It's (Still) the Turnout Levels, Stupid

NOTE:  Let me be clear -- I'm not calling you stupid.  Just that guy over there.

Pretty much lost so far in all of the frantic calculation and spin about states and delegates from Super Tuesday is a little nugget that shines brightly for all of us Dems no matter which of our great candidates you back -- our turnout continues to be at unprecedented levels, and GOP turnout is ... well, not so much.

Heh.

More citizen-mobilized goodness after the jump ....

Our "good friends" at CNN  -- check out the story yourself at http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com... -- tracked Dem and GOP turnout in a handful of states. With votes still being counted, here's the scoop -- with all changes noted from the previous turnout record, not just the last primary:

In Missouri -- up 47% for us from the previous record.  The GOP here was up 21%.

In Illinois -- up 20% for us, down 3% for the GOPers.

In New York -- up 11% for us, down 21% for "them."

In New Jersey -- and this seems just nuts to me on both sides of the aisle -- we were up 69% from our previous record, and the elephants were up 78% from their record.  (This is the only example I saw where they beat us on a percentage basis.  Anyone have others?)

In Massachusetts -- we're up 48%, they're off by 8%.

In Arizona -- the good guys (yeah, that's us) were up by 31%, while the GOP was only up 15%.

And I know there were stories from Minnesota about record Dem turnout as well -- don't have specifics, though.

Our people are energized and ready to fight.  If you're a Republican, these numbers have got to have you reaching for the Pepto.  Me, I'm chilling the bubbly.

Anyone have other turnout news to share?

•  This

  is exactly what is making these primaries so exciting and significant!  Thanks for the data.

  by EJP in Maine on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 07:22:52 AM PDT

  •  Amazing what can happen when...

    you feel like your vote matters for something, isn't it?  This primary season has clearly demonstrated that we democrats will get up and vote when it will make a difference.  Regardless of who gets the nod to be our candidate, they will get my vote.  It is nice, however, to feel like I had a say in the process along the way.

    TLDR Version: The way the primaries are done needs to change.  How, I'm not sure, but a competitive primary season seems only to help build excitement in our party.

    by PadfootLive on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 07:32:44 AM PDT

•  I am afraid those turnout numbers

  are due to Barack Obama, and his reaching out and grabbing new voters. I think if Hillary is the nominee, you will see the turnout increase on the other side. No matter how the conservatives protest about McCain right now, when he is their nominee and Hillary is the opposition, they will hold their nose and support McCain. They know McCain will come around and support other Republicans, and to many they would rather die than send Clinton to the White House. Don't for one minute believe the rhetoric you are hearing right now about McCain to be the truth.
  The truth is if the Democratic nominee is not Barack Obama, our turnout will decrease, the new people who have been brought into the process will feel betrayed by the establishment,(it happened in 1968, and those who do not pay attention to history are doomed to repeat)they will not participate, and the Republicans will be mobilized against the Clintons. The way I see it  without Obama, we can kiss the Presidency good-bye, not matter how qualified anyone thinks Hillary might be. Red America will never vote for a woman to be Commander-in-Chief over a authentic war hero. That is not a slap at Hillary, just a fact. Sad, but true. We might be ready, but America is not. Most especially in a time of war.  Make no mistake, in November it will still be a time of war.

  by Vera Lofaro on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 07:31:33 AM PDT

•  Thanks, Nashville Bill

  This is the story I was looking for in the WaPo, on air and on-line. You scooped 'em all!  

  by wonderful world on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 07:46:08 AM PDT