Signs pointing to record turnout--UPDATED!!

Barack_America

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sat Jan-26-08 02:40 PM
Original message

Signs pointing to record turnout--UPDATED!!

Edited on Sat Jan-26-08 03:30 PM by Kristi1696

Signs pointing to record turnout

If voters surge, party could share winner’s momentum
By JOHN O’CONNOR - joconnor@thestate.com

Good weather and an attractive slate of candidates have South Carolina Democrats expecting record turnout for today’s presidential primary, continuing a trend seen in other early-voting states.

A big turnout likely will propel the winning candidate into so-called “Tsunami Tuesday,” when more than 20 states vote Feb. 5. But state party leaders said it also will make Democrats more competitive in South Carolina.

http://www.thestate.com/presidential-politics/story/297243.html">More

ALSO

DATED 2:20 p.m.: 5 keys to winning today

-- Check TheState.com throughout the day today for updates on these keys to winning

------------------

1. Turnout: Heavy statewide turnout is expected to favor U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, who was behind in earlier S.C. polls, but surged in recent weeks.

UPDATE | 2:20 p.m.: At midday, Greenville County election officials were reporting brisk traffic at many precincts. "From what we hear, it is very busy out there," said Conway Belangia, registration and elections director. The day started out chilly, Belangia said, but otherwise voting has been problem free.

------------------

2. African-American: Almost half of Democratic voters in the state are African-American, and big turnouts in counties like Richland, Charleston and Orangeburg counties could indicate strong support for Obama.

UPDATE | 10:30 a.m.: In Richland County, a predominately African American Greenview precinct, poll workers reported that nearly 25 percent of all registered voters had cast ballots by 10:30. That’s amazing considering voter turnout in some primaries doesn’t reach 25 percent all day.

------------------

3. Women: Women have helped U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton in other primaries, especially in her surprise win in New Hampshire. Reports of heavy turnout in Greenville or Horry counties could indicate hope for Clinton.

------------------

4. Youth vote: Obama heavily courted the youth vote; heavy turnout in wards adjacent to Clemson University, USC and Benedict College could point toward votes for Obama.

UPDATE | 11:15 a.m.: About 100 people had voted at the Swinton Center on Benedict College’s campus. That’s a much smaller percentage of registered voters than have turned out a few miles away at Greenview Park. Poll workers said it’s not unusual for the college kids to vote later than residential voters.

UPDATE | 1:30 P.m.:At Ward 1 at the Capital Senior Center in Columbia, poll workers reported low turnout through 1 p.m. But those who showed up were remarkably young, female and African American, according to veteran poll workers

------------------

5. Independents: Exit polling data showing a higher than expected vote by independents could benefit Obama and the Democratic Party, which is trying to claim the independent vote.

http://www.thestate.com/news-extras/story/297223.html">More

Let's hope!!

UPDATE:

2. African-American: Almost half of Democratic voters in the state are African-American, and big turnouts in counties like Richland, Charleston and Orangeburg counties could indicate strong support for Obama.

UPDATE | 3:10 p.m.: In Charleston County, turnout is strong, reports Marilyn Bowers, the board of elections and voter registration executive director.

UPDATE | 10:30 a.m.: In Richland County, a predominately African American Greenview precinct, poll workers reported that nearly 25 percent of all registered voters had cast ballots by 10:30. That’s amazing considering voter turnout in some primaries doesn’t reach 25 percent all day.

-AND-

4. Youth vote: Obama heavily courted the youth vote; heavy turnout in wards adjacent to Clemson University, USC and Benedict College could point toward votes for Obama.

UPDATE | 11:15 a.m.: About 100 people had voted at the Swinton Center on Benedict College’s campus. That’s a much smaller percentage of registered voters than have turned out a few miles away at Greenview Park. Poll workers said it’s not unusual for the college kids to vote later than residential voters.

UPDATE | 1:30 p.m.:At Ward 1 at the Capital Senior Center in Columbia, near the University of South Carolina, poll workers reported low turnout through 1 p.m. But those who showed up were remarkably young, female and African American, according to veteran poll workers.

UPDATE | 2:45 p.m.: At midday Pickens County reported a strong, steady turnout. One of the heaviest polling stations is in a somewhat rural area in Easley, said Ashley Harris, Pickens County registration and elections director. Four years ago, this station had 184 voters. By lunch today, 165 voters had already cast ballots, Harris said. Meanwhile, the polling stations near Clemson University also reported a stronger turnout that four years ago. "It's certainly a different dynamic than in 2004," Harris said.

ANOTHER UPDATE:

1. Turnout: Heavy statewide turnout is expected to favor U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, who was behind in earlier S.C. polls, but surged in recent weeks.

UPDATE | 3:15 p.m.: By midday Florence County's traditional Democratic precincts, in downtown Florence, the North and East sides of town and in Lake City had reported strong voter turnout, said Michael Young, the county's registration and elections director. Meanwhile, voting traffic in the traditionally Republican precincts had been slower, Young said.

UPDATE | 2:20 p.m.: At midday, Greenville County election officials were reporting brisk traffic at many precincts. "From what we hear, it is very busy out there," said Conway Belangia, registration and elections director. The day started out chilly, Belangia said, but otherwise voting has been problem free. Richland County election officials also reported a good turnout midway into the voting.