I am here in sunny Connecticut in the Third Congressional District (New Haven area) working on a State Senate race that is tag-teaming the GOTV effort with Lamont. As has been widely reported, turnout is HUGE and rumor (and simple logic) has it that this helps our three congressional candidates and our beloved Ned Lamont. After all, it isnt like people are coming out in droves to vote FOR the war...
In my hometown of Guilford, we had 2,000 more people vote by 11 am this year than had voted in 2004 and that was a presidential year. By mid-afternoon, two districts in Branford had reached 60 percent turnout and it was not even the rush hour period of 4-6. In Madison, a fairly conservative, wealthy town in the Simmons congressional district, there was a 45 minute wait around noon and there were seven voting machines inside!
There are a lot of people running around our local Democratic headquarters with whispers that Lamont IS gonna win this thing, and that all three Democratic congressional challengers are gonna take this thing. I think we're all starting to get the feeling that the water is rising and the big wave we've all hoped and dreamed about is about to crash in about four hours when the polls close.
And though this has been said a billion times, regardless of what happens tonight, we scored a victory. Today I am proud to be from Connecticut. I am proud of the turnout. I am proud of the enthusiasm. I am proud of the involvement of people my age around the state that I have seen maning the polls and handing out lit. I am proud of those voters who stood up against Joe Lieberman and this war on August 8 and are standing up as we speak today. I am proud of Connecticut.
And the wave builds...