The Georgia early voter surge

[cal04]

by kos
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/10/14/153533/98/143/630415

To my Georgia readers -- right fucking on!
The Georgia surge continues (http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/1008/The_Georgia_surge_continues.html?showall)

Early vote totals have now reached 499,582 -- about 75,000 more than were cast early in all of 2004. (The state is also newly encouraging early voting this year, so that's a major factor.)

And the ratio of African-American voters remains extremely high: 37% of the early votes were cast by black voters, who make up just 29% of the state's electorate.

I wouldn't rush to claim this early black vote will be equally represented in the final tally. Remember, voting is generally more difficult on election day in urban precincts. It would make sense for those who face the longest lines on Election Day to embrace early voting. Those Republicans in their McMansion exurban precincts have never waited more than 15 minutes to cast a vote.

But this is obviously a huge development -- these are banked votes, which no amount of Election Day shenanigans (like intimidation and bullshit challenges) can suppress. And if African Americans end up above 30 percent of overall turnout, we'll have a Blue Georgia at the presidential level and Senator-elect Jim Martin.

Whatever it is you Peach Staters are doing, keep doing it, except a little more. Leave everything on the road.

[NightWatcher]

1. from what I have seen, Savannah appears to be very apathetic

I have heard of small lines at early voting, but I dont see any other activity. I see some signs for local offices, but I dont see anything for either of the national offices. The "Obama office" is a small organization of loosely affiliated volunteers. I appreciate their efforts, but I dont see the support that was here during the primaries.

I hope that we do get the vote out, I'll be doing my part.