A note from your post that I find interesting.
In the 2008 general there were just over 1.2 million votes. In the 2010 general
with Wicker there were over 1.2 million votes. But both the combined primaries, D&R,
had about 1/2 of that total. Lots of more voters turn out for the general than do the
primary. I’m sure that is true in most states but it’s interesting to see the difference.