Do you know what percentage of the population

[MineralMan]

really cares about this election? By that I mean cares enough to research candidates and positions and carefully considers how to vote.

Less than 1% is my guess. Here's how I know that:

Here in Minnesota, we have precinct caucuses instead of primaries. I led the one for my precinct in St. Paul, MN. That precinct has roughly 2000 registered voters. Of those, roughly 60% or 1200 will show up and vote in this election. How many do you think showed up at that precinct caucus? 58. Less than 60 people who cared enough about who the Democratic candidate would be to spend an hour or so making that decision. Bernie Sanders won, 37 to 21.

1200 voters will vote from my precinct in this election. Out of 2000 who are actually registered voters. Most of them will vote along party lines. Hillary will get roughly 60% of their votes and Trump will get roughly 40%. Those percentages are the same in every general election, give or take a percentage point or two. Our congresswoman will also get 60% of the vote, maybe 64%. So will our state house member and senator.

People in my precinct vote for candidates from the party they're part of, and about 60% show up at every general election. They split 60% to 40% almost like clockwork.

Hillary will win in my precinct. I guarantee it. But, the only people who really care are the 58 who showed up at the caucus. They're the group that actually pays attention to this stuff. Maybe another 50 or so care, too. 1% total. The rest will vote according to their party affiliation.

It's sad, but true. A few percentage points decides elections, nationwide. This year, Hillary will win. I'm very pleased.

[whatthehey]

1. A rather arbitrary definition of caring

The nomination was never really in doubt to begin with for one reason. Some, like me, detest caucuses for another. I'll show up to the most tedious committee meeting but never for a caucus. I didn't even bother with cliques in middle school so I'm not starting now. Are you sure that nobody who phone banks, drives folks to the polls, stuffs envelopes or even just donates missed your caucus? Or don't they care? I went through the 96, 2000 and 2004 cycles in MN and managed to do all that without ever setting foot in a caucus (although to be honest almost nobody did except in 04).