AP: Tons of Republicans switched sides in March

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.oxfordpress.com/o/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/ohiopolitics/entries/2008/05/13/ap_tons_of_republicans_switche.html

By Jessica Wehrman | Tuesday, May 13, 2008, 11:20 AM

COLUMBUS, Ohio (ASSOCIATED PRESS) - The number of Republicans who switched sides to vote for Democrats in Ohio’s March 4 presidential primary easily eclipsed President Bush’s 120,000-vote margin of victory in the state that decided the presidency four years ago, documents released Monday show.

Although a small portion of total voters, the 173,000 people who previously voted Republican but voted Democratic in the primary could be an important group in the November election, when Ohio is again expected to be crucial.

The party-switching in 85 of Ohio’s 88 counties with data available could be a sign of excitement about Democratic candidates Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama. But not all of these voters can be counted on to again vote Democratic against presumptive Republican nominee U.S. Sen. John McCain.

Some of the crossover voters felt their choice counted more on the Democratic side because McCain had all but won the Republican nomination. Some said they disliked Clinton so much that they wanted to vote against her. And some of the wild-card voters sought by both sides are still torn, but they voted in the Democratic contest to try to make sure each party had a nominee they could potentially support. The reasons were varied and complex.

“I could not stomach to have another Clinton in the White House,” said Karen Purdy, one of the Republicans who switched. “I thought the country needed a fresh start and I thought Obama could do that.”

Purdy, of Elida in traditionally Republican Allen County in northwest Ohio, doesn’t know which candidate will get her vote in the fall. Her husband, Dennis, switched to help out Obama as well but is voting for McCain in November.

Republicans switching sides represented roughly 8 percent of the 2.2 million Democratic ballots that were cast in Ohio in a contest in which Clinton beat Obama by about 10 points. About four of every five voters who switched parties for the primary went from Republican to Democrat.

FULL story at link.

[justinthebull]

1. And I'm one of them!

I actually made the decision back in '06, but didn't get around to officially changing my registration until March. Having voted for Bush in '04, I have a lot to atone for. Joining this community is a step in that direction.

Obama in '08!

[Mojorabbit]

2. Welcome back

from the dark side!