Democratic Registration Brisk in PA

[JimGinPA]

Hint: One campaign has been registering new voters & switching independents.


WAYNE, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvanians are rushing in record numbers to sign up as Democrats so they can vote in the April 22 presidential primary between Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Many are lured by the historic drama of two U.S. senators vying to be the first black or female president. But the two campaigns also are busily recruiting independents, disgruntled Republicans and those who weren't previously registered at all.

Obama's effort has generated the most fanfare as his campaign has laid down a steady drumbeat of radio ads and e-mails leading up to the deadline for switching or joining parties.

"For real change, register as a Democrat by Monday, March 24," advise Obama ads airing throughout the state.

Only registered Democrats can vote for their party's candidates in the state's April 22 primary, and Obama is hoping the recruits will help him overcome Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's solid lead — 12 points in one poll taken last weekend. At stake are 158 delegates to this summer's Democratic national convention — the biggest bloc of delegates still to be awarded. Only registered Republicans can vote in the GOP primary.

Since last fall's election, statewide Democratic enrollment has swelled by more than 111,000 — an increase of about 3 percent in less than six months that state elections Commissioner Harry VanSickle said is apparently unprecedented. With days to go, Democratic registration is barely 5,000 votes shy of a record 4 million.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iNxTApa2sQRu0Xx99P3jt2bEXw7gD8VH17SG0

[spinbaby]

1. I haven't seen one of those Obama ads

Wonder where they're running.

[BumRushDaShow]

4. Neither have I...

I've heard the local city (Phila.) election commissioner mentioned the deadlines in ads but not the candidtes.

[Barack_America]

9. Not here in Philly. n/t

[Coexist]

2. Obama's goal was 100,000 - and they're up to 111,000!

now, I know that not all is his doing, but that number is huge!

[JimGinPA]

3. It's Going To Be Higher Than That Before Mar. 24th (The Deadline)...

They aren't able to keep up with the proccessing here, as there are so many coming in in my county. I'm sure it's similar around the state.

[Coexist]

5. that rocks!

Go PA!

[Barack_America]

11. Also, there are a lot of groups here in Philly who will dump in on the last day.

And those groups are essentially "professional" voter registration groups.

[gayron]

15. He will need more than that

To win PA.

[JimGinPA]

17. He Doesn't NEED To Win The State, Just Keep Her Pledged Delegate Margin Low...

Think about it.

[gayron]

31. Hum we will see in the weeks to come.

He is running from state to state to hype up the people. Get ready for a loosing streak Obama people. We will see where the delegates are in the next 2 months.

[roguevalley]

38. she needs 64+ to even budge.

[powergirl]

6. An Obama campaign worker told me that greater numbers at the polls help Obama

I live in Texas and I got to know some of the National Obama Campaign folks (the on the ground, bustin' ass folks - not think tankers). I let them use my business office for staging. They told me that statistically, Obama benefits when more voters (total) come to the polls and voter registration helps him. Conversely, in Texas anyway, the Clinton strategy was not to encourage new voters. New voters, maybe because they are younger, hinders the Clinton voter numbers. I wonder if this is true in PA. But with all the college kids there, maybe they are trying to beef up the numbers of Obama's strong supporters.

:shrug:

[JimGinPA]

7. Hillary Gave A Speech At Millersville College, We Registerred 1000 New Voters There...

She doesn't even have an office in our area while we have been overwhelming the local Voter Registration & Election Commission with new voter and switching voter registrations. That is going to change the margin at many precincts by several percentage points, which will allow Obama to pick up more delegates (and that's how he has been winning states).

[powergirl]

36. That's good to know JimGin

It looks like the strategy is the same. The more voters, the more votes for Obama. Good Luck in PA. This Texan will be burning candles, saying prayers, whatever it takes!

:toast:

[Barack_America]

8. I've been registering folks at UPenn and in West Philly.

There have been turfs wars for registering people. I kid you not. My group has been targeting a lot of public transportation spots in West Philly and we usually have company. We'll be registering people downstairs and there will be another group up on the platform. The two groups that I work with are currently at around 1,000 folks registered, each.

Same on Penn's campus. There is fierce competition for registering students. We'll register at least 750 students this week (and we'd previously registered over 1,000). And, like I said, there are MULTIPLE groups doing this.

It's becoming increasingly hard to find people who are not registered, even in the poorest of neighborhoods.

[npincus]

12. that's great! Hopefully not many repukes registering Dem for mischief.

[Barack_America]

16. Lol! There are NO Republicans in West Philly.

So don't worry about that. My precinct had more votes for Nader than for Bush in 2004.

ETA: And we register people on campus under an Obama sign. So the McCain folks aren't exactly eager to stop by.

[npincus]

18. any info on how the MSM's Wright-obsession is affecting the young folk?

[Barack_America]

21. Driving them closer to Obama.

There was a definite increase in registrations at our table after the speech. 120 kids yesterday in the pouring rain. That's pretty incredible.

Kids know what's up. This is only energizing them. Seriously. I'm coordinating some of these drives and the numbers of volunteers SKYROCKETED after the Wright thing.

[npincus]

22. GObama!

thanks for all you're doing...

[JimGinPA]

23. I Heard Last Night That Your Area Has "Exceeded Expectations"...

Which is great news.

[Barack_America]

24. Thank you for mentioning that.

I didn't respond because I was having such a bad night, but hearing that did do my heart good.

The drives will continue over the weekend as well. We're not done yet in Philly!

[JimGinPA]

25. Yeah, We're Working Through 5:00 Monday Here Too...

Our lead regional staffer has a wager on registration goals with the one from York region for "sympathy" phone banking.


:toast:

[phrigndumass]

10. 4,000,000 votes in PA Dem primary?

If 100% turnout, 56/44 would be:

Senator Clinton - 2,240,000 (+480,000)
Senator Obama - 1,760,000

Senator Obama's lead in popular votes is over 700,000. Pennsylvania's primary won't make up for that.

:popcorn:

[TheDoorbellRang]

28. In 2004, there were 789,882 democratic voters in the PA primary

according to TheGreenPapers. If we compare the 2004 turnout in other states that have already voted to the 2008 turnout, I'm guessing it will be anywhere to 2-4X as much: from 2004 to 2008, turnout increased in OH x1.77, TX x3.36, and MS x5.39, for example. And I do think we have to resign ourselves that a good chunk of the turnout is going to be republicans messing with the dems, now that their race is over. Exit polls in OH and TX shows the Republicans didn't have their "strategery" down very well -- Obama and Clinton each had about 100K Republicans voting for them in Ohio, and 135K vs. 119K in TX. They had it down a lot better by MS: 24% of Clinton's support there was Republican switchover, acording to the exit polls. Luckily, PA is a closed primary, so Republicans who haven't changed their registration by March 24 can't participate.

If turnout increases by four, we could see 3,100,000 voters in the dem primary. Even at 60-40 for Clinton:

C = 1,860,000
O = 1,240,000

She could gain 620,000 in popular vote -- that's what I'd consider worst case scenario for Obama backers. BUT since he's at 813,945 (Estimate w/IA, NV, ME, WA), she still can't catch him. And he'll just widen the lead again in NC and IN.

Popular vote shouldn't even be an issue in this, IMO. It's like playing a chess game and claiming you're winning because you've taken all the pawns, while your opponent has "merely" taken your queen, both knights, and one rook and bishop -- "8 to 5! I'm winning!11!!!1"). However, since the Hillary campaign keeps trying to introduce it as some sort of viable measure, I think it's something we need to show as just another Clinton campaign pipe dream.

[MaineDem]

13. It happened in Maine, too

People were thrilled to become Democrats.

And, by the way, both campaigns were urging this to happen.

[Barack_America]

19. That's not the case in Philly. All campaign-led registration drives here are by Obama.

For obvious reasons. (black people..shhh)

[jlake]

26. What a racist post.

:eyes:

[JimGinPA]

27. You Can't Possibly Be As Obtuse As Most Of Your Posts Indicate...

As far as I know.

[jlake]

29. What if someone posted:

That's not the case in Johnstown. All campaign-led registration drives here are by Clinton.

For obvious reasons. (white people..shhh)

That certainly looks racist....

[Yael]

40. Yes -- racism is huge in the Somerset/Johnstown areas

We have family there. It is embarassing. :(

[Barack_America]

30. What a racist strategy.

And yet, that IS the strategy of the Clinton campaign.

Are you saying that the Clinton campaign IS out in West Philly and North Philly registering new Democrats?

If not, why aren't they?

[jlake]

32. You Obamabots are obsessed with creating racial divisions..... it's growing old.

Rev. Wright was right.... it is the US of KKK A ...... and y'all are leading it.

[Name removed]

33. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[jlake]

35. Classless response.

JimGinPA (1000+ posts) Thu Mar-20-08 04:57 PM
Response to Reply #32
33. Hey Freeper, Here In Cental PA I've Registerred Mostly White People...

Edited on Thu Mar-20-08 04:58 PM by JimGinPA
BECAUSE THERE ARE MORE OF THEM HERE!
Yes We Can!

[Barack_America]

34. Not registering people in Philadelphia is HILLARY'S strategy, not mine.

You can't fault me for reporting what I'm seeing in my community. Sorry. I won't let you deflect this fact with Jeremiah Wright.

If any campaign has created a racial divide in my community, it has been hers.

[grantcart]

14. thanks

[yasmina27]

20. Haven't heard or seen any ads

but I have encountered ads on the major news outlets (cnn, msnbc) websites.

Kind of freaked me at first, realizing that they could ID me as a Pennsylvanian just by me pulling up their site. Unless folks from other states see that too?

[crankychatter]

37. Republican Primary is OVER, really

This could go either way

I hate saying that...

[blue neen]

39. I've been hearing the ads on the radio here in the Pittsburgh area.

I know a number of people who are planning on voting for Obama on April 22.

[dchill]

41. Kick for PA!