The Nebraska GOP has realized that they do not completely own the state as previously thought. Of course this makes them nervous and they have now decided to make a push to do away with Nebraska's law that allows it to split electoral votes. Unfortunately, if a bill is introduced, I think the Republicans will probably get away with this because they control the state legislature.
Nebraska has never split its electoral votes, but this election presents the possibility. The polls have Obama and McCain running close in the second district, and this is alarming to the GOP. In recent months, Democratic registrations have overtaken Republicans in Douglas county which makes up the majority of the second district. Here is the current breakdown for Douglas county.
D: 127,158
R: 123,505
I: 61,069
It is important to note that NE-02 also includes parts of Sarpy County which contains many of Omaha's southern suburbs, and is also home to Offutt Air Force Base. It goes without saying Sarpy is solid Republican. If there is a high enough turn out there, McCain will win, but if people decide to stay home, Obama can pull off winning the second district.
Here is the article explaining the Republicans plans to do away with Nebraska's electoral system.
OMAHA (KPTM)- It's what some say makes Nebraska unique and the only thing that makes presidential candidates pay attention to our state during election years.
But Nebraska's Republican Party wants to change that. It wants to make Nebraska like 48 other states; whichever candidate wins the popular vote gets all of Nebraska's electoral votes. Under the system, each state has a number of presidential electors equal to the number of its senators and representatives in congress. Nebraska has five electoral votes; two of the five are awarded to the winner of the statewide election and each of the other votes is awarded to the winner in each of the state's three congressional districts.
Nebraska is one of two states in the country that uses this format. James De Mott, a registered Democrat says, "Nebraska seems to me that it is the reddest of red states." A long time registered democrat, James De Mott has lived in Nebraska for more than thirty years. De Mott says, "Nebraska would always go for a Republican, I felt as though my vote usually didn't count very much." But he still votes every year. "I thought it was important to speak out, my voice was important."
But he feels even more strongly about it this year since Nebraska's split electoral vote system could make Nebraska relevant in the election. Nebraska Democratic Party chairman, Steve Achelpohl says, "Our system certainly enhances political participation and political debate."
Right now forty-nine percent of the state's voters are republicans while 34 percent are democrats. But in Douglas County democrats outnumber republicans by a narrow margin. Achelpohl says, "This would not be going on if we didn't split our electoral votes." But, the Republican Party wants to change that and go to a winner take all format. "I think for them to raise this issue at this point of time is nothing short of disgusting, we're in the middle of a political campaign," Achelpohl says.
David Kramer with the Republican Party says it has nothing to do with the increased number of registered democrats. "I think it's a question of fairness." Kramer says the system only works for the democrats. Kramer says, "If it's good for us here than it ought to be good for us in California, in New York and those places where democrats would fight tooth and nail to make sure this kind of proposal never ever got passed." 80-year-old Helen Houston, who lives next door to De Mott, agrees.
Registered republican, Helen Houston says, "I think it has sparked a lot of energy but I still feel we need to be the same as the rest of the country." Republicans have tried to change the system in the past in 19-95 and 97, both times former Democratic Governor Ben Nelson vetoed it.
The chances the voter system will change next year depend on Nebraska's legislature. With new senators coming in, it depends which party gets the majority of the seats.
I believe it is important to keep this system in place. Nebraska has always been a bit of a political oddity. Our unicameral non-partisan legislature is unique among all the other states. Even though Nebraskans vote Republican for President, we have voted many Democrats to the Senate. I think we have an identity crisis when it comes to Eastern vs. Western Nebraskans. The East is more populated and identifies with the Midwest, while the West is rural and identifies with the inter-mounter West. Much like the other prairie and mountain states, I believe the conservatives here lean more libertarian than anything else, so I think it is possible to sway many who aren't loyal to the Republican party. If this state does away with the electoral system, Nebraska will be completely owned by the GOP, and that can't happen.