Aftermath of Sandy likely will depress voter turnout in the most populated Blue states

[NAO]

I could see it turning the popular vote, and ultimately the election, to Romney. If people in NY, NJ, PA, VE, etc are too devistated to vote, or if there is no power to the voting machines, or if the roads to polling places are destroyed, it can only be bad for Obama.

from the blog Clusterfuck Nation:

"My own main worry, sitting here in comfort, in a well-lighted room, is how widespread the electric power outages might be and how long might they last -- conceivably even through the election. Surely, Mr. Obama is pacing nervously now in some deep underground White House command center, worrying about what might be required if there is no electricity to run the voting machines across the nation's most populous region, or if many hundreds of thousands of voters get stranded at home by broken bridges and washed-out roads, or how many votes his government might lose if the juice stays on but he can't relieve the anticipated misery fast enough... with the idiot Romney kibitzing from the sideline."

[MichiganVote]

1. Doubtful.

[Faith9326]

2. Uhh

No

[DollarBillHines]

3. Maybe, in this case, there is some merit to the Electoral College. nt

[JiminyJominy]

4. Get Ready

for major backlash on your post.

For the record, I think its a valid concern. I know people here are saying that "rural areas are the ones that need to worry", but all things equal woulda meant an easy win for Obama.

I'm concerned about Philly only really though. Every other state will still go Blue. Philly needs heavy heavy margins to offset rural PAs Romney vote.

[Floyd_Gondolli]

16. Philly's not taking the biggest hit

Do try and follow the news as opposed to merely commenting on it.

[Doctor Jack]

5. There's a reputable source

If a blogger at "clusterfuck nation" says it will happen.....

Look, I highly doubt that the party in charge of the recovery will fail to get things up and running, in their strongholds, in critical swing states. Sounds like more hand wringing to me. I am sure that after a week, things will be in place that everyone that intends to vote in these areas will be able to.

[DrToast]

8. LOL...my thoughts exactly.*

*

[flamingdem]

21. +1

[obamanut2012]

22. lol

[doc03]

6. Why the hell is it only Democrats don't vote if the sun

isn't shining, if we are that stupid maybe we deserve to lose.

[Control-Z]

18. Seems like it would be a wash.

What, do the streets clear only so republicans can pass? Does electricity go out only during blue ballot votes?

[doc03]

28. Maybe hate makes people more motivated to

vote? I hate Republicans and I am motivated I voted Obama weeks ago, so that should work either way.

[LiberalFighter]

30. Exactly! Some people think so one dimensional.

So if turnout is low on both sides then the early votes make a difference. Like in NC.

[Zoeisright]

7. Bullshit.

The election is next week, not tomorrow.

[K8-EEE]

9. +1 If anything it will motivate people to vote against FEMA-hater Romney! nt

[LiberalFighter]

31. Especially more play is made on his statement about FEMA relating to states.

[wisteria]

10. Republicans have to vote too in those areas.

It won't only be Democrats who may not turn out.

[onehandle]

11. Nope. New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New York, Maryland, DC, Ohio, CT, MA, all for Obama.

Mr. FEMA killer is toast.

[Proud liberal 80]

12. I actually think it may help

because things may be where a large chunk of people might not have to go to work due to the storm. And have nothing else better to do than vote.

[lephty]

13. My take is different

NJ, NY, Connecticut will go blue regardless. The only concern would be Philly, but I don't foresee issues there. If you take that assumption, then it is better that the storm is hitting blue states rather than red/battleground states where turnout is much more important.

[cheriemedium59]

14. Let's take what are Commander in Chief said today to heart...

"The election will work itself out."

[still_one]

15. Another, lets assume the worst thing could happen post, and see if we can demoralize ourselves post

[obamanut2012]

23. This

[still_one]

26. Yes

[Squinch]

17. I'm a New Yorker, in the storm right now.

No way this is keeping me from voting.

They can't have the election without giving me and those near me some way to vote. If it has to wait for electricity, then it has to wait. Otherwise I can't imagine it would be constitutional.

[courseofhistory]

19. It's not going to happen! Most people will be able to vote and will! n/t

[Floyd_Gondolli]

20. Defeatist pablum

Another thread for my handy DU trash can.

[Tenleytown]

24. generally speaking folks

and I live in DC--have lived in NY and Boston ... when the power goes out the cities usually get the power back first...the very external suburbs and more rural places take longer.... Northern Virginia often gets power back (well to do progressive Blue) well before the more rural Red communities...

[LiberalFighter]

33. The price to pay for the red numbnuts living out in the boonies.

Most of them make the move to the boonies because they want less government. So if they want less government why are they voting?

[Chakaconcarne]

38. Haha. I can see it already....

Obama only won the election because he suppressed the rural vote by not supplying aid and support for storm victims.

[Tenleytown]

41. they don't just want less government...

they want less blacks and browns too....so that's what you get for your chosen isolation! lol

[obamanut2012]

25. No, it won't

[Tenleytown]

27. ...and by the way

when I was in my 20s..I walked 3 miles in a snow emergency to vote in Boston

Black folks in Georgia stood in line 6 hours over the weekend to vote.. I would not discount the desire to vote against all odds!

[treestar]

29. Not keeping me from voting

I've always had it easy when it comes to voting, but this time, I will wait in long lines in the rain if necessary.

[RBInMaine]

32. Oh here we go. Handwringing central. Sheesh. Grow a spine already.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

34. Tripe

Hogwash and Poppycock!

[Igel]

35. And the absolute number of voters matters ... how?

If NY is 70% (D), does it really matter if 20 million vote or 30 million?

As long as the effect is proportional or at least doesn't reverse the (D) majority in those states.

Otherwise the only concern is the fear that the popular vote will, in spite of the law and the Constitution, undo the electoral college vote.

We really have to go back to teaching something about the Constitution in 9th grade.

[OldDem2012]

36. Would you like some cheese with that whine? nt.

[onecent]

37. Did you ever stop to think that President Obama is a very calm man. If anyone can bring some

light (as he has already delivered) 8 states declared state of emergency. and if 60 million people are involved....there are at least 160 million watching and praying that their loved ones get to safety and that the government shows some compassion and concern.

AND that alot of the 160 million watching and praying for their loved ones are going to see the role this president takes..unlike that moran who would give FEMA back to the states. AND that alot of the 120 million people watching are republicans.

Something will shine through with this, I believe. Keep the faith!

Obama IS GONNA BE RE-ELECTED!

[exboyfil]

39. Do Touch Screen only have paper

ballot back ups? That could be one impact of the storm. Philadelphia appears to have avoided the worst part, and I think a low voter turn out there would have been the only thing that might have impacted the Presidential race. You have two considerations: desire to vote and the ability of the infrastructure to handle the votes. No power means no touch screens.

[mrz35]

40. Hurricane has been downgraded to storm

Breaking news on yahoo

[Phx_Dem]

42. If Dems can't vote, how can Repubs vote?

Seems to me, if this is true it hurts BOTH parties. So, the premise is that NY or NJ is going to turn red because Dems couldn't vote due to a storm that hit a week before the election, but Republicans had no problem voting and won the state! WTF?????

[ChetSinger]

43. There are regional differences here in PA, but I think they'll be minor

Here in PA rural areas tend to be Republican and urban areas Democratic. The southeast, where the storm is striking, is pretty urban.

Nevertheless, most of the affected states, including PA, are blue enough that the presidential election shouldn't be affected. Local elections are another matter. Suppressed turnout in Philly could affect our Senate race. Nevertheless, I expect everything will be pretty much operational by voting day.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

44. The Gov has extended the early voting due to the hurricane