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By BRETT MARCY [email protected]
Tuesday, November 02, 2004 Page: 1A
President Bush and U.S. Sen. John Kerry have spent more than a combined $1
billion and fought to the wire to win the presidency. It’s unlikely that a
little rain in the forecast will keep voters from turning out to the polls.
Today’s forecast: a 50 percent chance of showers after 11 a.m., according
to the National Weather Service.
Voter turnout is often the deciding factor in razor-thin races, so any
glitch or hiccup on Election Day could spell disaster for either candidate.
“The weather can play a role, but if it’s a light rain and mild
temperatures, that should not hold down turnout,” said Tom Baldino, a Wilkes
University political science professor.
Baldino anticipates heavy turnout at the polls, particularly in
Northeastern Pennsylvania.
Thousands of new voter registrations, coupled with keener-than-usual
interest in this presidential race, should drive out big numbers of voters
throughout the region, he said.
In fact, voter turnout could be the highest it has been since 1968,
according to G. Terry Madonna, director of the Center for Politics and Public
Affairs at Franklin and Marshall College.
In 1968, more than 70 percent of registered voters went to the polls,
compared with 63 percent in 2000, Madonna said.
In Luzerne County, voter turnout stood at 61.3 percent in 2000. Madonna
said those numbers could push 70 percent, despite a threat of rain.
“I’m not a big believer that inclement weather has any effect on turnout,
unless it’s really inclement,” Madonna said. “I think turnout is going to be
very heavy.”
The Bush and Kerry campaigns hope Madonna’s prediction holds. They have
dispatched thousands of volunteers and paid staffers around the state to get
out the vote today.
“I think turnout is going to be historically high,” said Robert Davison,
spokesman for the Bush-Cheney campaign in Luzerne County. “We’re motivating
Republicans and conservative Democrats to get out there, whether it’s in the
rain, sleet or snow, and get to the polls.”
He said the campaign will work all day and night to ensure a heavy turnout
for Bush in Northeastern Pennsylvania. He also predicted that up to 30 percent
of the region’s Democrats would vote for the Republican president.
As for the rain, Davison said a little water won’t keep Bush supporters
home.
Bush supporters, he said, overwhelmingly like the president and his
policies, whereas many Kerry backers only support the Democrat because they
are anti-Bush.
There is no doubt that America Coming Together – a liberal political action
committee – is decidedly anti-Bush. The group’s spokeswoman, Rebecca Kirszner,
said the public’s desire for a change in the White House will be enough to
swing the election toward Kerry.
Kirszner said ACT has 15,000 paid workers on the ground statewide to get
out the vote and estimated that the group will knock on 1 million doors in
Pennsylvania today.
“With an election this important, no one should want to sit on the
sidelines,” she said, adding that the rain should not be a factor. “With an
election this important, it’s not about the weather. It’s about the future.”
Brett Marcy, the Times Leader’s Harrisburg correspondent, may be reached at
(717) 238-4728.
NEED A RIDE?
To make sure every voter makes it to the polls, Republicans and Democrats
are offering free rides to the polling places. Call Bush-Cheney campaign
headquarters at 970-9770 or Kerry/Edwards campaign headquarters at 408-9780.