Before you even start in, yes, I
know that what I'm writing about isn't a "poll." It isn't scientific in any way. I
know.
But we've all been reading about (and fervently hoping for) both a surge in Democratic intensity for November 7th, and a deflation of Republican intensity.
In this diary, I give you an unscientific indicator of the latter.
More below the fold . . .
On Thursday and Friday, the Lancaster (PA)
Intelligencer Journal ran a regular feature called the "People Poll." In it, the paper asks a question on a news topic of the day, and readers "vote" by calling a toll-free number and punching a button. Voting is open for two days, and the results are announced on Saturday.
This week's question was "Herr or Pitts in the 16th District?"
(Lois Herr [http://loisherr.us] is running for the second time against five-term Republican incumbent Joe Pitts. Pitts won their 2004 matchup by about 35 points. It's a very Republican district, on the face.)
The results were in this morning's paper and, unscientific as they may be, they're eye-opening.
Herr 979 votes (90%)
Pitts 110 votes (10%)
Now, yes, Herr is up on TV (the first Democrat in probably ever to run campaign spots in this district), and, yes, LTEs have been running pretty even, and yes, she cleaned his clock at their one debate, but still, 90-10?
In real life, if Herr wins this seat, it will be a pretty dramatic upset, and it won't be by very much.
But it made me wonder: If Republicans here can't be bothered to pick up the phone and make a free call, will they be bothered to go out on a blustery November Tuesday and vote?
I'd love to hear other stories, unscientific or not, about what you're hearing out there from or about apathetic Republicans.