Dems facing proven GOP turnout machine

[rodeodance]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061014/ap_on_el_ge/turning_out_voters;_ylt=AhVu6IZhIKiO4grxYsMWIyEGw_IE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3OXIzMDMzBHNlYwM3MDM-


Dems facing proven GOP turnout machine

By LIZ SIDOTI, Associated Press Writer Sat Oct 14, 12:37 PM ET

WASHINGTON - In the battle for control of Congress, Democrats hope enthusiasm trumps Republican efficiency.

Otherwise, they concede, they will have problems on Nov. 7 as a party still struggling to catch up with the GOP's ability to turn voters out of seeming thin air.

"Makes me green with envy," says Ellen Malcolm, the president of EMILY's List, which backs female candidates who support abortion rights. She was speaking of the Republican Party program that relies on reams of polling data, publicly available information and consumer choice records to identify likely GOP voters in even the most Democratic precincts.

Republicans most recently put their prowess on display in California, where they turned out enough conservatives in June to elect Brian Bilbray to the House, and a few months later in Rhode Island, where they motivated moderates and independents to vote for Sen. Lincoln Chafee (news, bio, voting record) in a primary.

Democrats hope technology is not the deciding factor in the upcoming election that will determine the majority party in the House and Senate. Democrats need to gain 15 seats in the House and six in the Senate to knock Republicans from power.

[rzemanfl]

1. Bullshit! It's VOTES not voters they turn out of thin air. n/t

[Kierkegaard]

2. Cheating seems to work pretty well for them also.

[brentspeak]

3. So, we have to help get out the Democratic vote

[NanceGreggs]

4. This article totally ignores one all-important fact ...

RE: "... a Republican Party program that relies on reams of data to identify likely GOP voters ..."

Those 'likely to vote GOP voters' are an ever-decreasing group this time around.

[WCGreen]

5. Excuse me but wasn't Bilbray in an overwelhming GOP

district and isn't Chafee a sitting Senator...

Not that big of an accomplishment if you ask me...

In fact, Bilbray's race being so close was more stunning than the Hackett Schmidt race last summer...

[TheWatcher]

6. They are up against a Machine all right

But it has nothing to do with turnout.

[Beetwasher]

7. "..the GOP's ability to turn voters out of seeming thin air..."

It's those magic GOP elves. I wonder if the author of this tripe even realizes the sublime irony of saying that w/ a supposedly straight face, in this article.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

12. Good call. n/t

MKJ

[Beetwasher]

14. LIZ SIDOTI

That's the "journalist". Gotta keep an eye on this one. My guess is she knows exactly what she's doing. Her hero is probably Judy Miller.

[bluestateguy]

8. Democrats fart around doing things they should have done years ago

If the Democrats had the kind of turnout operation in 2000 that they have now in 2006, they would have won comfortably in 2000. As usual, Democrats are 5 years behind doing everything that Republicans are now doing.

The answer to all of this of course, is to push for a law making voting mandatory, but barring people from the polls who still think Saddam ordered the 9/11 attacks.

[Downtown Hound]

13. That would bar half the country from voting!!!

Wait a minute.....









THAT'S A GREAT IDEA!

[Up2Late]

9. "...turn voters out of seeming thin air." Yeah, that sounds about right...

...except it happens in the vote tabulating computers.

Grammar Question: Wouldn't it be "seemingly thin air" not "seeming thin air"?

[elfin]

10. I signed up to do phone bank before the election..

Have you? It is easy, fun and you meet like minded people. Do it at the very least. Turnout factor is critical.

[Doctor_J]

11. What a bunch of crap

Sounds like Rove and AP are getting ready to rip us off again. Hopefully some of our voters will react to getting turned away by brandishing weapons. Why have a 2nd amendment if we're not going to use it to protect our right to vote?

[Pharlo]

17. I agree with bluestateguy in post number 8...

Disorganization in the Dem party is a bit of a hindrance. I don't know about anywhere else, but I was working in WI during the 2004 elections. And when it came down to the last couple of days, it was ACT and the League of Conservation Voters (as organizations) who were most organized (particularly concerning canvassing maps and likely Dem Voters) - Not the Dem Party. At least in the area I was volunteering.

[w4rma]

15. GOtV! GOtV! GOtV! GOtV! GOtV! GOtV! GOtV! GOtV! GOtV! GOtV! GOtV! (nt)

[greccogirl]

16. She is correct. The people I know that vote

republican are going to be turning out in droves and they are working on others.

[Eric J in MN]

18. Get out the vote with MoveOn.org.

www.moveon.org

Call for Change.

[cui bono]

19. What about how they TURN AWAY eligible Dems??? n/t

[VegasWolf]

20. D.I.E.B.O.L.D!!!!! nt

[GOPNotForMe]

21. "Republican GOTV Machine: Fact or Myth?"

Everyone who is worried about the Republican GOTV machine needs to read this article! I can't recommend it enough.

http://www.emergingdemocraticmajorityweblog.com/donkeyrising/archives/001542.php

[grasswire]

22. Ed Rollins says Pugs won't have the real GOTV this year

He says that disaffected Pugs won't be volunteering to drive vans, staff phone banks, etc. He says the fabled GOTV will falter this year. And he oughta know.

[struggle4progress]

23. Sounds like the Republicans are spying on people

[DBoon]

24. and is some of their voter info from the NSA????

She was speaking of the Republican Party program that relies on reams of polling data, publicly available information and consumer choice records to identify likely GOP voters in even the most Democratic precincts.

Nothing like enhancing some demographic data with telephone records obtained for "anti terrorism efforts"