AZ voter drives pay off

[NMDemDist2]

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/0821voter-recruitUSETHISONE.html

Voter drives in the Valley are paying off
Bush-Kerry race helps add 183,000 to rolls

Elvia Díaz
The Arizona Republic
Aug. 21, 2004 12:00 AM


The battle for the White House has produced 183,000 new voters in Maricopa County since January, enough to potentially affect the outcome of the race here, experts say.

The numbers are driven by local and national groups that have targeted the state's 1.6 million eligible, but unregistered, residents in an attempt to push the swing state to the Republican or the Democrat.
snip..

Of the 183,492 new voters in Maricopa County since January, 60,041 are Republicans; 52,028 are Democrats; 1,655 are Libertarian; and 69,768 are independents or didn't designate a political party, according to County Election Director Karen Osborne. In 2000, about 1.5 million Arizonans were among the 105.4 million nationwide who voted in the presidential election, according to the Federal Election Commission Web site.

Victoria Tinajero, state director for America Votes in Arizona, said the idea of joining forces with various groups is to encourage as many people to register and cast a ballot.

"There are so many groups trying to communicate with voters that could be overwhelming for residents," she said of the need to work together. snip

more at link..

If the independents break 2 to 1 (as is normal) that gives Kerry an additional 96,755 votes opposed to 84,720 for Bush(I gave Bush all the libertarians)

Bush won in 2000 51% to Gore's 44.7% of 1.5 million votes

This article also doesn't mention additional voters in liberal leaning areas such as Tucson and Flagstaff.

Food for thought...

[Arugula Latte]

1. Damn

More 'pukes than Democrats added.

[NMDemDist2]

2. that's no worries, look at the "independent" numbers eom

[KharmaTrain]

4. Non-Partisan Voter Drives...

To avoid crossing campaign finance law messes, many groups do drives but don't have the new voter declare a party. The P-Diddy voting drive and I'll bet the ACT ones will do the same.

Yes, the large number of independents is VERY encouraging...especially if they break 75-25 in favor of Kerry. That would be VERY big.

[Damn Hippie]

3. I recently switched from Green to Dem in AZ

I also have some strong Libertarian leanings so I peruse Libertarian message boards from time to time and believe-you-me a lot of them really hate the Dubya so don't put all of them in that column. The very idea of a premptive attack on another country violates their core principle of the use of military power. They also despise Ashcroft, the growth of federal spending and, of course, the erosion of civil liberties.

Google "Libertarians for Kerry" and you'll see what I mean.

They are going to hold their noses and vote for Kerry just like the Greens will.

Mark my words.

[faithnotgreed]

5. hey you damn hippie - welcome to du and thanks for sharing the

inside information from arizona...

im a green myself

[NMDemDist2]

7. Phone banking in AZ, my anecdotal results:

90 calls
8 voters reached
7 for Kerry
1 NOT for kerry (but declined to state her preference)

I was calling for TurnAZBlue and list was "indy/Green/Libertarian


:bounce:

[Zomby Woof]

6. We're turning AZ BLUE!

:bounce:

[NMDemDist2]

8. hey ZM did you know you can phone bank from home now?

the turnAZblue has their website set up to just log on and dial away

too cool huh?

[Zomby Woof]

10. though I admire the work involved

And appreciate YOUR and HUNDREDS of other's efforts, I LOATHE phoning people. More power to you, but I am honest enough to admit the following...

I have a very strong "leave me the fuck alone" streak (surprised?), and since I CANNOT stand phone solicitation, I feel hypocritical when phoning others at home and invading their space. Even for this great cause. (I did it for a congressional campaign back in WA, so I came by that feeling honestly)

So I feel we have DIFFERENT WAYS to help the cause, and mine is letter-writing, where my better gifts lie - also seems less invasive and pushy. I will leave the phoning and door-to-door crap for others of that inclination. Like I said, more power to them and you, but I will help the effort in other ways. Of course, I am thankful not everyone has my inclinations on this matter. I am me, and I am honest though.

And one more thing, the AZ Blue people were in OVERKILL at the Kerry rally a few weeks ago. They came around with their clipboards literally 50 times every few minutes (blondeatlast can vouch for this). Did it NOT occur to them that with the same people standing in line for 2 HOURS, we had PLENTY of chances? Sometimes that kind of overeagerness can hurt the cause. I was nice to them, for they are on our side, but really, they annoyed the piss out of me.

[NMDemDist2]

11. LOL i can imagine

and I phone bank cuz it's something I can do that fits with my schedule.

I am a fairly good writer, wonder why I never feel like doing that?

but I love interacting with folks and walking the neighborhoods and seeing what kind of response I get. I can see how it takes a certain personality style to handle it. Hubby would be ready to punch someone about the third time the door got slammed in his face, where I just laugh, mark my sheet and hit the next house

we each have our own strengths and weaknesses and are wise to realize it and stick to your strengths. however, it's a good FYI for you to have in case you can pass the word to someone else yes?

[Zomby Woof]

12. no problem

I can easily share your info with people less misanthropically inclined than myself. ;-)

[NMDemDist2]

13. that's the spirit friend

:smoke:

[Damn Hippie]

9. You got that right Mr. Woof

When I moved to Arizona 6 years ago my employer paid relocation firm took me on a tour of the Phoenix area and briefed me on the different suburban areas. When we got to the west valley they talked about the explosive growth and so on. They made a point of saying that the demographics of this area were shifting from Republican to Democratic and independent. They seemed disappointed, almost angry about this as this is Goldwater territory. A few weeks later, after we moved to the west side, that old bastard died and I found out what they ment by that. The mourning for him went on for weeks. He was all the local news could talk about. Shit, even Regan's death didn't seem to move people here like that.

Looking back, I should have moved to Tempe but I have found many good people in the west too. Things are changing here and I would not be at all suprised if AZ went blue.

The 3rd Presidential Debate is to be held here in October this might have an effect on overall turn out which would be very good for this state and our country.

[NMDemDist2]

14. how did you happen to find our little haven Hippie? eom