A Democratic Rush to the Polls?

[windansea]

Democratic Party officials have been crowing about heavy voter turnout in the first nine primaries and caucuses. In a theme picked up widely by the news media, party types have said the voting totals indicate that Democratic voters are fired up, which bodes well for the eventual nominee's chances against President Bush in the general election.

Is that really so? One answer: Maybe.

snip

A record number of people went to the polls in Iowa, for example, but in percentage terms, the turnout of eligible voters was about the same as in 1988. In Oklahoma, twice as many people voted in the primary last week compared with 2000 -- but that was only 12 percent of the eligible population, which represents a 30 percent decline from 1992 and 1988. Just 9.8 percent of eligible voters showed up in Missouri, again about a third fewer than in 1988. Arizona and Delaware turned out a dismal 6 percent of eligibles, neither close to a record.

The only solid evidence of a truly energized Democratic base was in New Hampshire, where both the absolute number of voters and the percentage of eligible voters set records on Jan. 27.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A22208-2004Feb7.html

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. So the SCLM is startign to dmininish what is going on

I am not surprised, what is going on is historic, and they simply do not want to face it.

Though the mention of '68 was on purpose folks... Chicago National Convention... they are right it will happen again, OUTSIDE of the Republican Convention

[seventhson]

2. People don't really like Kerry

and they are giving up on the others more or less.

The hotter Kerry is in the media, the lower the turnouts will be.

Nobody cares if Kerry gets elected (not like they care about Dean or Kucinich or even Edwards). They just want to beat Bush. But if we do not have a candidate who can inspire the people...

Geroge Bush may very well win in November.

[girl gone mad]

3. Agreed. n/t

[MaineDem]

4. Turnout in Maine looks fantastic!

The towns I've seen results for had unprecedented attendance.

[KC21304]

5. People seem to really like Kerry.

They have come to the conclusion that the others may not be able to beat Bush, more or less.

The more the people learn about Kerry, the greater the turnouts will be.

Kerry really seems to be exciting the people and they want to see him be elected. Of course they really want to beat Bush.

Kerry has an excellent chance to beat Bush in November.

[bushwakker]

6. If Kerry can't beat him - no one can

[seventhson]

7. Bulldooky