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Audacity of Truth
About closed primary voting
Questions are surfacing in the blogosphere about whether or not Florida’s primary was a truly “closed” primary since John McCain rec’d 17% of votes from people identifying themselves as Independents (and 3% as Dems). Captain Ed explains here that what happened in Florida was perfectly normal under closed primary rules:
Closed-primary states typically prepare three ballots for their primary elections: Democrats, Republicans, and non-partisan. When a voter comes to the polling center, their listing carries their registration, and they receive the applicable ballot. That way, the state and the political parties can assure themselves that only registered Republicans even see the Republican candidates on the ballot, Democrats likewise, and independents and minor-party candidates only see the non-partisan races and initiatives.
This depends on registration, of course. Florida requires any registration changes to take place at least 29 days before an election. 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.
He also adds this at the end:
Republicans need to look elsewhere for answers. No one robbed us of a closed primary in Florida. Even among self-identified Republicans in this exit poll split equally between McCain and Romney, so it isn’t as if Republicans didn’t significantly support the winner of this contest.
Yep, but as Gateway Pundit notes here, the conservative based lined up with Romney by close to 10% more than they did McCain.
So it’s not over. But with Rudy’s anticipated endorsement of McCain today, the Mc carries a wave of momentum going into Super Tuesday. Mitt Romney’s got a lot of work to do both tonight at the debate at the Reagan Library, and in the coming days, to try to halt McCain’s “inevitability.”
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6 Responses to “About closed primary voting”
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Well I guess ol’ Rudy’s big state tactic didn’t help him squat. It was just stupid to think that you could ignore the 1st month of of the process and come out well. Now all I see is Rudy running for McCain’s Veep spot. It is just scary watching these guys constant scheming and plotting to get this position. It is bothersome. – Lorica
I think any aura of invinciblity applied to John McCain will come from the media. McCain still have problems with the base and he does not appear capable, or even desirous, of fixing it.
What McCain offers is his unsupported assertion that he unite consevatives. How, McCain-Feingold, McCain-Lieberman, McCain-Kennedy?
As to Mitt Romney he can not win the majority of delegates. Mike Huckabee will see to that. The best Romney, and us Fred heads, can do hope for a brokered convention. I can’t see McCain generating too much support on the floor. The delegates will be loyal republicans and that is from where McCain draws his support.
Still, Romney is having a tough time, just not as tough as McCain, in selling himself to the base.
Now all I see is Rudy running for McCain’s Veep spot. It is just scary watching these guys constant scheming and plotting to get this position.
There is an old story about two brother who grew up in a small town. One ran away to sea and the other became Vice President of the United States. Neither one was ever heard from again.
I think that all of this talk about “outsiders” messing up the Republican primary is rubbish. I don’t doubt that the Left would love to do that, but who is their candidate? Kos endorsed Romney, the MSM hearts McCain (after dumping Huckabee), and the Ronulans still have Grand Wizard Paul in the hunt with his gigantic 3% of the vote in Florida. So who is the Designated Troublemaker?
Now if only Huck would realize that he needs to bow out, and throw his support to Romney. Then we might actually have a good old fashion dog fight. – Lorica
Let’s at least wait until Super Tuesday to worry. I think we can look forward to AG Giuliani, and I’m hoping for a Thompson invite as the VP running-mate.
Hey! I can hope, can’t I? Obama says I can!