Presidential Race Revs Up Voter Turnout

Registration, Early Voting At Unprecedented Levels Forecasting Record Numbers At The Polls

(CBS/AP)  Even in reliably Republican states where Barack Obama has little chance of winning the presidential vote on Tuesday, unprecedented numbers of registrations and early votes have been tallied, and elections officials are predicting a record turnout in places where neither candidate even bothered to campaign.

An aggressive and well-financed get-out-the-vote campaign helped Obama's campaign mobilize unprecedented numbers of African-American and new voters who could help decide the presidential election by swinging states like North Carolina and Virginia to the Democrat.

But even in so-called "red" states like Alabama, Utah, Nebraska and Oklahoma, Republican strongholds where McCain could post double-digit wins, Obama's candidacy helped boost registration numbers, particularly in urban areas. Republicans countered by mobilizing their own base, a process aided by John McCain's vice presidential pick, Sarah Palin, who's popular among conservatives.

"It may not shift Alabama from red to blue, or shift Tennessee from red to blue," Ferrel Guillory, an expert in Southern politics at the University of North Carolina, said of the turnout projections. "But it could have an effect over the long term."

And while these states have been comfortably in McCain's column for months, a record turnout could benefit candidates further down the ballot. As in swing states, the consensus among experts is that the trend favors Democrats.

Roughly 9 percent of the electorate still claim to be undecided or likely to change their minds, CBS News director of surveys Kathy Frankovic reports.

These voters, Frankovic notes, are mostly conflicted over the economy.

In Alabama, a state that has gone consistently Republican in presidential elections since picking Ronald Reagan in 1980, Obama's army of volunteers conducted voter registration drives that helped push the state's voter rolls past 3 million for the first time, and they registered blacks at a faster rate than whites.

"Obama realized there was no way to wrestle Alabama away from McCain," but a higher African-American turnout is likely to benefit Democrats running for the state Supreme Court and other offices, said D'Linell Finley, a political scientist at Auburn University Montgomery.

The story is similar in Tennessee, which saw many more early voters than in 2004, especially in Democratic-leaning counties; and in South Carolina, where records fell for both registration and absentee voting.

"There are going to be some tight races that normally were not going to be tight," said South Carolina's Republican Party chairman, Katon Dawson, who has no doubts about a McCain victory there but is worried about down-the-ballot contests.

"I think we have very good prospects to pick up a congressional seat or two," said his Democratic counterpart, Carol Fowler.

In Utah, Kentucky, Louisiana - all solidly Republican states - this election has inspired intense interest.

Nebraska, which has given all five of its electoral votes to Republicans in every election since 1964, fell just 3,000 short of a record for voter registration, but Secretary of State John Gale was forecasting record turnout anyway.

And even there "Republicans are not gaining to the same degree as Democrats and independents," he said. "You definitely have to attribute it to the Obama campaign."

Nebraska is one of two states that can split its electoral votes, and Obama opened three offices in Omaha to try to shave off one of those votes.

But even as Obama managed to inspire Democrats in decidedly Republican states, Republicans had a secret weapon of their own in rallying conservative voters.

McCain's selection of Palin was critical to building enthusiasm among the party's traditional base, said Merle Black, a political scientist at Emory University in Atlanta.

"She is giving a voice to a lot of conservative voters - particularly evangelicals - in a way McCain never could do on his own," he said. "She's a heroine in the religious community."

Early voting in Oklahoma set an all-time high, and a record turnout on Election Day appeared likely, according to Mike Clingman, election board secretary. Polls there have shown Obama getting about a third of the vote, about the same as John Kerry four years ago.

State Democratic Party Chairman Ivan Holmes is expecting a strong Obama turnout in urban areas, but he anticipates a backlash in some conservative areas where the candidate's race may be a factor - "especially among older voters." Obama is aiming to become America's first black president.

Texas saw its voter registration hit a record 13.5 million this year. But neither presidential candidate spent much time in a state that has gone Republican in every election since 1980.

Randall Dillard, spokesman for the secretary of state, said both sides were driving the registration boom.

"History can be made," he said, "no matter how this race goes."

Obama already came up a big winner in the presidential race in Dixville Notch and Hart's Location, N.H., where tradition of having the first Election Day ballots tallied lives on.

Obama defeated McCain by a count of 15-to-6 in Dixville Notch, where a loud whoop accompanied the announcement. The town of Hart's Location reported 17 votes for Obama, 10 for McCain and two for write-in Ron Paul. Independent Ralph Nader was on both towns' ballots but got no votes.

Both towns had favored George W. Bush in the last two elections.

Dixville Notch's first voter, following tradition, was picked ahead of the midnight voting and the rest of the town's 21 registered voters followed suit in Tuesday's first minutes.

Town Clerk Rick Erwin says the northern New Hampshire town is proud of its tradition, but says "the most important thing is that we exemplify a 100 percent vote."

[abbe91]

"What happen to all the chater. Obama stop paying yall
Posted by free-speech at 07:05 PM : Nov 04, 2008"

Excuse us ... too busy celebrating.

[lucilioness]

WE GOT THE POWER! MAcNOBRAIN CAN RETIRE OR GO BACK TO THE SENATE AN ROT. HOCKEY MOM CAN GO BACK TO WASILA, AND TAKE SOME LESSONS IN COMMUNITY ORGANIZING. BYE B!TCHES! GO OBAMA/BIDEN!!!

[catlady1412]

I see ObieBoy left the other board to harass this one. I ran him off the other one. He is a troll, paid in Cheetos. He actually does not care about the election, he is just shilling for the Repuglicans.

[barackforus]

COME ON BARACK!!! LET''S DO IT! VOTE FOR CHANGE AMERICA!

[barackforus]

Why are the Republican supporters making racist comments but the Democrat comments are fact based? Sounds like the way the candidates ran.

[well_thought]

It looks that a fair number of the bloggers here have attended one of those naive Obama rallies. They are so fully BRAINWASHED and severely mal fact nourished, that they cannot repeat anything other what they have been told or what Obama has said. It is pathetic. For once, think, think. That is exactly the reason why, during the primaries, Bill Clinton stated "this whole thing is the biggest fairy tale I''''ve ever seen". THINK

[ajmarine111]

What a thing to say.. ''''president could be tested''''. Geez..

Posted by william70011 at 06:29 PM : Nov 04, 2008



I know what you mean, that one took me by complete surprise also.

[babooph]

The centrally controlled propaganda system shows 0 precinct reperts -BIG LIE-it is really 100% total control blackout-no supposed "competing " news agency is allowed to show it !!!

[ajmarine111]

Posted by melnnyc at 06:07 PM : Nov 04, 2008



How you holding up tonight mel?

Got a big party planned?

[docadams3]

Saying that the next president will be tested is like saying it will rain.

[melnnyc]

Lieberman said that the NEXT PRESIDENT WILL BE TESTED%u2026

Madeline Albright - said that the NEXT PRESIDENT WILL BE TESTED...

The fact is nobody knows the future: Kennedy was tested during the Bay of Pigs and again during the Cuban/Russian Missile crisis; LBJ expanded our roll in Vietnam and fought for Civil/Human Rights and Nixon came in - sent up the white flag and abandoned South Vietnam and Watergate, Carter had OPEC oil embargo and Iran problems, Reagan cleaned up Iran sort-of and increased our National Debt by Trillions, Bush Sr. had Gulf War and p#ssed off most Muslims around the world including extremists but launching missile attacks from Saudi Arabia (what Muslims concern their most holy and sacred land), Clinton had his issues with the first attack on WTC in ''93, Bush Jr. - Sept 11th and the non-existent WMD in Iraq... seems to me Obama''s temperament will handle whatever OUR COUNTRY faces... much better than McSame.

Obama ''08!!!

[mcv57]

I voted Constitutionist, and I voted all the judge off the bench (all judges, including the U.S. Supreme Court should have tenure).

[pmaldona]

I''m going home for the day, I hope all you republicons will be here tomorrow still talking your nonsense...What will you really have to say when 8 years from now we''re way better than we are today and Obama has turned this country and done NOTHING of what you''ve accused him of? Will accept the fact you were wrong and were you still let your hatred blind you? If it''s the latter I feel sad for you.

[pmaldona]

I would be great with a flat rate tax that everyone pays. But Obama is not proposing a flat tax he is proposing taxing the rich so he can give it to teh poor that is not a fair tax plan.
Posted by McCain08NC at 05:10 PM : Nov 04, 2008
Not only that, but the money will go to 47 million Americans who don''''t even pay taxes. That''''s welfare not economic stimulus. He proposes nothing for infrastructure.
Posted by codymac4 at 05:42 PM : Nov 04, 2008
---
1. What does Mccain propose for infrastructure?
2. If your definition of "poor" is "anyone earning less than 250k annually" then there''s no wonder you''re voting republican.
3. WELFARE, is an entirely different program then giving people more of their INCOME taxes back...If you don''t work, you''re not seeing any money. Stop distorting the facts to support your agenda..Oh yea you''re voting republican..go figure!

[grouchyjohn]

Your naivity is laughable, I wonder how much Hannity gets paid by the republican party? Everytime he''''s proven wrong by a democratic supporter he ends the interview expediently. REAL journalism there! LOL!!!

Posted by pmaldona at 05:30 PM : Nov 04, 2008





The only one funnier is O''Reilly. He asks a liberal democrat a question, and then shouts over them when they answer, until their microphone is turned off.

Duh!

What are you asking the question for, if you''re too afraid to hear the common sense answer?

Oh wait, I forgot - "fair and balanced", right?

LOL!!!

[pmaldona]

Funny -- the only network covering the voter intimidation by black panthers outside of polling places in Philadelphia, is FOX. If you want to see the REAL election problems check out FOX News.
Posted by codyransom at 05:28 PM : Nov 04, 2008
----
Your naivity is laughable, I wonder how much Hannity gets paid by the republican party? Everytime he''s proven wrong by a democratic supporter he ends the interview expediently. REAL journalism there! LOL!!!

[pmaldona]

I know I will be out in the streets if the fascist pull anything.
Posted by noloyalisti at 05:28 PM : Nov 04, 2008
-----
I''ll be in the streets with you buddy with I''m sure millions more.

[grouchyjohn]

If you want MOSTLY THE SAME as the last 8 years vote for Obama. That will mean spending like crazy, and blowing up the deficit. Vote for McCain if you want the crooks and big spenders out of Washington.

Posted by Well_thought at 05:17 PM : Nov 04, 2008




McCain is proposing to add $1.6 TRILLION MORE to the national debt than Obama is proposing.

And NONE of McCain''s proposals will help America or it''s middle class.

[codyransom]

Funny -- the only network covering the voter intimidation by black panthers outside of polling places in Philadelphia, is FOX. If you want to see the REAL election problems check out FOX News.

[noloyalisti]

We need a huge turnout and a lanslide to overcome KKKarl Rove and his merry band of fascist neo con Republicans.

I just hope that Obama will NOT concede not matter what the supposed banana republic selections. I know I will be out in the streets if the fascist pull anything.