Comments on: 2008 Voter Turnout: Lots and Lots More Democrats

By: Movement built on Relationship « New Media, New Democracy

Movement built on Relationship « New Media, New Democracy — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 21:39:06 +0000

[...] year of high turn out level of 63 percent of eligible voters , democratic turn out was increased by 5.4 percentage points to 31.6 percent of the eligible vote. Of course Democratic National Commitee developed 50 state strategy of [...]

By: 53_3

53_3 — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 17:50:03 +0000

I think, dancingoutlaw, is that the Republicans truly do deserve the blame. I won't go into it too much because it's been all rehashed.
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Besides the fact that a lot of Republicans flew the coop because of that crackhead down-ticket from McCain, they skillfully antagonized a preveiously maligned voter block, which finally, promptly, and summarily kicked the GOP in the teeth.
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Looking at the list of states and my previous post, it won't be hard to figure out who I'm alluding to...

By: 53_3

53_3 — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 17:43:40 +0000

KT-
I must point out again, and I think that it is rather than being so reluctant to say it, she should acknowledge that it is indeed the Black Community that supplied a large impetus in this election.
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Colorado, among that list of states, is the only state (and to a lesser extent, Indiana) among them, and that is due to it's small size population wise.
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EVERY state mentioned has a large Black constituancy and KT needs to acknowledge the importance of their contribution.
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These data are so blindingly obvious that giving ones' due is definately called for here.

By: sgwhiteinfla

sgwhiteinfla — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 13:21:36 +0000

dancingoutlaw
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I think there were more Republicans who DIDN'T vote because of Palin than there were those that did vote because of her. The numbers don't lie. If you go and read Gans' report he specifically points out that many moderates likely did not turn out to vote because Sarah Palin repulsed them. I would venture to say there are more modoerate Republicans than there are face painters. It is what it is.

By: dancingoutlaw

dancingoutlaw — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 13:06:30 +0000

KT is right. The financial collapse had more to do with McCain's demise than Palin. Palin did make a difference among some swing voters (as in turned them off), but she also energized a part of the base that simply was not going to vote (trust me, I know a lot of them). Personally, I think McCain's reaction to the crisis was a gamble he had to go with. It came off as reactionary and political, but what was he to do? The republicans were going to be blamed no matter what because it was/is a republican administration. He had to do something in an effort to separate himself from the republican noose. What he did was ham-fisted and it didn't work, but I credit him for trying to change the game. Had he done nothing, he was still going to take the heat and people were going to turn away from him because, for all the maverick schtick, there still is an "R" after his name. On the first page of this thread, someone, I think it is "Paul, no not that one" nailed it -- ground game is the key -- Obama had it from the start of the primaries. He ran a 21st century campaign, to be sure, but in the end, politics comes down to the same basics that have been in place for decades/centuries -- get out the vote with a good ground game. It is why W was elected in 2004 and it is why Obama beat the Clinton machine and won the general.

By: sgwhiteinfla

sgwhiteinfla — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 13:02:27 +0000

KT
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re Jindall
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one word
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EXORCISM

By: Karen Tumulty

Karen Tumulty — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 12:54:18 +0000

KT here--

P-NNTO (I've got to sign off soon)--I don't think the guy who ran in the Republican primary would have been a good running mate at all. But that other Mitt Romney, the one sgwhite wrote about, would have been a big help.

By: Paul-no not that one

Paul-no not that one — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 12:41:53 +0000

I have a serious question that will sound like snark-where does all this Willard Romney would have been a big help as Veep come from?
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He was a disaster during the primaries. Quayle-like when answering questions during debates and really only gave one well received speech, his farewell at some Con-Convention where he threw red meat at the true believers.
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His supporters, K-Lo etc. always were in live with the idea of what Willard was but he just was poor as a candidate.

By: Karen Tumulty

Karen Tumulty — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 12:36:17 +0000

KT here--

PD: I do think, in retrospect, Romney would have been a better running mate, because he is at least comfortable with the language of economics in a way that McCain never was. But I think the best pick--again, in hindsight--would have been Bobby Jindall. He got good reviews for the way he handled the hurricane (competence!), there would have been the excitement of some ethnic diversity on the ticket, and the base loves him.

By: Paul Dirks

Paul Dirks — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 12:30:21 +0000

@KT,
I think you're trying to separate out events that are related. Don't you think that having a running mate who was knowlegable and noted for competence might have changed people's perceptions of how the bailout negotiations were handled? Particularly, the scenario described above where VP candidate Romney directly participated in negotiations could have been a game changer.