretty good turnout. Plus we have a

contested primary to pick Cravaack's opponent.

[MineralMan]

4. What's your thinking on who will win?

Whoever it is, I want Cravaack gone.

[Brickbat]

5. I think Clark's decision to get nasty surprised some people, and it will hurt her.

It made her stand out in a bad way.

I think Nolan has the best chance of beating Cravaack. Clark as the candidate would make it difficult to campaign against Cravaack's New Hampshire connection. I don't think the 8th as a whole is ready for a gay guy from Duluth as its candidate (I hate to say that, but I think it's true). Nolan, IMO, is really the best one to beat Cravaack. And then he could pave the way for Anderson (or whomever) in 2-4 years.

Plus, Nolan gets his seniority back if he's elected. And if there's one thing this district needs, it's seniority.

ETA: I see that I really didn't answer your question. I *hope* Nolan will win, and I *think* he will. I *fear* that I am underestimating Clark's outside money.

[MineralMan]

6. It sounds like Nolan would probably have the

best shot at it, so I hope it's him. Clark's frustration with the process apparently got to her.

[Brickbat]

7. How that woman can show her face in public after losing to Bachmann is a wonder.