Voter turnout: The last, best hope for Dems?
Democrats are revving up their get-out-the-vote machine and praying it will limit the scope of a GOP victory
Most pollsters are forecasting huge Republican gains in Congress, and one of the main reasons is that conservative voters are, on average, far more enthusiastic about going to the polls this year than liberal voters are. But Democratic leaders are hoping that a program of "well-funded, sophisticated voter turnout efforts" will boost their candidates by a percentage point or two and allow the party to prevail in tight contests like the Senate races in Colorado, Illinois, and Nevada. Will voter turnout efforts save the day for Dems? (Watch a CNN report about voter enthusiasm)
Begging people to vote will not save Democrats: Republicans have flipped hordes of conservatives "from non-voters to voters just through the intensity of their pitch this year," says David Dayen at Firedoglake. To counter that, Democrats needed to convince the new voters who backed them in 2008 that their vote translated into "some tangible success in their lives." Instead, young people are "mad" that their concerns have not been addressed, and that will cost Democrats dearly at the polls.
"2010 midterms determined by non-voters more than voters"
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Democratic apathy may have been exaggerated: The polls projecting the biggest gains for the GOP tend to ignore cellphone-only voters, who are "younger, more urban, and less white," says Nate Silver at FiveThirtyEight — that is, more likely to be politically liberal. Plus, Democrats really do have a great turnout machine left over from President Obama's 2008 campaign, and the vote of an "only-somewhat-enthusiastic Democrat" counts as much as one cast by a really "psyched up" Republican.
"5 reasons Democrats could beat the polls and hold the House"
Actually, turnout is more likely to deepen Democratic losses: It's pretty clear "there's a massive enthusiasm gap between Democrats and Republicans," says Jeremy P. Jacobs at National Journal. According to the Pew Research Center, 70 percent of Republicans have thought a lot about this election — that's a higher number than either party has mustered in the past five midterms. If anything, it means Republicans will win even some of the close races Democrats are counting on to ease their pain.
.....................................................
SEE MORE OF THE WEEK's 2010 ELECTION COVERAGE:
• 6 biggest voter 'screw-ups' of 2010
• Top 6 tense debate moments of 2010
• Top 6 political stunts of 2010
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
5 ways to help the environment while on vacation
The Week Recommends An afternoon of planting trees could be the best part of your trip
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
Doctors are taking on dental duties in low-income areas
Under the radar Physicians are biting into the dentistry industry
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Instagram hopes that blurring nudity in messages will make teens safer
The Explainer The option will be turned on by default for users under 18
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Arizona court reinstates 1864 abortion ban
Speed Read The law makes all abortions illegal in the state except to save the mother's life
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published
-
Henry Kissinger dies aged 100: a complicated legacy?
Talking Point Top US diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize winner remembered as both foreign policy genius and war criminal
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Last updated
-
Trump’s rhetoric: a shift to 'straight-up Nazi talk'
Why everyone's talking about Would-be president's sinister language is backed by an incendiary policy agenda, say commentators
By The Week UK Published
-
More covfefe: is the world ready for a second Donald Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question Republican's re-election would be a 'nightmare' scenario for Europe, Ukraine and the West
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published