GOP have grave concerns in 4 states that may drive more democrats and democratic leaning independent

[beachbum bob]

to vote Tuesday:

the four states are deciding whether to loosen restrictions on marijuana usage, with Michigan and North Dakota voting on whether to fully legalize pot, including for recreational usage. Polling has consistently shown Michigan's Proposal 1 passing, but it's unclear if North Dakota’s far more conservative electorate is on board with full legalization yet. Meanwhile, Missouri and Utah will vote on legalizing medical marijuana. This issue alone can bring enough people out in Missouri that McCaskill could easily win re-election and who knows in North Dakota what this made do for Hiedi's campaign. I know this ballot measures were all fought against by the GOP in those states for good reason..

We could see some stunning upsets in all 4 states if the turnout is influenced by these ballot measures as many races are in the 2-5% range and any significant increase of democratic/democratic leaning independent voters can bring victory....

[Andy823]

1. Good point

I also keep seeing all the reports of how many Democrats and republicans are turning out to vote early, but never here about the independent voters. More people these days identify as independents instead of the two many parties. I think there could be a lot of surprises come Tuesday.

[beachbum bob]

3. In illinois, unless you vote in a primary where YOU have to declare party alliegence, the

NPA (no party affliated) is a significant number of voters in our elections. In other states you can be "independent" and declare it to be so. To me, the way to factor thus segment of voters on which direction they lean is based on"

- what do "national polls" indicate
- what are some of the driving local issues (like leaglized pot)
- what are the top 2 or 3 election issues nationally and locally

if you do what many pollsters do, they usually just split the independent voters in half. we know other pollsters who will factor the independent vote based on local ratios of registered Ds and R's. We know that neither will not be the actual case and why we have surprises in elections.

To me, its never a 50-50 split, never. Local at the demographics of the "independent voter". What is the make up of male-female aspect, education, race factors. The independent vote could easily skew 60-40 in either direction. That is a major impact on elections decided by 3-5% and wave elections can be a small one or a tsunami.

If the "independent voter" composition leans female, with education and has a significant minority segment...we could see a tsunami....

[Wounded Bear]

2. Any little edge we can get...

[beachbum bob]

4. all it takes is a little edge this year. We may all have to thank trump Nov 7th for it too

[greenman3610]

5. we're getting shelled with anti-pot ads and op-eds in Michigan

[roamer65]

6. All in vain.

All lies and misinformation.

Also the craven victimization of a dad of a 16 yr old boy who smoked pot and died in a auto accident.

I’m sorry, but that happens WAY more with alcohol than pot. Give me a break.

So following their stupid logic should we ban alcohol? We tried that in the past and it was a big FAIL.

[beachbum bob]

8. The anti pot lobby is the alcohol industry and big pharma...

for obvious reasons. Here in Illinois, a reluctant GOP governor did all he could to institute medical pot law and dragged his feet on legalization of pot for recreational use. The New Democratic governor will have legal recreational pot signed into law in first 6 months.

[JudyM]

7. Weed love the poetic justice in that happening.

It’s an important healthcare issue, in its own right.