Obama's Big Indiana Stronghold Turning Out Heavily

[babylonsister]

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/05/obamas_big_indiana_stronghold.php

Obama's Big Indiana Stronghold Turning Out Heavily
By Eric Kleefeld - May 6, 2008, 2:29PM


Barack Obama has some good news in the early updates coming out of Indiana. The clerk in Marion county (Indianapolis and the surrounding area) says turnout has been more like a general election than a typical primary.

If it were to occur that the Indianapolis area's turnout was disproportionately high compared to the rest of the state, Barack Obama could potentially make up a lot of ground on Hillary Clinton.

And here's some news about the turnout in North Carolina:

• Turnout is also massively high here, with state officials predicting that the Democratic turnout could reach 50% by the end of the day.

• In North Carolina, 85% of unaffiliated voters have been asking for Democratic ballots.

• Any aspiring "Limbaugh Democrats" who are already registered as Republicans in North Carolina will hit a wall today -- state law allows registered independents to vote in any primary, but voters who are pre-registered in one party can't cross over.

• A note of caution from Avi Zenilman: "Also, if and when raw early exit poll numbers leak, readers are advised to ignore them, and if not that, note that the unweighted numbers have tended to overstate Obama's performance."

[MadBadger]

1. MSNBC just reported Lake (NW IN), Marion (Indianapolis), Monroe (Bloomington) have BIG turnout.

All Obama Strongholds

[David__77]

2. I'm not worried.

Obama will do well enough to win the only race that matters at present, which is to achieve a majority at convention time. It would be nice to achieve a consensus as "the winner" now, but in the final analysis he WILL be the nominee.

[babylonsister]

6. I heard it; pins and needles here. nt

[99th_Monkey]

3. But will those who turn out, actually be able to vote?

I've seen some reports of significant numbers being turned away due to not having the voter ID, or having
been purged from the rolls.

Have you heard anything on that?

[babylonsister]

4. Yes. I just heard about a bunch of people in IN who were turned away

because they didn't have photo IDs. Is this the fastest you've EVER seen a reaction to a SC decision? :grr: If that's what's pushing it.

Edit to add: this was an existing law that the SC agreed with; still, some people are not happy:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=108x130501

[democraticinsurgent]

7. the new law is ridiculous

i was unable to vote because i have dual residency in Ohio and therefore an Ohio driver's license. You are allowed to vote with a passport but not another state ID. That is weird.

I did go get a State ID at the BMV but only because I had time to do it, most people won't fool with that. Wasn't easy to get that either, you have to have some pretty heavy stuff to (ss card, passport or birth cert) plus a bank statement from Indiana. I was lucky.

I expect a lot of people will be disenfranchised.

The Supreme Court decision merely upheld this law, it wasn't put into place because of that decision. fyi.

[elocs]

5. I am willing to bet that in Obama strongholds

there will be voting machine troubles and long lines at poll closing time that will not be allowed to cast their votes.

[MarjorieG]

8. We need to get very smart and proactive by Nov

The ID law was in answer to the bogus voter fraud argument the GOP pushed, despite our EAC said bogus, but withheld ruling until law took hold. Shell groups testifying to Congress, but no election fraud witnesses-and machines given a pass.