Open primaries will skews the results - Expect most GOP-ers to return to their base in the GE

[demo dutch]

With GOP front-runner John McCain all but assured the party’s nomination, Republicans are tinkering with the idea of derailing the bids of one of the two Democratic candidates by crossing over and voting in that primary – despite the number of
contested state and local Republican elections taking place. One rumor is that Republicans will jump over and vote for Obama,
perceived by some Republicans as the “weak sister” – the candidate who Republicans feel McCain could beat in November.
Another rumor has it they will cross over and vote for Clinton to keep the race tight, which in turn could exhaust more Democratic funds and possibly cause a split within the party. (Considering what's going on I think they're succeeding, we're walking right into the trap)

Snip

In the Republican roost of Chagrin Falls, veteran poll worker Liz McFadden was amazed at the number of people jumping the party's ship. Democrats accounted for 70 percent of the voters in her precinct, one of seven at the village's high school.

"That's a complete reversal of what it normally is, even more so," she said. "I've never seen a switch like this."

The defectors had motives both pure and sinister.

One woman voted for Clinton in hopes of delivering John McCain a weaker debate opponent. Another picked Obama because her vote could help deny Clinton and her husband a return trip to the White House.

A 69-year-old Catholic nun, Sister Ann Marie, was converted to the Clinton camp because of the former first lady's experience. John Baggett, another ex-Republican for Clinton, said he simply wanted to switch, and Clinton represented a known commodity.

"I'm happy with Republicans, in general," Baggett, 50, said. "I don't believe they've done a good job the last eight years."

In Strongsville, middle-aged couple Lucy and Pete See -- longtime Republicans -- both voted for Hillary Clinton. "I like that she has more experience in foreign affairs," Pete See said. "The Republican candidate was older than me.

Lucy See said she voted for Clinton as well. "I want to be part of making history," she said.

http://blog.cleveland.com/openers/2008/03/gop_voters_crossing_over_in_la.html

[babylonsister]

1. Sorry, no one knows what the GOPers are going to do. Vote for

McCain, who wants 100 more years of war? The thinking ones won't. If the past 8 years have disappointed them in any way, what's the benefit of voting for more of the same?
I obviously don't agree with the premise.

[NastyRiffraff]

2. It's true, we don't know.

But I don't think we can take the Republican voters for granted, that they'll all vote for the Dem in the general. Some will, some won't. Depends on the percentages.

[babylonsister]

3. I'll go along with that. I won't say they're all

conniving to beat the Dems by voting for them in the primaries. The majority of people aren't that invested in politics, and lots of them are desperate for a better prez result than they've gotten this decade.

[demo dutch]

5. Similar patterns emerged in 2000 election.

[DrFunkenstein]

4. Voter Turnout and Fundraising Doesn't Back This Up

The number of people turning out for the Dem race has completely staggered the GOP, as with small donor fundraising. It would require a conspiracy of massive scale to boost Obama and give him record amounts of cash, all from a completely dispirited GOP base.

The Obama phenomenon is legitimate. The more people see him, the more excited they are about his bid. McCain is better in theory than in person. The more people see him, the more tired and old he becomes.

[demo dutch]

6. It's still a long way to the GE, We'll have wait to wait and see if similiar patterns to the 2000

election will continue to emerge