Record turnouts for early voting lift Obama campaign's hopes in Florida
Source: Tampa Bay Times
The Obama campaign seems quite happy after record turnouts were reported in counties across Florida today, the first day of early voting.
The Times' Adam Smith reported on Twitter, "More than 20k pple voted eary today so far in Hillsborough Co...In 08 biggest single day (11/1/08) was 18,736.
The Miami Herald's Marc Caputo tweeted, "Miami-Dade early voting so heavy that by 3 pm 14,745 people voted -- more than ENTIRE first day of 08 EV (12,000). 12-hour total: 22,625."
Gary Fineout of the Associated Press, "Leon County - a Democratic stronghold in Fla - had a record turnout for early voting with 5447 votes cast on day 1."
-snip-
Read more: http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/the-buzz-florida-politics/content/record-turnouts-early-voting-lift-obama-campaigns-hopes-florida
ffr
(22,674 posts)We're all pitching in for a brighter America!!!
goclark
(30,404 posts)skeewee08
(1,983 posts)BainsBane
(53,086 posts)and that is the best thing about it, IMO. Long lines, polling place with only a couple of booths open, and challenges to voters can all be circumvented by voting early. I suppose the Obama campaign knows this, but I don't see it discussed in the media.
renate
(13,776 posts)Nate Silver has the likelihood of Romney's winning Florida at 63.6%. Why isn't that the likelihood of Obama's winning?
I know that Florida's population isn't 100% elderly, but how can people who've benefited so much from Medicare be okay with giving vouchers to their kids and grandkids? What am I missing? I'd have thought that people with first-hand experience of aging with dignity thanks to the government would have been first in line to defend it for others.
quakerboy
(13,921 posts)I can believe it. Drove through Florida about 2 weeks back. Starting in coastal Georgia, down the eastern coast then back up the gulf coast headed toward Alabama. Saw hundreds of Romney signs out all down the east, through the keys, and up the west. Saw maybe 6 Obama signs over the entire state until we hit Tallahassee.
Florida, at least in terms of political signage, has been, by far, the most depressing state of the 27 we have driven through so far.
Colorado and Wisconsin were far more cheery. Wisconsin didn't seem to have hardly any Romney signs up anywhere. Colorado had far more Obama than Romney, even in relatively rural areas
Old and In the Way
(37,540 posts)at all levels - local, state, national. Other strategies being voter suppression, voter intimidation, et al.
The institutional arbiters of justice - police/courts/lawyers/legislators don't seem to consider this a high priority. Oh well.
I think we need to use other methods of showing solidarity, that's not steal-able by Republican operatives. I'd suggest a national registry of the Democratic vote. Sign an affidavit on your choice and see if that correlates with the announced results from Republican owned voting machines.
retread
(3,764 posts)saying, "Keep the government out of my medicare."
SleeplessinSoCal
(9,156 posts)It sounded more like propaganda to cover for any shenanigans going on down there. And there's a ton of shenanigans.
UndahCovah
(125 posts)Outside of the cities, resorts, well-known suburbs...Its hardcore redneck in Florida. Seriously, you get out into the countryside, its all little white churches, pickup trucks, and gator hunters. All guns and rum, some of those folks are still steamed about the civil war.
Source: I'm a Longtime Florida resident.
renate
(13,776 posts)Thanks for the insight! That's just not how I've ever pictured Florida....
Welcome to DU!
Yes, on the news and such they only show the nice parts of Florida. Deliverance-town doesn't get much attention, but it exists with, unfortunately. There is also a pretty organized network of homeschooling people, who I imagine tend towards the rethuglican side. although certainly not all of them.
silvershadow
(10,336 posts)demwing
(16,916 posts)that's why Romney could be ahead
Parts of Florida are very cosmopolitan, other parts are hold outs of the antebellum south.
mike dub
(541 posts)I always think Geography in describing it: The panhandle (FloridaBama --south of Alabama and Georgia) over to Jacksonville, and then down the interior/center of the state, is rednecksville.
That said, for me, the interior and small towns of Florida are my favorite part of the state. Nice to drive over to the beaches or to Disney now and then to get some Florida-tourist stuff in.
And welcome to DU!!!, from another newer DU'er!
Left Coast2020
(2,397 posts)I'll be making calls tomorrow (sunday). Not sure for who, but I'm looking for stuff to use if a caller asks questions. I want to be ready. I want to make sure people will get to the polls!!!!!!
If Mr. O is fired up, so am I!!!!!
beac
(9,992 posts)you can do it right from home using your computer!
http://call.barackobama.com/
You will need to sign up for a OFA acct (takes seconds, scroll to the bottom of the page) and then it will set you to call voters in your area (or you can choose another state, if you want.)
cheezmaka
(737 posts)24601
(3,963 posts)and here's the link to the story, http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/national/tampa-bay-timesbay-news-9-poll-i-4-voters-back-romney-51-45/1258459.
"It has been a fundamental rule of Florida politics for decades: Statewide campaigns are won and lost on the I-4 corridor."
"Today that celebrated swing-voter swath stretching from Tampa Bay to Daytona Beach is poised to deliver Florida's 29 electoral votes to Mitt Romney."
"An exclusive Tampa Bay Times/Bay News 9 poll of likely voters along the Interstate 4 corridor finds Romney leading Obama 51 percent to 45 percent, with 4 percent undecided."
TBT isn't a nationwide paper by any means; however their Florida coverage is good.
BTW, I voted yesterday in person at the Hillsborough County Elections Hqs. In & out took only about 30 minutes, and 20 min was waiting in the 1st line. No riots, pushing, shouting, campaigning, etc. Just show your ID, get & mark your ballot, scan it and head home.
Coexist
(24,542 posts)I'm hoping the ground game outshines the polls here. I vote all the time and I've never been polled in my life
Blueprogress
(64 posts)in Broward this morning for Obama/Biden, Nelson, Israel, Lois and the rest of the dems. Sitting here wanting to take my mom and her friends to the polls. I saw a lot of young voters like myself waiting in line this Sunday morning, I am very encouraged by what I have seen so far.
Blueprogress
(64 posts)When I was waiting for my mom there were many people coming straight from church to vote and church buses taking folks to the polls. I met and spoke with a few Obama voters as well and I get the impression that people aren't buying the bs from the media.
AzDar
(14,023 posts)simmonsj811
(345 posts)and the 786 and yes i voted in miami,florida!!
TomCADem
(17,390 posts)Why chance it?