Posted on 03/07/2016 11:35:45 AM PST by LibFreeUSA
Officials attribute switch to Trump phenomenon
YOUNGSTOWN
About 1,000 Democrats in Mahoning County so far have switched their party affiliation to Republican with election officials saying several did it to vote for Donald Trump, the GOP presidential front-runner.
“We are seeing something this election cycle I’ve never seen before to this degree,” said board Chairman Mark Munroe, who’s also the county Republican chairman. “Every day I take phone calls or get voice messages from people saying they’ve been Democrats all their life and they’ve had it. They want to vote for Donald Trump. I’m surprised at the volume of inquiries we’re getting. It’s remarkable.”
A number of Democrats taking a Republican ballot when voting early at the board “say they want to vote for Trump,” said Joyce Kale-Pesta, Mahoning County Board of Elections director.
About 7,000 Mahoning County voters have cast early votes. Early voting started Feb. 17 and ends March 14, the day before the primary.
Of those 7,000, about 14 percent were Democrats who voted Republican, Kale-Pesta said. That’s about 1,000 so far.
The percentage of Democrats switching parties will grow even more, said board Vice Chairman David Betras, who also is the county Democratic chairman.
And it doesn’t concern Betras.
“I knew Donald Trump’s message would resonate with blue-collar Democrats,” he said. “But once they learn about his record – besides him being anti-trade – they will change their minds in the general election. I assure you that come the general election, voters will vote our way once we tell the story of Donald Trump. The more chaos created in the Republican primary, the better Democrats will do in the general election.”
Betras, who backs Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton, said it “would make me happy for Donald Trump to beat John Kasich,” the Ohio governor running for president as a Republican.
About 5 percent of Republicans – 350 voters – cast Democrat ballots of those who’ve voted so far, said Chris Rakocy, the board’s information technology manager. - See more at: http://www.vindy.com/news/2016/mar/03/mahoning-co-sees-k-voters-defect-to-gop/#sthash.awoxn89p.dpuf
Wife’s family are up north and all have said they are wanting Trump, even though they are Dems.
They are all blue collar and do not want to see Clinton.
Wife’s brother registered for the first time and voted for the first time too.
I know some non party voters who too want Trump, but of course the GIOP does not want this big tent as these people are blue collar.
This is the BIG TENT we have all wanted in our party!! Trump is growing the party like crazy!! Wonderful!! Not since Ronald Reagan have we seen this party growth!!
995 of them will go back home for the general election
Good to hear.
Now it’s trying to withstand that frantic multi-million dollar NEGATIVE campaign against TRUMP by the media and by the ENTIRE POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT (yes including “conservative” Ted).
It’s going to be a very TOUGH but determined ride to the finish. It’s either going to be TRUMP or the GOP DIES! A huge number of the new TRUMP people will not come to the polls in November if HE is NOT on the ballot.
If you believe that, then you believe the RAT ‘spin’.
Will these Dems who switch to the GOP be there for Trump in the general, or is this Operation Chaos?
You are correct. This is significant.
> “But once they learn about his record – besides him being anti-trade – they will change their minds in the general election.”
Anti-Trade? How about ‘Smarter Trade’? Haven’t blue collar Americans seen enough of the effects of current trade? Entire communities have been devastated by free trade deals and this democrat thinks blue collars are going to ignore that.
Let’s imagine what’s inside this democrat’s mind for a moment. He has longtime blue collar rank and file democrats leaving in droves from his party and he’s got to answer for it. His immediate response is that those leaving are not fully informed about Donald Trump and they will be back.
Back for Hillary? Who is he fooling? I think this guy is looking for an excuse to save his job.
Democratic Party hasn’t done OH manufacturing workers any favors. Best guess is Trump will have a pretty easy time of it vs hillary in November.
To Mexico?.......................
If Trump does not get the nomination then the GOP loses. Millions have come out for him who would not have and the GOP wants to throw it all away to spite their face, because it is not the kind of people they want. they want their homosexuals, cross dressing, elitist cocktail party types and to hell with us.
Cruz can see what is going on and yet is helping the establishment to get their brokered convention.
The AD’s here are always on attacking Trump.
Just this morning there were 3 of them in a row. First one by Club for growth, second my conservatives for a future or what ever it was called and then the third was one which I forget by a group based in Iowa who supported Romney.
Everyone of them were full of lies or mistruths.
For instance it showed Trump saying he loves the less educated and then they slammed him for it. Course they only edited that part of the speech and not when he said white collar, blue collar, higly educated etc.
They will be there , because I know plenty of them.
This sure sounds like the second generation of Reagan Democrats are just getting started.
Cruz has too much Hogwallop blood in him,
the horse eatin’, er, booger eatin’ son of a .....!
This is one county. Operation chaos could only dream of such numbers.
I had a friend who loved Toyotas. A long time ago, he bought a Chevy. But it was actually a Toyota, badged as a Chevy.
“This is the BIG TENT we have all wanted in our party!!”
Yes, and it’s what the GOPe “conservatives” have told us was their goal all along. Now we know that they were never conservatives, they just bull$hitted us into believing that they were so they could get our votes. The GOPe should thank their luckly stars this is the US and not China, because with this kind of a revolt of the proletariat, there would be bullets waiting for them.
Answers: No and Yes
wherever the Democrat cross overs go.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.