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Turnout So High, They're Running Low on Ballots

by BooMan
Tue Jan 8th, 2008 at 01:30:56 PM EST

Here we have it:

ABC News' Karen Travers Reports: New Hampshire Deputy Secretary of State Dave Scanlan told ABC News that turnout among primary voters today is "absolutely huge" -- and there are concerns about running out of ballots in towns like Portsmouth, Keene, Hudson and Pelham.
"Turnout is absolutely huge and towns are starting to get concerned that they may not have enough ballots," Scanlan said. "We are working on those issues. Everything else seems to be going smoothly."
Scanlan said that the Secretary of State's office is sending additional ballots to Portsmouth and Keene (traditionally Democratic strongholds), Hudson (Republican leaning with significant numbers of independents) and Pelham (large number of independents).
According to Scanlan, the ballot strain seems to be on Democratic ballots, which suggests that the undeclared voters are breaking for the Democratic primary. New Hampshire Secretary of State William Gardner predicted that 90,000 undeclared voters would vote in the Democratic primary compared to 60,000 voting in the Republican primary.

This is exactly what I expected. I'm telling all you skeptics, this is a new day. Realignment is coming.

Turnout So High, They're Running Low on Ballots | 29 comments (29 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: Turnout So High, They're Running Low on Ballot (4.00 / 2)

Somewhere, a rethuglican political strategist is trying to create a plan for "ballot rationing" in November.

by pygalgia (pygalgia@gmail.com) on Tue Jan 8th, 2008 at 02:50:33 PM EST

Re: Turnout So High, They're Running Low (none / 1)

Well, it is exactly the pattern that what Obama wanted, and Clinton prayed would not happen. This probably puts the nail in her coffin if a big NY Senator can't win in NH. She'll linger on a while I suppose, but a big Obama win just about kills her hopes.

A conservative is a man with two perfectly good legs who, however, has never learned how to walk forward. Franklin D. Roosevelt

by Steven D on Tue Jan 8th, 2008 at 01:37:48 PM EST

Re: Turnout So High, They're Running Low (none / 0)

IS this true.

Clinton Surrogates Gone Wild In New Hampshire or is the Huffpost blogger misinterpreting the NYT?

Today, in Dover, Francine Torge, a former John Edwards supporter, said this while introducing Mrs. Clinton: "Some people compare one of the other candidates to John F. Kennedy. But he was assassinated. And Lyndon Baines Johnson was the one who actually" passed the civil rights legislation.
The comment, an apparent reference to Senator Barack Obama, is particularly striking given documented fears among blacks that Mr. Obama will be assassinated if elected.

This comes a day after the Clinton quote that Martin Luther King was all talk and hope. And never mind her having refined or apologies, - not gone down well among afro-Americans. Clinton is counting on the 02/5 primaries.

February is black history month.

Well, "You can't vote for war and disown the results"

by idredit on Tue Jan 8th, 2008 at 01:55:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Storytelling (none / 0)

HufPo Blogger: 'Haliburton' or 'Blackwater' Will Assassinate Obama
In an effort to equate Obama's rather empty rhetoric and lack of a substantive record to what Palmero imagines his lefty pals will imagine is "greatness," Palmero tries to work in some equating of the junior Senator from Illinois with Robert F. Kennedy's campaign for the Dem nomination for president in 1968.

"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."

by Oui on Tue Jan 8th, 2008 at 03:04:19 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Turnout So High, They're Running Low on Ballot (none / 0)

I never thought I'd see the day that BooMan himself would start spitting sunshine and farting rainbows.

I'm not quite sure what to make of it.

Tengo un sueño.

by ejmw (ewitham (at) umich (dot) edu) on Tue Jan 8th, 2008 at 01:40:39 PM EST

Re: (4.00 / 4)

I've been waiting my whole life to see numbers like this. Forget Obama, we have massive engagement, youth engagement, independents breaking 3-2 for Democrats. This is exactly what was supposed to be impossible in conservative America.

by BooMan on Tue Jan 8th, 2008 at 01:44:07 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: (4.00 / 3)

Maybe people have finally realized where "conservative" values have taken this country.

A conservative is a man with two perfectly good legs who, however, has never learned how to walk forward. Franklin D. Roosevelt

by Steven D on Tue Jan 8th, 2008 at 01:46:18 PM EST
[ Parent ]

We hope! n/t: (none / 0)

Grandma Jo

by glitterscale (glitteryscale@yahoo.com) on Tue Jan 8th, 2008 at 04:09:39 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I'm waiting... (none / 1)

Until I see numbers.

How many of the people looking for Dem ballots are dems, how many are indies, and how many are R's trying to muddy the water?

You want trust, get a dog.

We are all captives of the pictures in our heads - our belief that the world which we have experienced is the world that really exists. - W. Lippman

by stormkite on Tue Jan 8th, 2008 at 05:02:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: (4.00 / 3)

Just think what would be possible without a corporate owned press, voter disenfranchisement, vote fraud, lobbyists, etc.

It would almost be like a real democracy.

Tengo un sueño.

by ejmw (ewitham (at) umich (dot) edu) on Tue Jan 8th, 2008 at 01:52:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Short of Cash! (none / 1)

Sit and enjoy. We have a new party! Mike Henry's memo (Clinton campaign strategy memo that they ignored) nailed it.

The rush is on for dollars. Clinton cash starved - out of funds- thought to be skipping Nevada and SC - according to this Huffpost:

Clinton Allies May Dump Millions Into Anti-Obama Group

Manchester, N.H. -- A panicked and cash-short Clinton campaign is seriously considering giving up on the Nevada caucuses and on the South Carolina primary in order to regroup and to save resources for the massive 19-state mega-primary on February 5.
At the same time, some top independent expenditure groups supporting Clinton have been exploring the creation of an anti-Obama "527 committee" that would take unlimited contributions from a few of Clinton's super-rich backers and from a handful of unions to finance television ads and direct mail designed to tarnish the Illinois Senator's image.
The Clinton campaign has raised over $100 million, but has "only" $15 to $20 million left. It faces donor reluctance to give more in the face of the Iowa defeat and the prospect of a second loss in New Hampshire today. Even worse, the campaign fears defections among those fundraisers who want to be with a winner and who might be easily persuaded to support Barack Obama.
While the amount of money Clinton has would seem to be more than enough by past standards, the cost of competing in the February 5 states -- including New York, California, Georgia, New Jersey, Minnesota, Colorado, Tennessee, Massachusetts and Arizona - is unprecedented in the history of American primaries. She will face, in turn, an extremely well-funded Obama campaign,[.]

Historic on many fronts.

Well, "You can't vote for war and disown the results"

by idredit on Tue Jan 8th, 2008 at 02:06:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Short of Cash! (none / 1)

ClintonCo again tries to prove my sig line true...swift-boating her own party...

"Little people are very stuff-intensive."

by CabinGirl on Tue Jan 8th, 2008 at 02:49:30 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Short of Cash! (none / 0)

Billary and crew are just as selfish as they have always been. They didn't want college students to caucus, when it was perfectly legal and acceptable to do. They seemed to complain about high turnout and bringing in new voters generally.

I'm sure Obama would be perfectly fine if he was content to be an employee--pretty much how the Kerry campaign used Dean. Luckily for us, the good doctor was at least able to wrest control from the McAwful lackeys and helm the DNC.

So far, what Obama and Edwards have done is GREAT for the party. (While I may not fully be convinced of Edwards' rhetoric, he is at least not competing from the right.) What did Billary do? Hillary was off being coronated and Bill was sucking up to Poppy Bush. And they just shit all over these wonderful turn of events at every opportunity.

I am quickly getting to the point where I can't stand the sight of either one of them.

Can't hear ya, Peach!

by AP on Tue Jan 8th, 2008 at 03:18:03 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Short of Cash! (none / 0)

they've always been this way.

by BooMan on Tue Jan 8th, 2008 at 03:19:30 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Short of Cash! (none / 0)

Yeah, I know.

After all this time, you'd think they'd seek wisdom and judgment. But we had our proof that they were incapable of that back in 2002.

I am really disgusted with them. I am very pro-Obama, but I never, never thought I'd feel /contempt/toward them. But their comments from the last few days have made who they are unmistakable.

Can't hear ya, Peach!

by AP on Tue Jan 8th, 2008 at 03:27:21 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Turnout So High, They're Running Low on Ballot (4.00 / 2)

he probably fell asleep to the soothing sounds of Mama Kicks again.

Latino Político | "We are condemned to kill time, thus we die bit by bit." - Octavio Paz

by Man Eegee (man.eegee at gmail dot com) on Tue Jan 8th, 2008 at 01:45:23 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Turnout So High, They're Running Low on Ballot (none / 1)

still laughing, eh?

by BooMan on Tue Jan 8th, 2008 at 01:48:21 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Turnout So High, They're Running Low on Ballot (none / 1)

of course I am. that, and trying to picture you using a neti pot. I'd go for extremely hot chiles to unclog the sinuses.

Latino Político | "We are condemned to kill time, thus we die bit by bit." - Octavio Paz

by Man Eegee (man.eegee at gmail dot com) on Tue Jan 8th, 2008 at 01:52:35 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Turnout So High, They're Running Low on Ballot (none / 1)

Now THAT is hilarious. I missed it the first time around.

Tengo un sueño.

by ejmw (ewitham (at) umich (dot) edu) on Tue Jan 8th, 2008 at 01:53:18 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I almost choked on a fork full of salad. (none / 1)

But I'd have to say that I agree. I don't know about realignment, but look at this turnout so far. If it holds, then it is definitely something to be fired up about!

Can't hear ya, Peach!

by AP on Tue Jan 8th, 2008 at 02:17:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I almost choked on a fork full of salad. (4.00 / 2)

I agree completely, AP.

In fact, I said this over a year ago in my diary Why I Like Obama:

This is where Obama comes in. In Obama, I see someone who may not be the strongest leader from a managerial or policy standpoint. But damn, the man gets people excited. People I've never heard talk politics were speaking to me in awed tones after his speech at the national convention. He is not politics as usual to us. He offers a real hope for change.
If the people lead, the leaders will follow. In Obama, I see someone who could facilitate the restoration of the leadership to the public.

Tengo un sueño.

by ejmw (ewitham (at) umich (dot) edu) on Tue Jan 8th, 2008 at 02:24:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Turnout So High, They're Running Low on Ballot (none / 1)

bagnewsnotes is running this sweet series with some photos from the campaign trail. Check out the pictures from the gym both pre and during Obama in New Hampshire.

linky

Tengo un sueño.

by ejmw (ewitham (at) umich (dot) edu) on Tue Jan 8th, 2008 at 01:57:31 PM EST

I'm still a cynic (none / 0)

I wonder how much of this are right-leaning independents and Republicans choosing to vote for the Democrat to get a nominee they want to oppose.

~~~THIS SPACE FOR RENT~~~

by fabooj (fabooj [at} mail [dot} com) on Tue Jan 8th, 2008 at 02:01:51 PM EST

Re: I'm still a cynic (none / 0)

I gotta say BooMan, I'm hoping you're right.

But I'm hoping in one hand and weighing the performance of the Dems in 2007 in the other, and that second hand is heavy enough to sink through the floor.

The way I figure it, there's several million people out there thinking the following:

"My candidate didn't win in Iowa. Word has it they're pretty much done. The people the media picked to come out on top a couple months ago? They finished well back. That leaves this political and foreign policy neophyte on top, but you know what? He's one of us. And my party has been screwing over people like us for years now. It's our turn now.

So you know what? If my guy can't finish first, then I'll take the Iowa winner in a heartbeat because this year he's got a real chance to win. You know why? Because the guy on the other side who is the frontrunner right now? There's no way in hell I'm voting for him. It's looking like those crazy bastards on the other side are actually going to put one of them in the race for November. And there's no way America is going to vote for one of them for President. No way.

Look, I don't 100% like the guy on our side. He's got problems and I don't agree with him on a number of issues. But he's still one of us. And I'll hold my nose and vote for this new guy just to keep that son of a bitch on their side out."

Now the question is BooMan, which candidate are they talking about voting for as one of us? And more importantly, which candidate are they going to do anything they can to keep out of the White House?

I figure the numbers on both sides, come November? They're going to be equal.

More at Zandar vs. The Stupid.

by Zandar1 on Tue Jan 8th, 2008 at 03:03:03 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I posted this comment in (none / 1)

BooMan's earlier realignment diary. It's not that I am unhappy over the current state of the political environment. It's just that -- based on history and experience -- I am not at all convinced that either the Dems or Obama will deliver on the progressive expectations they are raising in us, and if they don't deliver, then I don't believe that any lasting, historical realignment is in the cards

Your proposition that it will be a long way back for the Repugs leaves out one of the most important elements that might affect the situation: namely, the extraordinary ability of the Democrats to flock up a good situation handed to them.
The people of this country voted for CHANGE in 2006, and they voted for Dems in huge numbers to effect that change. At the very least, people wanted OPPOSITION to Bush, if the Dems didn't yet have the numbers to make change, at least oppose, and yes, when necessary, obstruct the criminality of the Bush administration.
And what did we get?
Abso-flockin-lutely nothing. We got a massive dose of the same old same-old, made even worse by the fact that we EXPECTED something different.
Yeah, people will probably vote for the Dems again in large numbers in 2008. Although they don't deserve it, they ARE the lesser-of-two-evils.
Sure, there may be some marginal change -- a decent social program implemented here, a less-reactionary judge confirmed there.
But the fundamental erosion of our constitutional rights will not be turned back. The war in Iraq will continue on unabated and unchecked. The myth of the GWOT will continue to be the driving force of American foreign policy. Corporations will continue to buy legislators and legislation. The utterly bizarre fantasyland that is our nation's capitol will continue to be as unconnected to the reality of the rest of the country as it ever was.
And by about 2010, people are going to start saying, hey, I voted for Dems to get change, and I got the same thing. Might as well vote for Repugs.
After Goldwater, a lot of people thought the Repugs were dead. Dems flocked up, Repugs were back in four years. After Nixon, a lot of people thought the Repugs were dead. Dems flocked up, Repugs were back in four years.
I wouldn't be carvin' no Republican gravestones if I were you.

Soldiers are required to do their jobs when politicians fail to do theirs

by leftvet on Tue Jan 8th, 2008 at 02:22:19 PM EST

Re: I posted this comment in (none / 1)

It's not the expectations. Given the fiscal situation, not much will be possible for progressives if it costs real money. At best we will get most of the tax cuts rolled back, but that roll-back is just enough to pay off the bonds held by the Social Security Administration. Hopefully, some of the defense budget could be pared, but this is going to be a hard slog and will be fought tooth and nail by the political establishment. War crime trials wouldn't cost much, but I'm not betting my last pair of shoes on them. Fraud investigations are a better bet, and might recover cash more than they cost.

What's appealing about Obama and Edwards is that they are both good orators, who can speak directly to people. That gift will be needed to get the country through a very rough patch. The great thing about the high turn-out is that it suggests a willingness among the public to listen. More than that, and best of all, a willingness to listen directly to politicians, and not through the mediation of a hopelessly corrupt press.

Knut

by Knut Wicksell (b_didnn@hotmail.ca) on Tue Jan 8th, 2008 at 04:11:58 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Turnout So High (none / 1)

Well, I believed.

It's like you are Santa.:)

A little bonus will be what Obama's draw of independents does to McCain's number - causing him to lose would be ... too much to hope for?

by maryb2004 on Tue Jan 8th, 2008 at 02:31:20 PM EST

Re: Turnout So High (none / 1)

yeah, I think it probably is too much to hope for. My guess is that turnout is high for Republicans, too. It's a nice day and the country just seems engaged this go round.

by BooMan on Tue Jan 8th, 2008 at 02:32:29 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Turnout So High (none / 0)

oh well. I guess I'll just have to live with realignment. :)

by maryb2004 on Tue Jan 8th, 2008 at 02:38:25 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Turnout So High, They're Running Low on Ballots | 29 comments (29 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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