Posted on 01/08/2008 12:11:53 PM PST by jdm
Turnout for the first primary election of the season has gotten so large that some precincts have run out of Democratic ballots. That bodes ill for both Hillary Clinton, who may see a rerun of Iowa's caucuses in a large independent turnout. It could also spell trouble for a Republican:
New Hampshire Deputy Secretary of State Dave Scanlan told ABC News that turnout is "absolutely huge, and towns are starting to get concerned that they don't have enough ballots."
Scanlan voted Tuesday morning, and said the line in his polling location in Concord, the state capital, was "out the door."
Turnout was particularly high in Portsmouth and Keene -- both of which are overwhelingly Democratic, as well as Republican-leaning Hudson -- And some towns were running out of Democratic ballots, with independents favoring that contest over the GOP race.
At this point is heavier than it was four years ago -- a positive sign for Obama and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., both of whom are depending on large numbers of independent voters to back them in their primary races.
It certainly spells trouble for Hillary. She polls better than Barack Obama among the party's base, but Obama shines among independents and younger voters, the latter of whom rarely turn out in large numbers. If the youth vote gets activated as it did in Iowa, it means a big day for Obama and a potentially embarrassing finish for the long-time Democratic frontrunner. It could even threaten her with another third-place finish, as Edwards also polls better among younger voters than Hillary.
Conventional wisdom has McCain benefitting from a big turnout -- but in this open primary, that depends on the behavior of independents. If most of them decide to cast their votes in the Democratic primary, McCain could find himself struggling. He appeals more to independent Granite State voters, who appreciate his maverick tendencies. If he can't get a big enough boost from independents, he may slip out of the lead while Romney collects the Republican votes. It could change the entire dynamic of McCain's rise over the last few weeks -- which may wind up benefiting Obama instead.
The turnout was big, at least in my town. It took me about 45 minutes to vote this morning. It usually takes about 5.
This is therapeutic and emancipating for liberals and left-leaning independents: they don’t like her, and they are trying to rid themselves of the Clinton terror. They are also determined to punish her for the Iraq vote.
The recent polls have shown a double digit lead for Mitt among registered republican voters in NH.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I hope you are right. I’ve seen no such polls.
You are right.
I could imagine that if you vote GOP in the general, you couldn’t vote Dem in the primary... but I can’t imagine what wolfcreek writes could be true.
1. It’s blatantly unconstitutional
2. Who would know? It’s a secret ballot, right?
Now, in Massachusetts, they have separate GOP, Dem and Ind ballots. You are forced to take the ballot of the party you are registered with (even with the union thugs there watching you fill out your vote), but you can vote for whoever you want (if you don’t have reason to be intimidated by the union thugs).
I don’t think New Hampshire Republicans/Independents are voting for Obama to spite Hillary. I’m pretty sure many people think they want Obama as President.
They’re whacky that way here in N.H., in addition to being ill informed. And everybody loves a winner, and right now the walking Hallmark card is looking like a winner.
Republicans are all over the place as far as candidate support.
I tried to vote strategically.
Ron Paul & Huckabee are out of the question for me. Really abhor McCain. Could live with Giuliani, Romney. And Thompson is the best.
However, Romney could possibly beat out McCain in New Hampshire. Giuliani and Fred really haven’t got much chance of being in the top anything here.
So, I’m sending more money to Thompson, and hoping he does better down south. But the Huckster sounds like he making headway in S.C.
Blah .... depressing.
wolfcreek is right.
I called the SOS election board for Texas and I guess I was wrong. The only time you can’t change your party affiliation is in a run-off situation.
Guess what I heard was a myth although, I don’t think it’s right/ethical to vote outside your party affiliation. Seems to me it’s a form of cheating.
Sorry, I thought you were right too. I apologize for saying he was right. Thanks for the info.
Not a problem. Maybe they should look into that rule?
Myth? Or voter-suppressing lie, created by the Democratic Party in a state where most registered voters are Democrats, but most votes are for Republicans.
Are you refering to Texas?
Yes.
I think we're about on the same pew. Pass me a hymnal, will ya?
Yep. They sure should. I remember in John Conally’s book he was talking about races in Tx. That’s when Conally was a Dem. They were told to(himself included)go down to South Texas and buy votes and put the dead on the books.
Muchos gracias Jorge Bush
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