Questions for people in swing states

[Onlooker]

(1) Do you think people are more motivated to vote this year than in 2000?
(2) Are Democrats as motivated as Republicans, who are usually said to be more motivated?
(3) Do you think that motivation cuts across all age groups?

Just curious. Thanks.

[zuzu98]

1. Yes to all in MO

I've seen more bumper stickers/signs/buttons than in 2000 (and I live in an extremely conservative area). The crowds for the Kerry/Edwards bus & train stops were larger than anyone anticipated.

At the rallies around St. Louis on Thursday, there was a surprising (to me, at least) number of middle-aged and older people protesting Bush and supporting Kerry. At the rally I went to, I spoke with many people who said "I'm here with my Mom" or "My Dad brought me." I met an older couple who described themselves as Independents, but were strongly in favor of Kerry. They asked the organizers for signs & stickers.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

6. Springfield and Joplin

have active peace groups and they are definately motivated to vote Kerry.

[hatrack]

16. I'll see that analysis and raise you 25,000 Kerry fans

Couple of things - first, people are openly discussing politics in lots of places - at the office, on the elevator, walking through the halls, waiting to see the dentist, at the gas station. There is a a lot of political talk in the air and that just plain wasn't there in 2000. Much of the talk is disgust with Bush, much of it is simply a sense that this isn't working and it's time for a change. Lots and lots of bumper stickers and signs, most of them Kerry/Edwards.

Second, the Kerry campaign train headed west on Wednesday night. On Thursday, it went through two smallish towns in west-central Missouri. In Sedalia (pop. 35,000) where the train stopped briefly, 3,000 people showed up. In Warrensburg, a town of about 20,000, more than a thousand people waited until 11:00 PM just to watch the train go by - it wasn't scheduled to stop and didn't, but they still turned out and waited for hours.

Third, Kerry & Edwards made an appearance in KC last night. The newspaper said 20,000, but I'd guess closer to 25K - the crowd was big, rowdy and enthusiastic. There were older blue-collar guys, college students, Latinos and African-Americans, lots of families, retirees, people in ties and people in flip-flops, along with lots and lots of veterans - not as stage dressing, but just part of the crowd. Back in 2000, when Gore came to Kansas City in August, about 1,000 people turned out. When he returned in October, maybe 8,000 or 9,000 people showed up at a larger rally.

Bottom line - there are a lot of pissed-off people in Missouri, and they're ready for something different.

[NWHarkness]

2. Yes, Yes and Yes in Michigan

Dems are so motivated here that we might just not be a swing state anymore.

[MichiganVote]

3. Ditto for Michigan

[michigandem2]

4. Personally I have the opinion that MI is not a swing state anymore...

its blue!
YES there is a HUGE energized crowd here in Michigan...25,000 people showed up in Grand Rapids (where I live) and that is a LOT for a conservitive area that this is...its great! and its exciting...

[Bozita]

13. Grand Rapids is the Republican capital of Michigan

That crowd last week convinced me that Michigan is no longer in play.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

5. Arkansas

1-yes. I know of folks who have never voted who are registering to vote, and of folks who haven't voted for a while who are voting this time.

2-yes...and what is interesting is the fact that a number of REPUBLICANS who intend to vote Kerry because they can't stand Bush!

3-yes. My twenty-something coworker just registered to vote (he loves my MoveOn sticker), my fortish boss and other coworker think Bush sucks and plan to vote Dem. (BTW, boss is a fundamenatlist Christian, so not all of them are being brainwashed). A half dozen retirees who have recently moved to the area are all planning to vote Kerry, and are actively promoting his candidacy (and at least one couple are life long Republicans!)

[bluedog]

7. Fl here

yes....Democrats are more organized than I have seen in a L-o-n-g time

I have been getting calls from our party to make sure to vote and help others get to the polls or make sure they understand the absentee ballot.........didn't have a call in 2000............so gang...Fl is in play and fired up!!!!!

[eaprez]

8. Yes from Ohio

1- I think they are paying more attention this time. Getting them to the polls is another matter entirely. I am taking voting day off so I can drive people to the polls.

2 - I think Democrats are more ORGANIZED this election cycle than I have seen them be in the past. Organization is the key to success not motivation. You can be the most motivated person on the planet but if that doesn't translate into getting the vote out it doesn't mean anything. There is a lot of anger out there. The reason is twofold - 2000 stolen election and the war - and in Ohio we are trying to capitalize on that anger. There is also no job recovery here at all - in fact another plant closing was announced two days ago in Columbus. Organize! Organize! Organize!

3 - I have participated in several canvasing efforts as well as several voter registration drives and people of all ages that I have encountered are much more informed than in past years. We have had no problem getting volunteers.

[pansypoo53219]

9. kerry at downtown milwaukee

didn't get a good crowd. which disappointed me. but there are many reasons for that, i suppose. but i don't feel a strong mood pro-bush. and didn't see ANY bush signs in farmer fields on drives.

[SW FL Dem]

10. Florida here - Definitely yes to all three

In 2000, our local Dem party did nothing. This year, we are already set up with precinct and block captains to make sure we get every Kerry supporter to the polls. In 2000, I saw 1 Gore/Lieberman bumper sticker. I see at least one a day these days. In this Republican bastion, the Kerry stickers outnumber the Bush ones so far. I'm sure that will change as the election gets closer, but it is an encouraging sign. I know of Kerry supporters across a large age range.

[Raven]

11. From NH,

yes to all three. The Dems are really working hard up here. Lots of Kerry bumper stickers, haven't seen a single Bush sticker. :-)

[TheBigReveal]

14. Answer: Colorado IS a Swing State This Year!

Gore lost in 2000 by a wide margin, but this year we get lots and lots of high-profile visits from both campaigns.

As for my own "informal poll": My truck is plastered with anti-Bush bumpersticks-- it's a moving billboard-- and I've only been flipped off once in many months. During the Iraq invasion, it was thrice a day.

Dems here are quitting jobs, neglecting families, cancelling vacations ... it's like a "war footing." Everybody has everything on the line to protect and defend this country in 2004.

[kaitykaity]

12. Yes from Oregon.

Except Oregon isn't really a swing state. It was only
close in 2000 b/c of Nader, and the Oregon Dem Party has
ben working OVERTIME to make damn sure Nader doesn't get
on the ballot here this time around.

We're here and we're ready.

The Oregon Republican Party is an disarray. They haven't
won a state-wide office in years and years (except for
Senator Smith, but the frozen-pea king spent millions of
his own money to buy the office).

[West Coast Democrat]

15. I am seeing a lot of Kerry signs in Portland, OR

Compared to Gore signs I saw in 2000, I'd say there are twice or three times as many, and it's only August.