Democrats Registering In Record Numbers
Although Democrats have seldom faced such a hotly contested race for the party’s presidential nomination, and although many leading Democrats fear that the race may result in a defeat this November, there’s actually quite some good news for the Democratic Party. An example of such good news is that Democrats are registering in record numbers right now.
The past seven states to hold primaries registered more than 1 million new Democratic voters; Republican numbers mainly ebbed or stagnated. North Carolina and Indiana, which will hold their presidential primaries on May 6, are reporting a swell of new Democrats that triples the surge in registrations before the 2004 primary.
The contest between Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama has engaged enough new voters to change the political makeup of the country, experts say. The next several months — and the general election in November — will reveal the extent of the shift. Is it a temporary increase in interest resulting from a close election between historic candidates? Or is it a seismic swing in party realignment that foretells the end of the red-blue stalemate?
“We are likely to set an all-time record for primary turnout,” said Curtis Gans, director of the Committee for the Study of the American Electorate. “Whether this makes a major historical impact depends on who these voters are and whether or not they get what they want.”
When leading Democrats say they fear that the election will result in a split, a breach, in the party, they seem to ignore another aspect of the contest: it actually inspires people to go out and vote. When the candidate is basically decided upon by the media and party elites, people stay at home. Whey would they vote? But this time, they realize that their vote makes a difference. And, when you know your vote counts, you’re willing to go out there and stand in line for hours.
The close race for the nomination is inspiring many, millions, people to become active. They watch the debates, they watch and read the news… they want to know what’s going on… and they’re passionate.
Of course, the great influx of new voters could be a strictly temporary development. But I think that if the Democrats play this wisely, it won’t be temporary. Well, not temporary as in 6 months.
It sounds like here you are talking about new registrants (never registered for a party before). Does anyone here know how many former Republicans have switched over recently (for this presidential race) to Democrat?