Posted on 11/10/2006 9:51:00 AM PST by SmithL
California's Republican voters stayed home in droves on election day, as preliminary figures show voter turnout falling well below the state average in some of the most reliably GOP parts of the state.
Although the final totals won't be known for weeks, election day turnout in Fresno, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and SanDiego counties, which all have Republican pluralities, ran as much as 10 percentage points below the state's 44 percent average turnout.
"The turnout in Republican counties was low compared to the turnout in counties where Democrats hold the edge,'' said Patrick Dorinson, a spokesman for the state Republican Party. "The conservative Republican base didn't show up.''
Without that anticipated flood of votes from places such as Orange County and the Inland Empire, Tuesday was a long night for most of the statewide Republican candidates not named Arnold Schwarzenegger.
"It came as a surprise,'' admitted Stan Devereaux, a spokesman for Republican state Sen. Tom McClintock, who lost the lieutenant governor's race to Democratic Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi. "We kept looking at the returns through the night and thought we had a chance, but when the returns (from Republican counties) came in, we didn't get the turnout we expected.''
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Playing cudda, shudda, wudda is a terribly depressing game. Nevertheless, it would have been nice if Arnold had lent even a little support to down-ticket candidates.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
Maybe it's because there was nothing at the top of the ticket for the occasional-voters in the conservative counties.
Given the choice between Arnold and his twin Angelides, many, many good voters stayed home.
I believe that may be the underlying problem in the election in other states as well. Go along to get along kind of candidates are not good enough anymore. We are at war. We should want the best people and not those who qualify for GOP support by towing the party line. It is a new day.
There ya go..
Murphy MUST be a republican...
I noticed that Gasoline prices started increasing the day after the Dems won the election .
Certainly is the case here in Washington State were the the property rights Initiative 933 went down in flames by a 58% No Vote. And an Initiative to end the Death Tax failed by an unbelievable 61% No vote. Both were very popular with State Republicans and should of won if the Republicans would of voted.
Initiative Measure No. 933 concerns government regulation of private property.
This measure would require compensation when government regulation damages the use or value of private property, would forbid regulations that prohibit existing legal uses of private property, and would provide exceptions or payments.
may have been true in some states but not in GA.
i agree. my district here in LA is a safe one for the Dems in Congress, Feinstein was going to win for Senate, i have no enthusiasm for Schwarzenegger (except that he isn't Angelides), but i would never dream of not showing up to vote. i wanted McClintock etc to win at least and we had eminent domain, parental notification etc on the referenda. shame on people for not showing up.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
Yes., and an ugly intrusive one too.
They'll build the fence. All 700 miles rising to a glorious height of 1 foot...
I'm not sure, but I think your FReeper name is beyond its expiration date.
Those idiots were hypnotized by that AARP "Don't Vote!" ad.
That could be ballot stuffing by Dems.
Excellent point. That I for one had forgotten about.
You can't expect people to be motivated by just saying - Pelosi, Rangel, Waxman.....
Republicans are not Dems and need more than just fear of your opponents.
It has to be some cause and the cause should be clearly defined, and Repulican't leadership failed on both counts.
It was the same here in Kansas City. Let alone the fact, we had the ACORN scandal.
You know, most people don't pay 1/10th as much attention to politics and the ramifications of voting or not voting as we do here on FR. It's too bad, but that's the way it is. Moreover, people lead such busy lives here in California that it's even worse in our state. THAT is our problem. The best we can do is anticipate that inattention, and give them real issues to attract their attention and real candidates at the very top of the ticket to fire them up.
We need to ELECTRIFY our campaigns as happened with Proposition 13 in 1978 and Proposition 22 in 2000, the Contract With America in 1994, and even the Recall in 2003 where people thought Arnold was what he said he was. That will never happen with moderates, RINOs, or sellouts at the top of our ticket. It's that simple.
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