Record turnouts for early voting lift Obama campaign's hopes in Florida

[highplainsdem]

Source: Tampa Bay Times

The Obama campaign seems quite happy after record turnouts were reported in counties across Florida today, the first day of early voting.

The Times' Adam Smith reported on Twitter, "More than 20k pple voted eary today so far in Hillsborough Co...In 08 biggest single day (11/1/08) was 18,736.

The Miami Herald's Marc Caputo tweeted, "Miami-Dade early voting so heavy that by 3 pm 14,745 people voted -- more than ENTIRE first day of 08 EV (12,000). 12-hour total: 22,625."

Gary Fineout of the Associated Press, "Leon County - a Democratic stronghold in Fla - had a record turnout for early voting with 5447 votes cast on day 1."

-snip-

Read more: http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/the-buzz-florida-politics/content/record-turnouts-early-voting-lift-obama-campaigns-hopes-florida

[ffr]

1. I'm tearing up. This is good news for America.

We're all pitching in for a brighter America!!!

[goclark]

2. Yes!

[skeewee08]

3. This is good news you can do it Florida.....

[BainsBane]

4. Early voting lessens the impact of voter suppression

and that is the best thing about it, IMO. Long lines, polling place with only a couple of booths open, and challenges to voters can all be circumvented by voting early. I suppose the Obama campaign knows this, but I don't see it discussed in the media.

[renate]

5. I just can't believe Romney is ahead in Florida

Nate Silver has the likelihood of Romney's winning Florida at 63.6%. Why isn't that the likelihood of Obama's winning?

I know that Florida's population isn't 100% elderly, but how can people who've benefited so much from Medicare be okay with giving vouchers to their kids and grandkids? What am I missing? I'd have thought that people with first-hand experience of aging with dignity thanks to the government would have been first in line to defend it for others.

[quakerboy]

8. People don't think through the ramifications of their vote

I can believe it. Drove through Florida about 2 weeks back. Starting in coastal Georgia, down the eastern coast then back up the gulf coast headed toward Alabama. Saw hundreds of Romney signs out all down the east, through the keys, and up the west. Saw maybe 6 Obama signs over the entire state until we hit Tallahassee.

Florida, at least in terms of political signage, has been, by far, the most depressing state of the 27 we have driven through so far.

Colorado and Wisconsin were far more cheery. Wisconsin didn't seem to have hardly any Romney signs up anywhere. Colorado had far more Obama than Romney, even in relatively rural areas

[Old and In the Way]

15. Republicans steal signs as one of their core election strategies...

at all levels - local, state, national. Other strategies being voter suppression, voter intimidation, et al.

The institutional arbiters of justice - police/courts/lawyers/legislators don't seem to consider this a high priority. Oh well.

I think we need to use other methods of showing solidarity, that's not steal-able by Republican operatives. I'd suggest a national registry of the Democratic vote. Sign an affidavit on your choice and see if that correlates with the announced results from Republican owned voting machines.

[retread]

19. Think Jeb. 2 terms. Marco Rubio, and Rick Scott. The photos of retirees demonstrating, holding signs

saying, "Keep the government out of my medicare."

[SleeplessinSoCal]

6. Romney come lately is calling for early voting in order to help get people to the polls.

It sounded more like propaganda to cover for any shenanigans going on down there. And there's a ton of shenanigans.

[UndahCovah]

7. To everybody wondering how Romney can be ahead in Florida

Outside of the cities, resorts, well-known suburbs...Its hardcore redneck in Florida. Seriously, you get out into the countryside, its all little white churches, pickup trucks, and gator hunters. All guns and rum, some of those folks are still steamed about the civil war.

Source: I'm a Longtime Florida resident.

[renate]

9. well, that explains it

Thanks for the insight! That's just not how I've ever pictured Florida....

Welcome to DU!

[UndahCovah]

14. Thanks!

Yes, on the news and such they only show the nice parts of Florida. Deliverance-town doesn't get much attention, but it exists with, unfortunately. There is also a pretty organized network of homeschooling people, who I imagine tend towards the rethuglican side. although certainly not all of them.

[silvershadow]

10. What he said. nt

[demwing]

13. Racism

that's why Romney could be ahead

Parts of Florida are very cosmopolitan, other parts are hold outs of the antebellum south.

[mike dub]

16. Perfectly described, UndahCovah- from a former resident of rural Florida

I always think Geography in describing it: The panhandle (FloridaBama --south of Alabama and Georgia) over to Jacksonville, and then down the interior/center of the state, is rednecksville.

That said, for me, the interior and small towns of Florida are my favorite part of the state. Nice to drive over to the beaches or to Disney now and then to get some Florida-tourist stuff in.

And welcome to DU!!!, from another newer DU'er!

[Left Coast2020]

11. SEEING THIS HAS ME FIRED UP

I'll be making calls tomorrow (sunday). Not sure for who, but I'm looking for stuff to use if a caller asks questions. I want to be ready. I want to make sure people will get to the polls!!!!!!

If Mr. O is fired up, so am I!!!!!

[beac]

25. OFA has a great online system and

you can do it right from home using your computer!

http://call.barackobama.com/

You will need to sign up for a OFA acct (takes seconds, scroll to the bottom of the page) and then it will set you to call voters in your area (or you can choose another state, if you want.)

[cheezmaka]

12. Good!

[24601]

17. TBT is delivered to my front door daily. Today's lead is "I-4 vote going to Romney...."

and here's the link to the story, http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/national/tampa-bay-timesbay-news-9-poll-i-4-voters-back-romney-51-45/1258459.

"It has been a fundamental rule of Florida politics for decades: Statewide campaigns are won and lost on the I-4 corridor."

"Today that celebrated swing-voter swath stretching from Tampa Bay to Daytona Beach is poised to deliver Florida's 29 electoral votes to Mitt Romney."

"An exclusive Tampa Bay Times/Bay News 9 poll of likely voters along the Interstate 4 corridor finds Romney leading Obama 51 percent to 45 percent, with 4 percent undecided."

TBT isn't a nationwide paper by any means; however their Florida coverage is good.

BTW, I voted yesterday in person at the Hillsborough County Elections Hqs. In & out took only about 30 minutes, and 20 min was waiting in the 1st line. No riots, pushing, shouting, campaigning, etc. Just show your ID, get & mark your ballot, scan it and head home.

[Coexist]

20. TBT is the re-named St. Pete Times, and its a paper of note

I'm hoping the ground game outshines the polls here. I vote all the time and I've never been polled in my life

[Blueprogress]

18. +1

in Broward this morning for Obama/Biden, Nelson, Israel, Lois and the rest of the dems. Sitting here wanting to take my mom and her friends to the polls. I saw a lot of young voters like myself waiting in line this Sunday morning, I am very encouraged by what I have seen so far.

[Blueprogress]

23. +3 more for Obama and the Dems

When I was waiting for my mom there were many people coming straight from church to vote and church buses taking folks to the polls. I met and spoke with a few Obama voters as well and I get the impression that people aren't buying the bs from the media.

[AzDar]

21. K & R

[simmonsj811]

22. One time for the 305

and the 786 and yes i voted in miami,florida!!

[TomCADem]

24. Another Reason To Vote Early - Possibility of Bad Weather!

Why chance it?