[Smogger]

I will leave it to others to compare to 2008.

[TEXOKIE]

Do we believe these numbers?

[goldstategop]

This is devastating to Obama. Stick a fork in him, he’s done! The GOP has the early voting advantage and all the reports in the last few weeks were way off!

As are the polls.

[dforest]

Since this is from AP, I am not interested.

[Gasshog]

BS too early for data to be released yet

[Lou Budvis]

NC and IA look troubling.

[trussell]

What about independants? The Republicans haven’t got off work yet!

[WILLIALAL]

What is the story in North Carolina? Someone from there know? Is there a large Rep turn out on election day to catch up?

[traditional1]

Those are absolutely phony numbers, and they don't have that kind of data available yet.

How can EVERY one have that kind of Dem participation, out-voting Republicans in 100% of the cases (if I'm reading their numbers correctly?)

[Pete]

I don't believe it. My understanding is that it is illegal to release Ohio early voting results until the polls close so it is unlikely AP has them.

Another thing to keep in mind, AP dropped 19 states from the exit polling this cycle: 15 red states and 4 blue. Another reason exit polls will be bogus.

[MEG33]

Just Do It!
Show Up And VOTE.
Vote Romney/Ryan

[ShasheMac]

Just read this line on Facebook:

Vote like you’re stranded in Benghazi and Obama is your lifeline.

Love it!

[Thane_Banquo]

These numbers look wrong.

[TMA62]

FYI.....

These mid-day exit polls have proven never to be accurate and favor the left.

Remember that.

[Wiser now]

Wait a minute!!!!Why are the number of Democrat voters given in numbers, “1.6 million Democrats”, then the Republican figures given in percentages, “43%”? Huh? Percentage of what? There is no way to extrapolate valid information from the way these figures are being reported, yet everyone posting so far sees “trends”.
Am I missing something?

[LibLieSlayer]

Those Ohio votes are NOT what the official Secretary of State of Ohio released... dims waaaaaay down so I do not trust the Forida numbers either.

LLS

[concerned about politics]

The polls right now are irrelevant. Democrats can vote any time of day they want. Republicans usually have to wait until they get out of work - especially if there's going to be a line.

The big Republican numbers always come in after work hours. Remember the Bush/kerry early numbers? kerry was way ahead until those who work could get out and vote.

[smith5460]

http://elections.gmu.edu/early_vote_2008.html

2008 Numbers:

Florida had 4.4 million early votes (45.6% D, 37.3% R; +8.3% D).

North Carolina has 2.6 million votes (51.4% D, 30.2% R; +21.2% D). 2012 early voting looks similar to 2004 figures precentage wise.

Iowa had 482,000 votes (46.9% D, 28.9% R; +18% D).

Colorado had 1.7 million votes (37.7% D, 35.9% R; +1.8% D)

[Usagi_yo]

For those like me who couldn’t make heads or tails of the OP stat table, it’s misformatted at least in my browser. go to the original article and it will make sense.

[dangus]

Florida. 2008 D+9. 2012 D+3.
Ohio. Does not have partisan registration, so I have a WTF issue with these numbers.
North Carolina: Was D+11. Now D+9. Mildly troubling.
Iowa: Was D+18. Now D+11. Just about good enough, if the same sort of shift happens among in-person voting.
Colorado: Was D+2. Now R+2.

[Tijeras_Slim]

From the article:

The Associated Press is reporting estimated tallies of those who voted by mailing in their early voting ballot or who voted at special polling places set up to accommodate early voters. The tallies represent how many Democrats and how many Republicans voted early in various states. Please note these are not exact, official figures and do not reflect specific, individual votes, as any voter can vote for any candidate regardless of affiliation.

In other words AP speculation and spin.