Off-Topic: Reflections on Turnout

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	Name:	MartiniMan -
	Subject:	Reflections on Turnout
	Date:	11/7/2008 10:00:46 AM

It appears that all the hoopla about record turnout in this year's election was wrong. While the votes are still being tallied it looks like the overall turnout was around 126 million versus 122 million in 2004. When you look at that as a percentage of the overall population it was almost identical. It also appears that the number of self-identified Republicans voting remained about the same as 2004 or was maybe a little higher. So the Republican base apparently did not stay home. What has changed was the number of voters that identified themselves as Republicans. Some percentage switched to independent or Democrat.

What is also apparent is that for all the talk of white voters not going for Obama because of the color of his skin or his name that this issue did not influence their decision. However, the black vote which has typically been as much as 10% in the Republican column went overwhelmingly for Obama. Apparently they were influenced by the color of his skin and the historic opportunity or they simply didn't vote.

A lot of the criticism of Palin driving away Independents and moderates is probably true. However, I maintain that for every one of these she may have driven away, a more moderate VP choice like Hutchison, Whitman, Guiliani, Ridge or Lieberman) I believe he would have lost 2 from the base. I have no hard data to back that up but I can tell you my faith and my conscience would prevent me from casting a vote for any ticket that is not pro life.

On a final note from travels in Memphis hanging out with Elvis, I would love to compare the cover of USA Today for the three days after the 2004 election to this year's. I kick it aside every morning as I am faced with pictures of Obama that make him look like the messiah. Would like to compare it to the days following Bush's reelection in 2004 but I don't really need to look do I?