I did a diary search and couldn't find another post on this in the past quarter, surprisingly. If it has been and "Operation Chaos" wasn't in the title, mea culpa.
Before the PA primary, my radar went up when I heard of the tremendous number of newly registered Dems and how a good percentage were former Republicans.
Now, it would be nice if all 120,000 new voters, and 86,000 voters who switched from Republican to Democratic party affiliation in Pennsylvania since January 1 had pure motives.
But go below to see how the plot thickens.
According to The Caucus, the blog brought to you by The New York Times, ore than 120,000 new voters joined the rolls since Jan. 1. In addition, more than 86,000 others switched from other parties to register as Democrats, while only 12,000 switched registration to become Republicans.
"Evidence in general would suggest that the intrusion of normally Republican voters into the Democratic primary may signify what statisticians call an "asymmetrical entrance" of new voters." That's what Bob Fitrakis and Harvey Wasserman wrote in their article "Did Republicans give Hillary her victory in Ohio?" They didn't write that about Pennsylvania, but about the Ohio prmary six weeks earlier.
Enter Rush Limbaugh and his "Operation Chaos."
From his own web site:
RUSH: On Hardball last night, a montage of a report by David Shuster on Operation Chaos.
SHUSTER: In the January and February Democratic primaries, Obama tracked on average 57% of self-identified Republicans compared to about 25% for Hillary Clinton. But this month, things changed, and a lot of people are pointing to one man -- Rush Limbaugh. At the time of Limbaugh's remarks, John McCain had practically wrapped up the Republican nomination, and Barack Obama had reeled off 11 straight Democratic victories. That's when the Clinton campaign launched its kitchen sink strategy and Limbaugh launched his vote-for-Hillary strategy. Did it work? Approximately 119,000 Texas Republicans voted for her in a state where Clinton's margin of overall victory over Obama was about 101,000. In other words, Republicans helped turn a virtual draw into a slight Clinton victory. While Obama won Mississippi in a landslide, Republicans favored Clinton three-to-one. Swelling her vote totals is costing Obama, according to analysts, a few delegates. The next big Democratic primary in Pennsylvania is a closed contest, meaning registered Democrats only. But Republican tactical voting is still a potential factor in Indiana, Montana, and Puerto Rico, and conservatives who identify themselves as independents can vote in North Carolina and West Virginia. That means out of the nine remaining major Democratic contests, conservatives could cause mischief in five of them. The question is, will it make any difference or not?
RUSH: Mr. Shuster, don't forget Pennsylvania. You left it out there. We have operatives who are registering Democrat up until March 25th to vote for Hillary in Pennsylvania. It is happening there, too. Operation Chaos, Rush the Vote, exceeding all objectives.
The Ohio Dispatch explains it in an article March 28 entitled "Limbaugh Safe from voter fraud charges."
Limbaugh's "Operation Chaos" in Ohio, Pennsylvania and other states holding presidential primaries is designed to help presumptive Republican nominee John McCain win the Nov. 4 election.
The idea is to encourage Republicans in those states to vote for Hillary Clinton as a way to prolong the Democratic fight for the nomination with Barack Obama, possibly making it more difficult for Democrats to unite in the fall.
I think it's time to strongly suggest to the SuperDelegates to lend their support to the unadulturated nominee: Barack Obama.