LJWorld.com / Democratic Party numbers boosted

Archive for Tuesday, July 22, 2008

GOP sees declining registration in state, Douglas County

July 22, 2008

Yesterday was last chance to register for Aug. 5 primary

Today marked the voter registration deadline for the August primary election. Enlarge video

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Election 2008

In-depth coverage of the candidates and the issues, all leading up to the Aug. 5 primary and the Nov. 4 general election.

It's a bump, but it doesn't put a major dent into the status of Kansas as a red state.

Since just before the February presidential caucuses, the ranks of the state's Democratic Party has grown by 13,294 voters while the Republican Party declined by 4,833 voters.

But about 45 percent - 739,020 - of the state's 1.6 million voters are still registered with the GOP, compared with about 27 percent each of Democratic and unaffiliated voters, according to the Kansas Secretary of State's office. The Reform and Libertarian parties make up the other

1 percent.

Democrats said the increase was a reflection of support for Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign and other candidates in state and congressional races.

"It's just more excitement about these candidates," said Jenny Davidson, a spokeswoman for the Kansas Democratic Party.

Republicans agreed but said they weren't worried.

They cited a recent Rasmussen Reports poll that showed huge leads in the state for GOP presidential candidate Sen. John McCain and Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., in his re-election bid.

"There's a long way to go to catch up to our overwhelming advantage statewide," said Christian Morgan, executive director for the Kansas Republican Party.

Monday was the deadline for voters to register to be eligible for the Aug. 5 primary election.

Unaffiliated voters have a lot of sway in Douglas County. In February, the county had 27,621 registered independents, 24,339 Republicans and 24,556 Democrats.

But Democrats made gains here, too. As of Monday night, the county had 26,158 registered Democrats and 23,601 Republicans. Independents still make up the largest voting bloc at 26,656 people.

County Clerk Jamie Shew said his office has fielded plenty of calls from unaffiliated voters because independents can change their registration to Republican on Aug. 5 at the polling places, or they can ask for the Democratic ballot in order to vote in those contests.

One pundit said the political climate has been tougher for Republicans nationally.

"It's consistent with the national trends there has been basically in national polls," said Don Haider-Markel, a Kansas University political science professor.

Because Republicans still have such a strong advantage in the state, the registration numbers should not mark great concern, he said, unless there are big changes in certain congressional districts.

"You'd need to see that over a few election cycles," Haider-Markel said.

Discussion

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22 July 2008
at 7:39 a.m.

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Informed (Anonymous) says…

According to my calculations, this means we have lost a total of 101 registered voters since February. Where is the loss coming from? Students? How is the loss determined?
22 July 2008
at 8:42 a.m.

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collector (Anonymous) says…

So long George W and your lap dog Pat Roberts and his chumps.
22 July 2008
at 9:03 a.m.

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duplenty (Anonymous) says…

RR's points are true (although that bit about Slattery is merely opinion).

However, John McCain will not be president come November. Say what you will, but the fact that the GOP is an absolute mess is undeniable.
22 July 2008
at 9:06 a.m.

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Take_a_letter_Maria (Anonymous) says…

duplenty both parties are an undeniable mess. It's too bad we are stuck with such poor choices in all offices we vote for right now. The people that could really make a difference though are making too much money in the private sector to put themselves through running for office.
22 July 2008
at 9:32 a.m.

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staff04 (Anonymous) says…

“George W. will be gone because of term limits. That has nothing to do with registered voters today.”

Possibly the most naive comment you've ever made…
22 July 2008
at 9:39 a.m.

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LiberalDude (Anonymous) says…

I don't believe that Rasmussen poll that the GOP continues to cite. I'd like to see how the poll was conducted. I've never once been polled since I've lived in Kansas. It's my guess that phone books are used which eliminates all the younger people who don't have land lines and just use cell phones. This would give bias towards the old candidates- McSame and Roberts. I think they are both vulnerable in Kansas.
22 July 2008
at 9:51 a.m.

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snap_pop_no_crackle (Anonymous) says…

Has ACORN been doing a registration drive in Kansas?
22 July 2008
at 10 a.m.

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ModSquadGal (Anonymous) says…

Take_a_Letter_Maria: You are SO right. Nobody worth electing wants to put up with the BS that goes on in politics. The whole system needs an overhaul (yes, easier said than done, and no, I don't have any suggestions).
22 July 2008
at 10:08 a.m.

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Trobs (Anonymous) says…

Vote Ron Paul! Seriously, if you think the system is jacked he definitely wants to fix it. Entirely.
22 July 2008
at 10:08 a.m.

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bondmen (Anonymous) says…

In big cities like Chicago and St. Louis these new Democrat registrants come largely from fake people at nonexistent addresses, graveyards and local dogs.

Has any unbiased party checked out these new registrations yet?
22 July 2008
at 10:26 a.m.

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HMcMellon (Anonymous) says…

I'm still a Republican and have already voted as such in the primary; however, I didn't vote for Roberts. I left it blank.

Roberts, Ryun and the whole bunch of Neocons who have been going along with King George are the ones responsible for the decline of our Party here and nationwide. They got into office talking about tax cuts for the middle class, but that was just to appease us. Instead, those making a million dollars or more per year got tens of thousands in tax cuts, while the rest of us got a $300 check.

Even worse, these fiscally-liberal Republicans financed all those massive tax cut give-a-ways to the rich with money they borrowed from the commies in China and the totalitarians in Saudi Arabia. These guys have also overseen the biggest increase in government and federal spending in America's history.

Some, like Ryun, are also theocratic socialists, who want us to force us to believe the earth was created in six days some 4,000 years ago. They also seem intent on destroying the planet (since the Bible says that God is going to destroy it anyway). Almost all are economic socialists, who prop up big corporations with our tax dollars in exactly the same way as the old Soviet politians did with their politburo.

I'm not going to change parties, but there aren't many GOP candidates who still stand for our Party's principles of fiscal responsibility, limited government, small business, the Constitution, and keeping government out of our lives. Sure, they all talk the old Party line, but when they get to Washington, they do the opposite. They borrow from our enemies and give our tax dollars away in a corporate welfare program loaded with no-bid contracts, waste, fraud and abuse.
22 July 2008
at 10:32 a.m.

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madmike (Anonymous) says…

Not surprising in the People's Democratic Republic of Larryville.
22 July 2008
at 11:18 a.m.

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Ringo6 (Anonymous) says…

Vote Ron Paul so that McSame will win
22 July 2008
at 11:49 a.m.

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Trobs (Anonymous) says…

Vote Ron Paul to take votes from McCain you mean? True republicans should be proud of Ron Paul. Yes he's wacky, but he's the first true Republican in a long time. Small Government, true freedoms, low taxes. The exact opposite of either party right now.
22 July 2008
at 12:07 p.m.

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marcdeveraux (Anonymous) says…

I find it truly disturbing that the people in kansas still will support a republican.These people are destroying our country before their very eyes and yet they vote for people who engage in destructive capitalism. The repubs are nothing more than emotionally retarded money and power addicts, Just say no more kansas.No wonder kansas cannot retain teachers.
22 July 2008
at 1 p.m.

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Agnostick (Anonymous) says…

Important, irrefutable facts:

1) Party affiliation does not obligate a voter to vote for that party's candidate. A registered voter affiliated with the GOP can vote for **any** candidate listed on the ballot. They also have the option of writing in another name.

2) No registered voter is obligated, in the state of Kansas, to list an affiliation with any political party.

3) With 27-28% of registered voters in Kansas **not** affiliated with either the Republican or Democratic parties… it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, for candidates of either of those parties to win their contests, without the support of at least some independent voters.

Agnostick
agnostick@excite.com
http://www.independentvoting.org
http://marciaford.blogspot.com
22 July 2008
at 1:07 p.m.

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Agnostick (Anonymous) says…

Trobs, Ron Paul stuck the knife in deep, and twisted it for good measure. By not walking *away* from the GOP, Ron Paul likely missed out on the greatest opportunity in his life. As an independent candidate, Ron Paul may not have scored a majority of the vote—but I dare say he would've scored more than the 19% that Ross Perot achieved in 1992. As an independent or third-party candidate, with the existing organization he had earlier this spring… I think Ron Paul could easily have captured 25% of the votes.

Unfortunately, we'll never know, because Paul has “suspended” his campaign, choosing instead to seek re-election as a congressman from Texas.

—Ag
22 July 2008
at 1:37 p.m.

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LiberalDude (Anonymous) says…

Good post HMcMellon! Being liberal I disagree with some of your political views but I'm glad to see that at least a few conservatives are waking up to the fact that the GOP doesn't represent your interests. I don't understand why true conservatives vote republican. It seems that the current libertarian party more closes resembles your views. Like you said the current republicans like to spend money….. but only on things that support their war-mongering, religious agenda.
22 July 2008
at 2:41 p.m.

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igby (Anonymous) says…

I can see Bambam in the white house with the Clinton's sending him out for pizza and 40's.
22 July 2008
at 4:16 p.m.

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Boeing (Anonymous) says…

Both parties have their fair number of scumbags as well as honest well-doers. Saying one has more than the other is unfair unless you have the facts to back it up. I for one went from being a registered Kansas democrat to an independent because the Democratic party lost my trust when they took over Congress with promises of glory and did not deliver…proving both parties are, in the end, the exact same. I vote for a person, not a party…a party is just a different color and a different animal with stars on it.
22 July 2008
at 8:48 p.m.

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RobertMarble (Anonymous) says…

Exactly, Boeing……
The rest of you bickering partisan types add 50% to every problem with your constant squabbling..