One million new voters for last 7 primaries
Democrats have a lot to be happy about. The Washington Post reported yesterday, in an excellent read that there have been one million new Democratic voters registered for the last seven primaries, and that Democrats are registering in record numbers. The piece involved interviews with several different types of voters.
North Carolina and Indiana, which will hold their presidential primaries on May 6, are reporting a swell of new Democrats that triples the surge in registrations before the 2004 primary.
The contest between Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama has engaged enough new voters to change the political makeup of the country, experts say. The next several months — and the general election in November — will reveal the extent of the shift. Is it a temporary increase in interest resulting from a close election between historic candidates? Or is it a seismic swing in party realignment that foretells the end of the red-blue stalemate?
Depending on your point of view about the protracted contest between Senator Clinton and Senator Obama, your answer to the red-blue stalemate question might differ. Listening to Howard Dean discuss his wishes for a united party after June and before the convention, one gets the feeling that he thinks the competition is fine—up to a point.
I think the record number of Democratic voter registrations show that the primary contest between Clinton and Obama is motivating people to register and that is really half the battle. Things are much different now than during the last two elections and Republican numbers are suffering as a result. Surely, third time’s the charm. It is inconceivable to me that supporters of the Democratic candidate who ultimately bows out will not support the nominated Democrat come November. There’s just too much at stake. One million newly registered Democrats want the White House back.
This is a nice factual counterpart to the MSM whining about how this is killing the Democratic party and Obama must have Hillary as a running mate or all is lost.
Why, thank you. It does seem to be a minority opinion though, especially if you listen to Meet The Press and This Week types.