Democrats brag about voter surge
While quite a few Democrats worry about lasting damage from the protracted nomination battle, the Democratic National Committee prefers to look on the bright side.
In a memo it just issued, the DNC highlights that the historic candidacies of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have attracted nearly 35 million voters so far and added 3.5 million new voters to the registration rolls. The memo, accompanied by a detailed breakdown of figures, also cites reports that 17 of the first 24 primaries drew record turnouts.
"The message this election is clear: voters want change, not the third Bush term they’d get with John McCain," DNC Chairman Howard Dean said in a statement. "Democrats are energized all across the country and we’re competing in all fifty states, proving that if Democrats show up and talk about our values, we will win. As we head towards November, I’m confident we will unite behind our nominee and harness this unprecedented enthusiasm to beat John McCain.”
There's still an open question, however, whether all those voters will unite behind the Democratic nominee. There's a clear demographic divide between the voters supporting Obama -- urban, upscale, young, college-educated, black -- and those backing Clinton -- rural and small-town, blue-collar, older, less educated, white. To win, the nominee, who increasingly looks like Obama, will need to knit together most of those groups.
UPDATE: Blair Latoff, a spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee, issued this response: "Before bragging about turnout in primaries across the country the DNC should have a look at how many Democrat voters consistently said they would vote for John McCain in the general election. John McCain is committed to increasing voter participation across the country and will draw votes from Republicans, independents, and a large number of Democrats."
I don't know if I buy that "clear demographic divide" business. I was at the Indianapolis rally the night before this week's primary, and expected to be one of a small number of white people there. It was a very diverse crowd. Huge, too. 21,000 was the reported number.
I think, that at the end of the day, most of the people supporting the Democratic candidates this year would not be happy with McCain as President.
Speaking as a white, middle-aged woman, I'll gladly vote for the Democratic ticket! And I don't think making Clinton VP is a "dream ticket" at all. Obama needs a team player and should draw from the Clinton side, say Rendell. He should make sure Clinton has a good spot in his administration as one of a team of the best and brightest minds he can find. If she can knuckle down and work hard for the common good, she'd be a great Attny. General, or Heatth Care Tsar. If she continues to tear Obama down and play the race card, she should be sidelined until she grows up.
That "third Bush term under McCain" seems to be catching on as a slogan. McCain is trying to distance himself from Bush, but with every speech he endorses the same programs.
Ed Rendell? That Philly-Harrisburg Democratic machine is slimier than Chicago!
I love the VP banter. How about a white woman? Someone like a Claire McCaskill, MO.
I find the title of this article, "Democrats brag about voter surge," disturbingly and gratuitously negative.
"Bragging about" something is pretty universally considered at least a bit crass. But democracy is a good thing, right? So isn't any surge in the number of people turning out to vote in a democratic process a very positive, healthy thing?
Nor was there anything cited in the article that resembled bragging.
Perhaps the words were just poorly chosen, but in the current political culture, this type of behavior immediately raises suspicions of bias. And putting a negative spin on a neutral matter implies a willingness to deceive.
I suggest an edit.
Sebelius from Kansas is a good Veep pick
Please not fast Eddie Rendell. If you pick a clinton loyalist, please pick WES CLARK!
I agree about Sebelius and no Rendell. He's charming like mayor Daley is charming. Doesn't mean you want him anywhere near the top job in the land.
I also think Clinton as VP is about as likely as a Hades wearing a winter coat. Frankly I don't even think she'd want the job. She is most effective and can make the biggest splash as a senator. As much as her presidential campaign has enraged me, she is a great Democratic senator, I will give her that.
Why am I the only one who thinks Bill Richardson is a slam dunk for VP. He has tons of executive branch (both in NM and national during Clinton) and foreign policy experience, he's scandal-free (at least as far as we know), he can secure the latino vote, and he can put the entire southwest in play.
Wesley Clark sounds good!
This blogger might want to review your comment before posting it.
Send your comments to masspolitics@globe.com
browse this blog
by categoryINside Boston.com