Yes, that is what I mean. You’re right, I hadn’t thought about the “room to grow” angle. There are a lot fewer Rs in absolute numbers in those heavy D counties so.
I realized my concern doesn’t really address why Democrats in more Democratic countries are outperforming Ds in other Republican counties, as well. Not sure why that might be.
Are they? I’ll have to look. Or are Rs just not on super steroids there?
In the comments was a little but interesting piece of info. In 2008, the absentee ballot request form to send back was postage-paid - maybe due to cost-cutting state measures. This year you have to put your own stamp on it.
Would a prepaid envelope make some difference in the number of ballot requests returned? Perhaps if a voter isn’t enthusiastic, they might not bother sending the form in or they procrastinate in getting a stamp. If the voter really wants to vote, they wouldn’t mind paying to send it in.
I dunno. Maybe it’s a stretch but there is a reason why many charitable organizations send you prepaid addressed envelopes with their appeals.
The great news is for far according to the data tabulated by LS the difference in absentee ballots in 2008 was 150,000 ballot advantage for democrats over Republicans, in 2012 so far the advantage for democrats is only 25,000 ballots for democrats over Republicans... This is a huge loss for the democrats and if the same ratio of democrat decline occurs all the way till Elections Day then Obama is going to lose Ohio... The math cannot be disputed if this pattern of democrat loss continue until Elections Day...