Ken Mehlman: In 39 primaries-the turnout (Dems) was below 30-year ave.

[rodeodance]

We REALLY need to get the turnout for NOV 7th or we are doomed.


http://www.prospect.org/weblog/2006/10/post_1658.html#comments

MEHLMAN SPEAKS. The American Spectator had breakfast with Ken Mehlman today, and got his perspective on the midterms. He said:

1) The election must be framed not as a referendum, but as a choice. When the question isn't "are you happy now?" but "who do you want, going forward, to handle taxes, national security, and judges, the conservatives or the liberals?," then the conservatives (and, by extension in most cases, Republicans) do better.

2) The generic poll numbers in the past few weeks have major errors. a) the polls have sampled a significantly higher proportion of Democrats than actual turnout has shown over the past 25 years. b) the Democratic voters and the Democratic-leaning districts are "less efficiently allocated" than Republican ones, so that whereas the Dems have a big edge in already-Democratic districts, the race in the battleground GOP-held districts is 50-50 -- and that's even with the mis-sampling.

3) Despite the polls, actual turnout in primaries has belied the idea that Dems are more motivated. In 39 contested Demo primaries this year, the turnout was below 30-year averages in 36 of them. But GOP turnout hasn't been significantly lower than usual.
...........

--Ezra Klein

[sakabatou]

1. Ken Mehlman is an ass

[rodeodance]

2. YOu are right -but Shooting the messenger?--says Dems oversampled

also. Is this true? Ikeep hearing that the Dems are "motivated'--mad as hell etc etc. Yet, i also hear low turnout (and ken makes that point below).
I do not know if Dems have been over sampled (as he says below). But, if both of these are true, we are in big poo-poo!!

[acmavm]

3. Low turn-out? I don't think so. They're just ramping up the bullshit

for the fake numbers they intend to report on election night. Just like in 2004. All of a sudden there's this big increase, out of nowhere, of republican votes.

Smoke and mirrors. They're just setting the stage.

[bowens43]

4. Turn out for the primaries is irrelevent.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

6. No shit. It's the Independents he's gotta worry about. n/t

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. ah fuck you Mehlman

[Botany]

7. Low turn out?

The pugs are getting their story together and their lap dogs in the press will sell it 24/7:
1. The republicans had a better get out the vote operation.
2. The dems just did not turn out.

We need massive #s and many eyes watching everything .... "they" have too much to lose.

[gademocrat7]

8. I agree.

[underpants]

11. They are just lining up their excuses for votes flipping

and the big surprise of surprises when they run out to declare victory.

Funny how I didn't hear Mehlman discussing the outright bullshit of exit polls flipping completely over in 10 swing states but this oh yeah this he has a (more BS) statistical breakdown...mmm okay.

[Epiphany4z]

9. how many of those motivated

republicans have had enough and will be turning out to vote Dem? Primaries don't mean a thing I know a bunch of dems who voted republican in the primary to get the challenger they wanted.

[zalinda]

10. First of all, many dems are registered as independent

like I am. I get campaign stuff from both sides, so I know the issues. I don't vote in the primaries, usually the best person rises to the top without my help. There are a lot of people out there like me, who will vote Nov 7, because they are pissed. There is more buzz this year for the mid term elections than I can remember for any other, and that's going back aways.

Let him say whatever he wants, maybe that will keep some of the 33% of Bush supporters home because they won't be worried about their guy winning.

zalinda

[TrogL]

12. He's got a point - doom and gloom

People are falling into political depression - they think nothing they can do will work, even voting (E-voting made The Economist magazine).

The Democratic party needs a get-out-the-vote drive like nothing seen before. Anybody who needs a ride gets a chauffeur-driven limousine.

The NAACP is hiring lawyers for polling locations in crucial areas. The Democratic Party needs to hire a lawyer for EVERY polling station, every Diebold machine.

Anybody having problems voting should instaneously have a lawyer at their elbow.

[caledesi]

13. STFU Kenny-Boy!

Just the usual - lies, lies, and more lies.

I will find the referenceS, all saying that the Democrats are very motivated about this election. Not so, with Rethugs. There were 2 pollls that mentioned this!

[roseBudd]

14. I don't vote in Dem primaries and I am so motivated I would vote for

a bologna sandwich if it was a D

Voters who are angry vote, period, and we are very angry.

[yellowcanine]

15. Here's hoping the Pubs can his ass after November debacle. I am sick of

listening to his drivel.