Wisconsin recall vote: high turnout raises hopes on both sides of divide

[MindMover]

Voters swamped polling stations across the state as both sides claim the surge is good news in vote to recall the governor

Reports of stratospheric turnout in Wisconsin's recall election on Tuesday boosted Democrat hopes of victory in the vote to topple Republican governor Scott Walker.

Voters swamped polling stations across the state in what appeared to be a significantly higher turnout than 2010 when Walker defeated Tom Barrett, the Democratic mayor of Milwaukee now vying to replace him.

Local radio reported that parts of Madison, the state capital and a Democratic bastion, recorded turnout of 119% of previously registered voters by 4pm, with four hours of polling still to go. The extraordinary figure was attributed to a late surge in registrations by union and grassroots activists, taking the voter roll far above its previous levels.

However Republican districts, notably the suburbs of Milwaukee, also turned out heavily, reassuring GOP activists that the surge would benefit Walker and confound conventional wisdom that high participation benefits Democrats.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jun/06/wisconsin-recall-vote-walker-barrett?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. This race is going to go down to the wire.

I wonder if we'll even know the results tonight.

[HereSince1628]

2. The race is as it has been. Very damned close.

the 30 to 1 money advantage was spent motivating republicans GOTV...it appears to have had some of the desired effect.

At the same time, big new registrations and high voter turnout in Dane and City of Milwaukee say some great things for dems.

I suspect the gubernatorial election is going to be within the 3 point margin of error most people say last Friday.

I'm still hopeful we get one of the 4 contested senate seats.

[charmay]

3. I'm braced for a loss, but hopeful for a win.

Madison and Milwaukee numbers have me hopeful, but then I hear the Waukesha and Washington have high numbers also. My stomach is doing somersaults.

[longship]

4. GOTV is going to work this time.

Dem problems have always been that they don't go to the polls in the same numbers as Reps. When turnout is exceptionally high, like today, it only favors Dems because their gains will come from a putatively larger base of non-voters. Even in highly Rep regions there will be droves of Dems.

Barrett is going to win tonight.

[HereSince1628]

6. The R's spent 30-1 to get out their vote

I think it's clear from small very red towns that the r's had an unusually good turnout today.

It appears to be an historic voter turnout. I don't have any idea how to break it down into an advantage, but Dems have had great turnout in places that they absolutely had to have it.

[snacker]

7. We had boots on the ground...

they had the tv ads and mailers.

[longship]

8. Reps always have a good turnout

That's why this huge turnout can only benefit the Dems. Freaking 119% turnout in Madison! And still counting!!!

Barrett wins tonight.

[undeterred]

5. I wanted to be first to vote in my precinct.

It opens at 7am and I pulled into the parking lot at 7:02am.

I was the 68th voter, leaving about 7:17am. Pretty fast since there were only two votes. That's a whole lot of people in the first 15 minutes.

Edit: The point of which is- I live in a heavily Democratic precinct on the East side of Madison. I knew in my gut that we were going to kick Walker's ass as soon as I saw the line this morning.