I live in a deep-blue area that went heavily for BO in the 2008 election. I remember BO signs everywhere, BO card tables set up with BO literature in grocery store parking lots, BO bumper stickers everywhere -- and now, almost nothing. No bumper stickers, no yard signs.
I don't know if this means apathy or fear on the part of the electorate. Apathy about expressing a preference, fear about expressing a preference?
I know there were more people at the polls for the 2010 midterms than for the June primary (very few then). The paucity of voters in June could be explained: If there were a lot of Dems in the neighborhood, they wouldn't bother showing up if BO was the putative nominee anyhow. But right now I don't know what people are thinking. I don't know if they think inside "it doesn't matter" and won't show up at all.
I DO NOT want to see cars with BO stickers parked within spitting distance of the polling place as I did last time. Someone will have to get out a measuring tape and pace things off like they did last time. I don't know, I hope not. Who will show up at the polls this November in my neighborhood?
“I remember BO signs everywhere, BO card tables set up with BO literature in grocery store parking lots, BO bumper stickers everywhere — and now, almost nothing.”
Same here in Hudson County NJ; lots of Dems, but none of the visible support for Obama that was around four years ago. I think some of these people will be voting Romney; our economy is in terrible shape here, and people are desperate. They are losing their homes and jobs, and can’t afford to “vote the party line” anymore.