Size Does Matter

IT'S OFFICIAL: WITH 5 DAYS TO GO, MORE DEMS HAVE VOTED IN FLORIDA THAN IN EACH OF THE EARLY CONTESTS IN IA, NH & NV

Despite five active Presidential campaigns, GOP turnout remains unremarkable

TALLAHASSEE - With Election Day still five days away, thousands more Democrats have cast their votes in the Florida Presidential Primary than in each of the early contests in Iowa, New Hampshire or Nevada. Additionally, early turnout among Democrats is already triple what it was in the 2004 Florida Presidential Primary.

An incredible 295,932 Florida Democrats have voted so far (125,126 absentee and 170,806 early through 1/23/08), and this does not include more than 100,000 Democratic absentee ballots that have yet to be returned. By Tuesday, overall early turnout could quadruple 2004's numbers in which only 97,741 Democrats voted early or absentee.

"The enthusiasm among Democrats is palpable," Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Karen L. Thurman said. "Despite all the fuss over delegates, Democrats are going to the polls and making their voices heard in this open election. The votes will be counted, and the nation is going to be watching on Tuesday night to find out who Florida Democrats want as their nominee."

As the final early state primary before the potentially decisive Feb. 5th contests in 24 states, Florida could have an enormous impact on both the Democratic and Republican races. This early excitement in spite of the primary controversy bodes extremely well for the November general election.

Another good sign for November: Democratic absentee voting is proportionally higher than in any recent election, and more Democrats than Republicans have voted early. Republicans have traditionally held a large advantage with absentee voters, however, Democrats have significantly cut into their lead in 2008.

Moreover, Democratic absentee requests have climbed to more than 75% of their totals in the 2006 general election while Republicans have only reached 60% of their 2006 total - a marked decline that could illustrate low interest in their primary.

The total Democratic votes cast in the Iowa caucuses have been estimated at 239,000. In New Hampshire, almost 288,000 people voted in the open Democratic primary. In Nevada, 120,000 caucused for Democrats.

In Florida's 2004 Presidential Primary, according to the Secretary of State, 93,909 Democrats voted absentee and 3,832 voted early (it was not until the 2004 general election that early voting was standardized statewide.) for a total of 97,741 votes cast prior to the actual day of the primary.

A sampling of recent news stories on Democratic enthusiasm in Florida:

Jerusalem Post: Dems Skip Florida, But Jewish Voters Still Engaged
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1201070769786&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FPrinter

WESH 2 News Orlando: Dems Say They Will Vote in Fla. Primary
http://www.wesh.com/politics/15123813/detail.html

USA Today: Florida Democrats Eager to Vote Despite Candidates' Boycott
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-01-16-florida_N.htm

The Atlantic: Absentee Explosion in Florida
http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/01/florida_primary_turnout_as_of.php

Associated Press: Early Voting Crucial To Campaigns Needing Boost From Fla. Primary
http://www.wftv.com/elections/15102140/detail.html

St. Pete Times: Early Vote May Be Decisive in Florida
http://www.sptimes.com/2008/01/25/State/Early_vote_may_be_dec.shtml

Miami Herald: Democrats Campaigning - On Paper
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/v-print/story/392916.html