'Enthusiasm gap' confronts Democrats heading into this fall's midterm elections

[pstokely]

Source: KC Star

Two years ago today, the Democratic Party gathered in Denver — energetic and confident of victory — to nominate Barack Obama for president.

What a difference a deep recession, two wars, a yearlong argument over health care, a tea party movement, a massive deficit, a minor scandal or two, a muddled message and partisan gridlock can make.

That 2008 enthusiasm, many Democrats acknowledge, has turned to anger and disillusionment in 2010, threatening midterm chances for scores of their candidates.




Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2010/08/24/2173082/enthusiasm-gap-confronts-democrats.html#ixzz0xbJlIsQI

[LAGC]

1. I think this cartoon sums up the situation.

[misterkhalil]

2. Typical

Gallup has been showcasing this for a while. It's not just this election, but in general we (Democrats) tend to be less enthusiastic in general about voting. By the time election day comes, Republicans get a 5-point advantage because they get out and vote. Democrats, on the other hand, we usually have work to do and other things that hold us back.

Watching Glenn Beck all day, the Repukes pretty much orgasm when election time comes around: the one day when they feel good about themselves. If Republicans worked like the working class (composed mainly of Democrats), then we'd see about equal enthusiasm.

[Mimosa]

3. It's totally about the economy.

That cartoon does sum up the situation.

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

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[Jennicut]

6. Wow.

Will you still blame the young and African-Americans if the older adults and whites don't come out? Why are you signaling out black people and younger people? I find your posts increasingly offensive, sorry.

[smalll]

7. Well, we know that Dems face a turn-out issue this year, if only because the rightwing is so ANGRY -

the Teabaggers will, unfortunately, come out to vote. I'm not trying to be offensive, but it is true that Obama, credit to him, boosted African-American and youth turnout in 2008. However, both of those groups vote in lower percentages generally than the average voter. I think it is ineviable that, withouth Obama on the ticket in 2010, both of those groups' turnouts will be relatively abysmal.

[Dawson Leery]

5. Democrats do not see the long term vision

which the right has. Democrats don't get everything right a way, they go home.
Conservatives hacked away at the system for 40+ years to get most of what they want.