Local Republican Leader On Why Dallas GOP Turnout Is High
Local campaigns — especially the sheriff’s race — are turning out the voters. Incoming Republican chairman Jonathon Neerman explains:
Thank you for posting the story regarding GOP turnout. The GOP turnout is over three times what we had in 2004 and more than double last cycle. Furthermore, I have heard directly from the local Democratic party that they have identified (as of Wednesday) over 8,000 hard core GOP voters who have crossed over to vote in the Democratic primary. These numbers are consistent with the anecdotal evidence we have heard from our activists: they are voting for the Democrat who they perceive to be the weaker for November.
These numbers are very good for Republican candidates in the fall. We accomplished these high numbers because of our local candidates who are working the grassroots around the county. Candidates like Bill Keffer, Lowell Cannaday, Angie Chen Button, Mike Anderson, Randy Dunning, and others are working their areas of the county to increase GOP voter turnout. The county party also spent the month of February calling primary voters reminding them to vote in the Republican primary. By my estimation, we called around 45,000 households around the county. We at the county understand that we cannot simply rely on the top of the ticket to carry us to victory.
Are Republicans really crossing over to vote for the perceived weaker Democrat in the Demo primary? Sorry, Jonathon, I don’t buy it. From my experience, Republicans are solid middle-class types who value voting as a primary responsibility of good citizenship. Radio talk-show hosts, a notably more cynical lot, may promote that sort of game, but I don’t think many Dallas Republicans will play it. If Republicans are crossing over, it is because they prefer the Democratic candidate. And that spells big-time trouble for the GOP. [Sorry for the extra-long posts, but, hey, it's Saturday.]
15 Comments to “Local Republican Leader On Why Dallas GOP Turnout Is High”
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Oh, there will be crossover voting. Some Republicans will vote for Obama to put the stake in Hillary’s heart. Some will vote for Clinton because having her on ballot will bring out the GOP base in the fall. And some will vote for either Democrat, now and in the fall, just to see the hated John McCain go down in flames. In the end, the true Republican crossover vote will be split about evenly, but in a close race, every vote counts. Swing voters are another matter.
Well…I’m undecided for November, but I know I don’t like Hillary, so this republican is crossing over to vote against her…
I think Ed’s right. I know 10-20 people that are reliable Republicans that are crossing over to vote against Hillary. I know some others who are crossing over to vote in the Dem primary because there’s something at stake there…while there is nothing at stake in the national Republican primary.
For me personally? A little of both, please.
DPG
The dozen or so conservatives I discuss this issue with are all voting as democrats, for the reasons cited.
McCain has it wrapped up, so a vote for the weaker dem is more effective.
Dem’s who crossed over for strategic voting in previous primaries were likewise motivated, but with Huckabee irrelevant, and McCain as friendly to democrat interests as he is, dem’s have no real reason to cross over in Texas primaries.
Great choice for the liebarati, it’s down to two socialists and a democrat
Dallas county must not have anything heavy going on in the local front for the Republicans.
Out here in Wylie I helped a Republican candidate for constable district 2 as much as I could short of voting for him in the primary. We only have two candidates for the office this year and they’re both Republican. The incumbent has been there since forever got a date. The challenger came to me three ways to Sunday. All of them close friends who vouched for him. That and the fact that I don’t believe it’s good for government to have anyone in elective an office longer than six to eight years. Longer than that I think they start to spoil.
I voted democrat because the race for President is important to me and I am a democrat. But if I was a republican I sure as heck would have voted republican to have my voice heard on local issues.
One has to wonder how an involved republican would in good conscience give up their voice in local politics just to cast a spoiler vote in the other party.
Sorry Wick but here in virginia this life-long republican crossed party lines and pressed my finger on the computer screen for the distinguished junior senator from the Empire State, because I see her as beatable come November. Besides i also want to see a knockdown dragged out political fight at the Dimocratic convention.
I know family members in Dallas who are also going to pull the lever for HRC.
Well, considering that 114K have voted in the democratic primary so far….8,000 or so won’t matter.
I’m with Jim R. and have lots of Republican friends who will follow suit. Most think they can’t vote in the Dem primary if they aren’t registered Democrats. Not true! Vote in the a.m., caucus in the p.m. and vote Republican in November.
If I had a dollar for every Republican friend who has informed me that they crossed over to vote for Obama STRICTLY to ‘kill off Hillary’, I would be able to pay off my car note. Or at least buy a bone-in @ Al Biernat’s. Okay, a round of enchiladas @ Herrera’s. Picky picky.
Prediction: This will come back to bite the GOP, both now and in November, because it could ….as they planned…. seal the deal for Obama. But. When Obama debates McCain in the fall will….. mark my words and do that mental math.
As my mother used to warn me when I misbehaved and bragged about it, ‘You’ll be sorry’. She was (inevitably) correct.
It will be a very sad days for those conservatives that crossed over and voted Democrat. I understand in Texas that if you vote Democratic now, you must vote Democratic in November.
If that is the case, I am sure it is nothing that Tom Tom Delalyed can’t take care of with a little redistricting.
To me Mike Huckabee is the clear cut choice for our ultra conservative movement. Why leave his cake out in the rain?
I know at least 5 people that claim to have crossed over and voted for Hillary. I live in Southlake and on the day I early voted there were more people asking for Democratic ballots than GOP. Are there REALLY that many more Dems in Southlake? I am guessing no.
You do not have to vote for the Democratic candidates in November if you vote in the Democratic primary. But, I would expect a Huckabee supporter to have no more thorough grasp of the truth than that stated by the Marty Cortland Whatever. Unlike a cake worth saving, Huckabee is half-baked.
Of course you do NOT have to vote Dem in November if you vote Dem this week. That is insane! In November you can vote Dem, Republican, Green, Independent or whatever you like.
BUt if Hillary gets wind of this idea she just might sue to make primary voters bound to the same vote in November. That wouldn’t surprise me one bit.
another cross over voter here. Doing it not so much to “put a stake” in HRC, but because I could live with Obama or McCain as President. I do not agree with Obama on much, but I do believe he is more reasoned in thought than HRC (plus universal health care has zero chance of success). His Iraq stand is what will likely push me back to McCain come November.
Ironic that those Republicans who vote for Obama to spite Hillary are voting for the more liberal candidate, if his 3-year ADA rating of 90 is any indication. But as usual in politics, rhetoric matters more than facts. People hear his messages of “hope” and “unity” and think of him as a centrist who will look past partisanship to bring this country together, despite all evidence to the contrary.
With the Republican choices, its all about name recognition. McCain’s status as a “conservative maverick” makes him a liberal media darling, and thus gets the most coverage. Huckabee (whom I gladly voted for in the California primaries) ran his campaign on a shoestring and rarely got any attention from the Christophobic media - and even so, he managed to get almost 40% of the vote.