Disparity between CT vote totals: Governor and Senator

[mnhtnbb]

Take a look at the numbers on courant.com

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/files/elections/2006/by_state/CT_Page_0808.html?SITE=CTHARELN&SECTION=POLITICS

With the same number of precincts reporting, there is a difference
of approximately 16,000 more votes cast in the Dem primary for Senator than in the Dem primary for Governor.

Does anyone else think that suggests Republicans switching parties to vote for Lieberman?

It certainly does seem strange. Those 16,000 votes represent 5.8% of total!

[Xeric]

1. I found that odd too

Why would people only vote for the senate race and not the gov race?

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

2. No, probably just more "juice" in that race

no one I know in CT has big issues with Jodi Rahl.

[BrklynLiberal]

3. I think that sends a very strong message...especially to the Democrats

GET OFF YOUR ASSES AND STAND UP FOR SOMETHING!!!!!

[napi21]

4. Oh, I'm sure they did, but it didn't work, huh? n/t

[BrklynLiberal]

8. I think some Republicans may have switched to vote for Lamont!!!

[Atman]

5. You need to live here to understand...no one cares about the gov primary

The two candidates were virtually indistinguishable. Same positions on almost everything. To make matters worse, the "winner" stands absolutely no chance of beating Republican governor Jodi Rell in November. My wife voted for Ned...but didn't even notice the two democratic gubernatorial candidates. I don't think this is too unusual at all. This entire primary was about Ned and Joe.

[LynzM]

10. I agree, Atman

Very similar positions, and people weren't nearly as fired up about that race.

Entirely possible that people only voted in the senatorial election... I talked to a few like that today.

[dflprincess]

6. It is a large number

but it could indicate that a lot of people turned out just to vote in the senate race. I gather the turnout was pretty high for a primary.

Does CT have party registration? Not every state is like Minnesota with it's open primaries.

[Atman]

9. Closed primary. Historic turnout.

The numbers just aren't that strange. I just found out today that there was a REPUBLICAN primary, too. First I heard about it until I got to the polling station. Again, no one was paying any attention to anything but Ned and Joe.

[insane_cratic_gal]

7. Remember the other day

the 20K people switched from Independent to D to vote in this Primary?


I'm guessing 20k of those were listeners of Anne Coulter and Hannity who ENDORSED LowJoe

[mnhtnbb]

11. If that's true, then this is a bigger win for Ned than the numbers

suggest.

[never_get_over_it]

13. This was a huge win for Ned regardless

Seven or Eight months ago nobody new who he was and he just beat an 18 year incumbent - HUGE VICTORY!

[Atman]

12. Nope. Again, about CT's system...

Republicans had to switch party affiliations way back in May. Back when Joe wasn't in trouble, and virtually no one thought Ned could win. So most Republicans had no opportunity to switch parties after the polls broke for Ned. OTOH, Indis switching to dems, and new democratic registrations, could be done up until noon yesterday. I don't think republicans had much to do with this victory for Ned.

BTW, we had 29,000 new democratic registrations prior to this primary. 10,000 of them were Indi -> Dem. Not bad.

[insane_cratic_gal]

14. 20K independents switched to Dem

Most independents I know... vote republican.

(my Dad and mother are both registered Independents, 99 percent of the time they vote republican, except in 2000.
Mom hates Bush and voted Gore, and in 2004 Kerry. I don't think she'll vote for another republican again though.

Just stating it's quite possible these 20k voters as they were Non affiliated voters (ie independents) could of been the bump for Low-Joe

[Iniquitous Bunny]

15. Republicans would have had to switch in May to vote in the primaries here.

nt

[Raydawg1234]

16. Even if they switch parties, they won't be able to vote right away.

republicans who switch dem have to "earn party priveledges" if I'm right.

[Bucky]

17. Did the governor race get the same kind of publicity?

I don't find a 6% difference in voter participation to be that big a deal--particularly given the emotions revved up in the Senate race. As a former election official I've seen statewide primary vote differentials of up to 10% from race to race.

[Bucky]

18. Votes cast: Senator (280,000); Governor (250,000); Lt Gov'r (210,000)

Looks like a pattern to me. As you go to less well known races, you get fewer votes cast.