Turnout records fall even in GOP-friendly states

[Xipe Totec]

Source: Associated Press

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Even in reliably red states where Barack Obama has little chance of winning on Tuesday, unprecedented numbers of registrations and early votes have been tallied, and elections officials are predicting a record turnout in places where neither candidate even bothered to campaign.

An aggressive and well-financed get-out-the-vote campaign helped Obama's campaign mobilize unprecedented numbers of African-American and new voters who could help decide the presidential election by swinging states like North Carolina and Virginia to the Democrat.

But even in states like Alabama, Utah, Nebraska and Oklahoma, Republican strongholds where John McCain could post double-digit wins, Obama's candidacy helped boost registration numbers, particularly in urban areas. Republicans countered by mobilizing their own base, a process aided by McCain's vice presidential pick, Sarah Palin, who's popular among conservatives.

(snip)

But even as Obama managed to inspire Democrats in decidedly red states, Republicans had a secret weapon of their own in rallying conservative voters.

McCain's selection of Palin was critical to building enthusiasm among the party's traditional base, said Merle Black, a political scientist at Emory University in Atlanta.

"She is giving a voice to a lot of conservative voters — particularly evangelicals — in a way McCain never could do on his own," he said. "She's a heroine in the religious community."



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081104/ap_on_el_ge/red_sta...

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Well, she's heroin to the religious community, that much I agree with.

[Sherman A1]

1. And, I think the future of the GOP will be more of folks like her

as moderates are swept away either by the election or disgust with the party (much as Colin Powel stated in his MTP interview).

[Joe Chi Minh]

12. What future? Rag, Tag and Bobtail.

[Suji to Seoul]

2. High turnout favors Democrats traditionally.

[Alcibiades]

3. The problem for the GOP

They have alienated and attacked almost everyone in America. There simply are not enough straight white men without college degrees and Christian fundamentalists for them left to register.

[Kahuna]

4. Let's hope. I fear the hidden redneck vote more than voter fraud.

That is the only thing that concerns me.

[Champion Jack]

13. Hardcore rednecks don't vote, they run their mouths off

[VWolf]

21. True that. n/t

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

17. The religious nutjob women also vote "R"

Palin is a plus is places like FL, less in OH and is a negative in purple states.

[Eurobabe]

5. those freaks mainline that palin shit

heroin, ah the irony.

[Delphinus]

6. I know!

I laughed aloud at that one too!

[billyoc]

7. Cold turkey time, fundies.

Enjoy the sweats.

[Xipe Totec]

8. LOL!

[Duppers]

10. ...

thanks to wildbilln864

[halobeam]

16. it's a holiday, I'll take a shot of that.... and hell.... a round for the house too!

[mdavies013]

9. Yes Palin has been great at mobilizing religious conservatives that would have stayed home this year

AND SHE ALIENATED THE INDEPENDENT AND "REGAN" DEMOCRATS. Please, Please, Please keep Palin as the face of conservatism.

[ixion]

11. "vice presidential pick, Sarah Palin, who's popular among..."

not conservatives, but whacko fundie xian morans, actually.

[Joe Chi Minh]

14. And I don't think even they would be daft enough to think they had a chance

of swinging it.

[NYC Liberal]

15. LOL, the headline got me thinking turnout is falling!

Awesome to see that that's not the case though. Turnout always helps us!

[Pithy]

18. I live in a red state

and very few people I talk to care for Sarah Palin. It's restored my faith in humanity somewhat.

[Peace Patriot]

19. The Associated Pukes will have to hire some actual journalists who don't

just copy and paste "talking points" from the White House.

Oh, my, this is going to be fun!

[Zephyr_Wind]

20. Here in Red South Carolina ...

Turn out is usually low. Until today, I have always been able to drive up and park at the polling place, walk in and vote with virtually no waiting.

Today I got there at 5:45 and was the 19th person in line. By 7am the line had easily quintupled. This time I had a hard time leaving rather than coming.

I'm pretty sure my precinct at least, will turn Blue.

ZW

[VaYallaDawg]

22. I gotta agree with the DUers above - we need the GOP to keep Sarah as their leader!!!

[defendandprotect]

23. My husband waited an hour to vote - 9 to 10 this am -- usually 15 mins ....

Says it was "jammed" --

I voted by absentee weeks ago --

Central NJ suburb ---