How does mid-term turn out compare with presidential election turn-out generally overall and was 2010 different in this aspect?
The mid-term turnout was lower than the presidential election turnout. I think what the results in 2010 in PA shows that there were a lot or once and done (youth) voters for Obama in 2008. By the way, PA is the second oldest state in the union after FL. There are a lot of seniors that vote in every election, even of it is just for township commissioner. I think the vote in 2010 also showed an intensity that hasn't been there before. There was no Tea Party in 2008. There was in 2010. Contrary to what Democrats claim, the Tea Party is not dead, at least not in PA. Republican senatorial candidate, Tom Smith, is a Tea Party guy. He is polling even with incumbent Bob Casey, Jr. The Tea Party folks haven't been protesting, but they are still organized. They are doing the typical conservative thing; quietly voting.