Tens of thousands of Rep voters refused to vote for Corbett

[JPZenger]

http://articles.mcall.com/2014-05-21/news/mc-pa-corbett-cawley-20140521_1_corbett-lieutenant-governor-jim-cawley

Throughout the state, tens of thousands of Republican voters went to the polls and refused to vote to re-elect Corbett, even though he was unopposed.

Thousands made the effort to write-in an opponent, after the Corbettites used a technicality to knock an opponent off the primary ballot. In Centre County alone, over 1,000 Repubs made the effort to write-in an opponent for Corbett.

In most counties, thousands of Republicans showed up to vote for the Republican congressional candidate or State Senator, but refused to vote for Corbett.

Excerpt:

"Lt. Gov. Cawley got 26,850 more votes statewide than Corbett. Corbett got fewer votes than Cawley in nearly all 67 counties, and Cawley got nearly 8 percent more votes in Corbett's home county of Allegheny.

In the Lehigh Valley, Congressman Charlie Dent, unopposed in the 15th District, got 7,403 votes in Lehigh County compared to Cawley's 6,692 and Corbett's 6,525.

The biggest disparity happened in Bucks County, where Corbett had 1,702 fewer votes than Cawley's 18,551, and 2,782 fewer than the 19,631 that went to U.S. Rep. Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick, R-8th District."
----
Even though Tom Wolf had 3 strong opponents, he still had over 100,000 more votes than Corbett statewide. Only 13% of registered Republicans bothered to show up for the primary, which was much lower than the number for Dems.

[PRETZEL]

1. I think this tells me two things,

the first being the "duh" that Corbett is unpopular even within his own party,

the second is more telling and possibly more important, that is that Republicans may not come out this November.

We know the Dems are going to be out in full force.

We could be looking at the possibility of a landslide victory for Tom Wolfe.

[JPZenger]

2. Meanwhile, Wolf won all 67 counties, many by 20% to 40% margins

http://www.yorkdispatch.com/breaking/ci_25813747/corbett-crafting-response-yorker-tom-wolfs-win

good new article at the link about Corbett's difficulty in beating Wolf, who is now "battle tested".

[PRETZEL]

3. Nice article

first time I've read something from her.

[malthaussen]

4. I don't like to count my chickens...

... while they're still a gleam in the rooster's eyes. Mr Corbett was unopposed, so it would not be unreasonable to think that Republican voters just didn't care to vote in a meaningless primary. When November rolls around, they will be faced with the same kind of decision that Dems in many areas have to make: vote for what they consider the lesser of two evils. And after all, isn't voting these days more about voting against the one you don't want, rather than having someone for whom you want to vote?

-- Mal

[PRETZEL]

6. Normally I'd agree totally with this,

but I think this cycle is different. Looking at Corbett's reaction the same sex marriage, Corbett is trying to re-invent himself for the election. I think that was a big part of the under votes in the primary. The low turnout is definately a result of him being unopposed, but when you don't get your own party to be unanimous in support, that's an issue. He's making a conscious decision to try to garner the independant and undecided vote at the expense of his base. Not sure that is going to work.

[ebbie15644]

7. Not only this but the fact that he

tried to privatize the state lottery is what really hurt him. My dad is a neocon and was furious! He has not forgotten this or the fact that Corbett raised the gas prices the highest amount ever. My dad finally understood via Corbett that lowering taxes does not mean lowering them for him but for the rich people. Not a happy camper.

[PRETZEL]

8. Haven't forgotten those other issues

especially the lottery one.

All of us in PA know of his laundry list of screw ups.

[gopiscrap]

5. It would be great to get that asshat out of office

[ChangeUp106]

9. 4 years from now

If Wolf doesn't make rainbows appear everyday, people will be flocking to vote for the Republican candidate. Some people will never learn how bad these guys are.