20% of GOP votes cast by non-Republicans? Updated
Update: Ed Morrissey has your answer:
In my experience in California, independents would often re-register as either Democrats or Republicans in order to participate in primaries, and then re-register again as independents for the general election. It’s perfectly legal, and it is part of the normal primary process. Most of the time it makes no difference at all, because most primaries of late have not had the same wide-open quality of this one after the first three or four states.
In this case, exit polls show “party identification” statistics that put 20% of the voters outside of the Republican Party. That’s their stated personal identification, not their actual party registration for last night’s primaries. That’s not a bug, it’s a feature, and it’s unavoidable — unless major parties want to stop re-registering voters altogether. I’m actually a little surprised that only 3% of the vote came from re-registered Democrats, considering the uselessness of their own primary this year, which still attracted over 1.6 million voters to the 1.8 million who voted in the GOP contest. Three percent of that vote would have been 54,000 voters, and yet McCain won by almost 100,000.
***
Yesterday afternoon, I noted reports of independents voting in the closed Florida Republican primary and pointed out the state law requiring that voters establish party ID by registering 29 days before an election.
Flip Pidot took a look at exit poll results posted at CNN (see page 4) and wonders how 20 percent of GOP votes were cast by non-Republicans:
One breakout that puzzles me though is the vote share by party identification. Romney and McCain were tied among Republicans (33-33), while McCain won [independents] 44-23…
If I’m reading the poll correctly, it suggests 17% of Republican primary voters identified themselves as having no major party affiliation, while 3% identified themselves as registered Democrats.
So was it closed or not? Pidot probes further:
Exit polls rely on the accuracy of the verbal reponses given by the pollees and of course, aren’t definitively dispositive of anything at all. But 17% of 1,500 respondents self-identifying as independents who voted Republican means something irregular, unless hundreds of voters chose to tell pollsters a similar lie…
…I e-mailed that county’s supervisor of elections at around 2 pm on primary day to inquire about the reported irregularity, but have yet to receive a response.
Given the possibility that as much as 20% of the 2 million GOP votes cast today came from independents and Democrats (enough to change the outcome), I think we do now need some answers…
Anyone got any?
***
A caller to Rush Limbaugh discussed the issue yesterday.
And here’s a letter writer complaining to a Florida newspaper that independents should be allowed to vote in the Florida primary. Looks like they did. What’s the complaining all about then?
I think it is about time we change our election rules and give the independent voters a chance to vote in the primary elections.
It is allowed in other states, but not all. This is unfair. It would also put Florida on the map as candidates would be here campaigning because of the date of our elections. How do we get this to change? We need it.
Louis Marshall
Port St. Lucie
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Trackbacks
- Sierra Faith
- Captain's Quarters
- Jules Crittenden » The Inevitability
- Right Voices » Blog Archive » McCain New Frontrunner? 20% of GOP Votes Cast By Non-Republicans
- Never Yet Melted » Non-Republicans Produced McCain’s Florida Win?
- UNCoRRELATED
- The Cranky Conservative » Blog Archive » What’s the point of a closed primary
- Suitably Flip
- Underground Politics: Independent News
- Hot Air » Blog Archive » McCain fallout: What’s conservative talk radio’s next move?
- Plumb Bob Blog » Investigate Florida, Perhaps?
- Liberty Pundit
- SassaFrassin.com » Detailing the Depression and Disgust
- American Power
- DEMS, INDEPENDENTS AID MC CAIN IN FLORI<EMDUH « Texas Hold ‘Em Blogger
- Don’t Panic - McCain Not Winning Over Conservative Republicans : American Conservative Daily
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Categories: 2008 campaign, Voter fraud
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Either the poll workers in Coral Springs are not following Florida law or David Nirenberg did not vote or Nirenberg registered as a Republican on or before 30 Dec 07.
http://michellemalkin.com/2008/01/29/so-much-for-a-closed-florida-primary/
Remember FloriDaaaaah?
One day a fourth-grade teacher asked the children what their mothers did for a living. All the typical answers came up — teacher, nurse, businesswoman, saleswoman, etc.
However, little John Ansell was being uncharacteristically quiet, so when the teacher encouraged him to partcipate in the exercise, his reply was a little shocking.
“Well,” said John, “my mother is an exotic dancer down at the 99 Club. She dances and takes her clothes off in front of strangers, and they stuff money down her underwear. Sometimes, when a man is really interested in her, she goes home with him and stays the night for some extra money. She says it’s so she can buy me stuff for school.”
The teacher was very concerned by this statement and quickly engaged the other children in some exercises and took little John Ansell aside to ask him, “Is that really true about your mother, Johnny?”
“No,” John said.
“Johnny, why would you tell such an awful lie about your mother,” she asked, shocked.
“Well,” explained Johnny, “She actually works for the Democrat National Committee and is helping to get Hillary Clinton elected, but I was too embarassed to say that in front of the other kids.”
WTF is up with Crooked Charlie Crist allowing *I* to vote in the *R* primary, handing McCain a win?
You want a STOLEN Election, here ya go.
The Country Club stacked the deck against us Sam’s Club Repubs.
This is the end of the GOP of Goldwater and Reagan – the greedy lying and cheating Rockafeller SOBs are running it for each other, and will cheat and lie to do hold onto their control.
So, now the media not only gets to pick the front runners for us, indies and dimmies do too?
All the polls I saw leading up to the primary had McCain-Romney just about even, and within the margins of error (I believe). I thought a 5% difference between the two was large, considering the polling data. Maybe this explains it. Of course, there was the New Hampshire Dem polling problems too.
Lousy independents. Seriously, if the law requires that you must declare a party in order to vote then grow a pair and pick a side.
And to think, everyone was worrried about the “electronic voting machines” down there. Hell, forget about the electronic machines its the dag gone humans you have to worry about. Re-effing-diculous.
I kind of remember the early release of the exit polls could cause problems in West Fl., but we can’t be Gore Losers that McCant went dirty to get this win. I know a great deal of people that used their fingers to call, email and even faxed to stop amnesty and we did it 5 times. Where are they now?
Michelle, Newt is going to be at CPAC2008, can we make a move for a brokered convention?
Really, we need him to jump back in.
John Ansell#3–Thanks,I really needed that.
We have enough trouble with McCain without getting DIRTY NEWT back, too!
Romance is NICE – but keep the fantasies OUT of the voting booth AND DEAL IN FACTS, please.
DITTO FRED!
Exactly! I remember hearing 70 to 80% of Americans rejected Shamnesty ‘07. Was that poll wrong? Did they call bears, and they are now hibernating??
I am sick. Ditto on #3. That laugh helped for about 10 seconds, then I remembered Florida. Now I’m sick again.
Shamnesty ‘09 will be the biggest transformational PERMANENT mistake of this century for America. An immediate 10% increase in “legal” residents, with 30M right behind to take their places, with no decrease in illegal population. Too many voters are absolutely clueless.
Oh, and thanks, Michelle, for staying up late watching out for us.
Saw this on a Hot Air thread – SECOND reason to suspect that McCain did not win the GOP primary.
Why do I have that “cheated” taste in my mouth?
And right now I’m listening to that insufferable David Gregory on Conan complaining about flying on Air Force One. Why am I clenching my fist? If that slimeball doesn’t have gratitude for sharing space on the president’s plane maybe he should look for another assignment. Or maybe leave via that fictitious rear cargo loading door while at 35,000 ft.
Devil’s Advocate Hat ON…..
Couldn’t the fact that McCain is attracting Independents and a few Democrats be spun as proof that he is a broadly popular candidate with the mythical “vast middle”? Conventional wisdom is that candidates run to the right or left during primaries and tack to the center for the general election.
What if McCain has discovered that he can run on the left side of the Republican Party and attract the voters from across the aisle that he’d need later? Blessed by the Treason Media’s warm tongue-bath of coverage and a field of woefully incompetent opponents as campaigners, McCain has been able to hit the masse shot and manages to cheese off fewer voters than he is bringing in from the outside.
How does this play out in the long run? (Other than enraging conservatives, that is.) With Huckabee as his Veep pick – we all know this is what Huck was angling for – McCain/Huckabee will be able to present all the liberal-socialist-populist garbage that the Dems without the nagging feeling that Al Queda will move back into the lands we’ve liberated the moment the next Dem President surrenders the war.
We like to think that Americans would treasure such values as freedom, responsibility and self-reliance, but it’s growing clearer that we are in the minority. The majority has watched how the moochers have snagged a free ride and figured “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em,” and lining up for alms from the beneficent government. Comfort has replaced security for many and as long as the Barcalounger still reclines, who cares about people on the other side of the world who want us dead? Deal or No Deal is on!!!
That’s how it could play out. Please pray that I’m wrong.
Devil’s Advocate Hat OFF…..
What the hell? So McCain didn’t win, and this further negates his ridiculous “I am the great R uniter” crap. If McCain ends up the final R nominee, I am DEFINITELY switching to Democrat – rather they take the blame for the downfall of the US than Republicans. The entire US will end up like the cesspool that NYC used to be, and once all those illegals are rewarded for breaking the law, there will be no way back. ever. it is goodbye US and hello world dominated by the superpowers of China, Russia and Islam.
You need to add the Florida out of state vote to the tally. The population surge in Florida is enormous over the last few days, mostly condo dwellers. Everybody is talking about it, where did all the people come from. Obvious answer, they came to vote. They will be gone by next week. My NY neighbor falls into this category. A few days off, some sun, vote and back to NY.
Most Democrats got the word that the Democrats weren’t actually holding a primary in Florida so it was fine to legally switch your party allegiance months before the primary and screw up the GOP. There appears to be a lot who didn’t get the word that you have to do the switch at least 30 days before the election, else no go — Hence what was seen on election day when the poeple trying to switch and vote showed up. Not too bright huh.
In response to ombre rose. It is a shame that the press and candidates started this election procces a year early. As many voters are suffering fatigue.
If Newt and Fred had jumped into the fray when the rest did, there would definately be a candidate that conservatives could get behjind. Unfortunately the press is going to decide the future of this country by spinning all stories in favor of their social agenda candidates.
Yes the press includes even though denied the right side of the blogeshere. Huigh Hewitt from day one has been supporting Romney and down playing all other candidates. Portraying them in a bad light and trying his best to play the religous bigot card on all who did not support Mitt.
In retrospect as this campaign finishes up Hugh may be backing the best candidate left standing on the republican ticket. I just hope and pray his political picks are much better then his sporting picks.
A Thompson and Newt ticket would have been a great. Unfortunately they did not seem to get along.
With the very strange election allowed in Florida. Letting people come in and change against the law party affiliation on the day of. I just can not wait to see what happens in November. I better stock up on popcorn and chips as this drama is heating up.
I fear for our Republic. Since crazy Al Gore tried to fix the 2000 election there has been nothing but shenanigans at our polling places.
Before we raise a big stink about this, we first need to find out who that 20% voted for. If they are pretty much the same breakdown as the Republicans, our arguments will be irrelevant because it would’ve been the same outcome either way. If not, than they likely voted simply to “hijack” the outcome.
I just threw up a little.
Did you read the link, Xeno? While the “Republican” vote was evenly split by Romney and McCain at 33%, McCain took the “Independent” vote from Romney 44%-23%. CNN did not report the Dem crossover, though I’d expect that to be even larger in favor of McCain.
page 4 also shows that 29% of CONSERVATIVES voted for McCain. I think exit polls are unreliable, but if they are really conservative, what are they thinking???
Vote fraud by Democrats–old hat. Happens every time a polling location is opened anywhere across the nation. It’s like the sun rising.
I think this whole primary thing is BS. As someone who lives in Wisconsin, I don’t get to vote for a candidate until a lot of other states have already voted, leaving me with THEIR choice. How is this fair? I feel the primary should be on the same day in all states. how can we get this changed? My pick at this point is Romney but what if he gets lost in the primary shuffle before I even have a chance to vote? I don’t want to vote for McCainesty.
To answer Flips question..In Michigan, we need to declare a party prior to getting the ballot. When I said Republican, I got a Republican ballot…I am sure that the same is true for Florida. Two different parties, two different ballots, but election is on the same day at the same precincts.. If Florida is link MI, any Dem that did this to be a jerk will pay for it in the long run..their name gets put into the system and that means mailers, phone calls etc..
Drink lots of beer or wine, it takes the edge off.
There will be no change. We need to prepare to hand over the once “Grand”OP to the liberals. Our representatives just can’t seem to do this quick enough.
Accept the things you cannot change. The past really does repeat itself. Does “Senate” ring a bell? Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Sorry for the clichés. Our founding fathers new this and they feared for this day and tried, best they could, to prevent it.
The only way to save this country form further demise if fire all of the Politicians and replace them with their secretaries (who probably know more about running things anyhow).
I called it months ago; McStain/cRudly ‘08 because the Republicans do not think anybody but a liberal is electable and these two guys embody what a liberal is all about. Republicans in DC are cowards.
Come Election Day, Soap will vote Dem for the first time ever if McStain/cRudly is my choice. At least some Repubs in DC will fight a Dem President.
/rant off
I took it that the independents didn’t want to declare a particular party and wanted a seperate ballot..that just isn’t going to happen..On the day of a primary, you vote for one person, therefore there is no need to print up a special ballot just to ensure that a person that calls themself independent get special treatment..I don’t agree with the 29 days prior though..they should be resistered to vote in their designated poling station and be able to walk in and say I want this ballot or that..
I’m guessing that this is largely not due to non-regisistered-Republicans voting as Republicans. I’m guessing this is due to registered Republicans not identifying with their party of register. For instance, I’m registered Republican but don’t identify as such. My wife is registered Republican but only because a group fraudulently altered her voter registration form (told her she didn’t need to fill out the rest — took it from her and then checked “Republican” when she turned away) and she hasn’t cared enough to change it to NPA. My parents are registered as Republicans but wouldn’t identify as such. They’d identify as Conservative.
no, didn’t read the link, my bad. i rescind my comment.
I understand the frustration as a fellow Cheesehead. However, what makes you think that candidates will show up here or reflect our values in a “national” campaign with a national primary? They’ll be busy chasing votes in warmer and mostly-liberal climes, yes, more-liberal than Iowa and New Hampshire.
As bad a choice as Mc Cain is, I advise agains staying home or not voting. There will be other Republicans who will need your vote. One can fail to vote for president and still support real Republicans.
Where is law enforcement? Election laws were broken, now is the time to round up these law breakers and send them to prison!
You think it was bad in Florida? The convention’s gonna be up here in Minnesota…we are so screwed as a party. I knew it was time to start stocking ammo when Thompson got pushed out.
John McCain: A liberal version of Bob Dole or a lite version of Hillary Cllinton. Not much of a choice for the Republican Party or the nation.
McCain now has 28 more delegates than Romney and the MSM is making it sound like Romney’s out of the race.
Yesterday Romney had 29 more than McCain and nobody was declaring Romney the winner.
This is just more MSM BS trying to influence the sheeple into voting for their boy McCain.
The question is: How many will buy it?
steveegg
Agreed that not all states would get the same amount of campaigning from all the candidates if there were a national primary … first of all the date would need to be moved back to April or May … leaving just enough time to have their conventions before the general election campaigning started … but more importantly all citizens in all states would get the opportunity to select from all of the candidates running … instead we are basically down to 2 candidates after just 7 states, only one of which was a “closed” primary (which in my view makes the others invalid) and about 10% of the population having gotten the opportunity to select from a full slate of candidates … All we can hope for is a big turnout for someone other than McCain on 2/5 in the hope it will give the remaining states a chance to mean something when they vote …
YES
I would have to think the Exit Polling (if there was any) of illegal Aliens who fraudulently voted in the Florida Primaries was probably 80/20 spit among McCain and Schmucabee. Both are open borders shills running for President of Amero-Mexico.
Thanks for the words of wisdom! I’m still trying to come to terms with another questionable election in Floriduh. The rule of law no longer applies in this country it appears.
With such profound concerns as to independents and ems participating where are the Florida state GOP officials? I would expect that a recount checking party affiliation as of Dec 31, 2007 would be a obvious way to clear the air and concerns. If this is not done the Florida GOP will be stained and revealed as a organization without credibility. So easy to clear up, why is a check not being ran? The State holds the records electronically for heavens sake!
ROFLMAO
I just fell out of my chair on that one!
So was this the effect of not having any delegates at stake for the Democrats’ primary in Florida?
Actually, the Iowa caucus, the Nevada caucus, the Wyoming county conventions (which decided 12 of the 14 delegates), and the caucus portion of Louisiana (which set in Iowa/Nevada Play-Doh at least 27 of Louisiana’s 47) were by defnition closed, and closed better than Florida. The big news out of that is McCain did not win any of those 3 1/2, though he was the named candidate that received the most support in Louisiana. Indeed, other than Louisiana, which happened hours after Fred Thompson dropped out, McCain did quite poorly.
APPARENTLY INDEPENDANTS WERE BEING ALLOWED TO VOTE IN THE FLORIDA STATE PRIMARY IN VIOLATION OF FLORIDA STATE LAW. AS MUCH AS 20% OF THE OUTCOME MAY HAVE BEEN EFFECTED. IF THIS RESULT IS NOT RETABULATED ELIMINATING THE INDEPENDANT VOTE AS STATE LAW DEMANDS, THEN THIS COUNTRY HEADS INTO A CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS COME NOVEMBER. ONCE AGAIN, FLORIDA FINDS ITSLEF MIRED IN A RECOUNT. THE FLORIDA RESULTS MUST BE RETABULATED ASAP.
I’ve left this message several places in an attempt to get the word out and raise enough media attention that it becomes a story. Anyone willing to go along with me and do some posting and contacting also?
I’ve got a discussion going at Hannity.com (Washington Politics forum)… and I’m also doing what I can to expose the DemoCrooks!
Personally, I’m starting to believe that the FL GOP is thrilled with the results and they’re not about to “fact check” a thing!
GOOD, NEW ORLEANS LADY, GOOD!
You’re a patriot and a great American!
Who else?!
No problem! Feel free to take a look.. you’d be very surprised over the amount of liberals who are very regular posters at Hannity.com.
http://forums.hannity.com/showthread.php?t=504281&page=6