TNR Associate Editor Eve Fairbanks explains how the staggering democratic voter registration numbers reported today will impact the season's hottest congressional races.
Posted: Monday, October 06, 2008 2:03 PM with 3 comment(s)
What's with the cut away to a split screen with the man talking?
Nice report Eve. And yes, the split screen was confusing. I'm guessing the editing team will need some practice; and with time, we'll eventually have NFL football under-the-25-second-clock replay quality video posts and edits here on TNR.
I generally agree with this analysis, esp. in regard to Pennsylvania.
I wonder what the registration numbers are in regard to the 10th District in particular -- it's a deeply conservative district gerrymandered for the previous congressman (who went down in a nasty sex scandal in '06). Nonetheless, Rep. Carney has done a good job establishing himself as a conservative Democrat strong on gun rights and national security (although there are left-wingers in the blogosphere who are angry at him for his vote in favor of the wire-tapping bill).
I think the challenge for any down-ticket candidate in attracting newly-registered voters in a presidential year is to get them to do more than just go in, pull the lever/push the button for their presidential candidate, and then leave. That's why it wouldn't be so unwise for a guy like Carney to actually associate himself with the guys heading the ticket, at least in a targeted manner towards newly-registered Ds in the field operation (also, don't forget that most counties in PA have the option to vote straight ticket -- it only takes five seconds!)