Panic on the Republican Plains in SC [View All]

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http://www.fitsnews.com/2008/07/24/endangered-angry-elephants/#more-4256

FITSNews - July 24, 2008 - The so-called “reddest state in America” is in the midst of a pronounced “purpling,” as South Carolina voters are fleeing the Republican Party in droves and African-American voter registration is at an all-time high. The only question is whether this Stalingrad-style “pincers” will translate into a stunning South Carolina victory for Democrat presidential candidate Barack Obama over Republican John McCain? And at the state level, will there be a shift in the balance of power in the S.C. General Assembly?

Recent polls show McCain enjoying a 45%-39% lead over Obama in South Carolina, with libertarian Bob Barr getting 5% of the vote and 11% remaining undecided. McCain seems safe for the moment, but remember that just four years ago, GOP incumbent George W. Bush trounced Democrat John Kerry in South Carolina 58%-40%.......


Anyway, any one who follows politics in this state knows that the surprise story of our presidential primaries was that Democrats outdrew Republicans by a 525,000 to 446,000 margin. But what happens when you take a peek inside those numbers? First of all, GOP leaders were quick to blame the gap - which took them completely by surprise - on the convenient bogeyman of African-American voter registration. Blacks were just registering in record numbers because of Obama’s candidacy, they said.

That’s partly true. African-American voter registration is at 130% its normal level right now (at least), and the Obama campaign is devoting all of its time and resources in South Carolina on one thing - registering even more blacks. But Obama’s “black wave” is just one part of the equation.According to sources who spoke with FITSNews on the condition of anonymity, January’s primary election also saw “record Republican desertion” and what one pollster said was “over a hundred thousand Republicans not just sitting out, but crossing the line and voting Democrat.”.......