Democrats post big gains in voter registration

[Zomby Woof]

Democrats post big gains in voter registration

By JULIE PACE and STEPHEN OHLEMACHER, Associated Press Writers

CLAIRTON, Pa. - Five days a week, Linda Graham trolls tattered neighborhoods of this once thriving steel city outside Pittsburgh for unregistered voters she can sign up as Democrats — one of thousands of unknown volunteers whose work outside the limelight has already altered the basic arithmetic of the November election.

The epic nomination battle between Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton helped put millions more Democrats on the voter rolls while Republican registration declined. Now Graham, 45, has taken three months of unpaid leave from her job at Pittsburgh's Central Blood Bank in the hope of adding to those gains before the presidential vote.

She's encouraged by the response here. "They're all feeling the crunch" of lost jobs and a sagging economy, Graham said. "But people are feeling empowered. They're feeling like, you know what, I hold a little bit of power in this."

More: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080906/ap_on_el_pr/voter_registration_3

[Wetzelbill]

1. You better believe it

I've posted before that polls do not show voter registration or potential turnout advantages. I believe voter reg and turnout will be a big difference here. Also look for the typical GOP stuff, like roadblocks or fewer polling places in heavy Dem areas. They want to hold down turnout as much as possible.

[nini]

2. Just what we were talking about earlier

turnout is the key and after what we saw in the primaries is a good sign. :D

[otohara]

3. I'm Encouraged By People Signing Up As Dem's vs Unaffiliated

that was my experience when I recently did voter registration. All signed up as Dem's in a state where "unaffiliated" out numbered both democrats and republicans.

I refuse to use the word "independent" - because in calling these folks, they are not independent, they waffle and are for the most part uninformed.