BY MIKE CETERA
With early voting over, is there anything that the numbers tell us?
Kane County Clerk Jack Cunningham reports that just under 5 percent of registered voters pulled ballots prior to Election Day. That's 10,391 people who voted early. During the 2006 congressional election, about 9,800 people voted early in Kane County.
Not sure what to glean from those numbers -- especially considering this is a presidential election year.
There is, however, something potentially interesting shaping up in the 14th District Congressional race. Fewer people pulled Democratic ballots in the special election than in the regular primary.
This was first reported on Prairie State Blue.
The latest numbers show 5,409 Republican ballots were pulled in the regular primary, compared to 4,982 Democrat ballots. Over in the special primary, 5,499 Republican ballots were pulled (an increase), while just 4,431 Democrat ballots were pulled.
Why were 551 fewer Democratic ballots pulled in the special primary? Is the presidential race attracting more people to pull Democratic ballots in the regular primary? Note: We don't yet know how many people actually voted in either primary, we just know how many cast ballots.
From Prairie State Blue:
Why are 12% of early-voting Democrats not voting in the Special Primary? Are they waiting until Feb 5th? (Is it even possible to wait?) Whether or not it’s intentional on the part of voters, it seems reasonable to state that the closer the race is, the more likely it is that Democrats will wind up with two different nominees for March and November, and given that these discrepancies disproportionately affect the Democratic Primary, there should be special attention paid amongst Kane County Democrats.
I wonder if there's simply confusion over the two elections. Last month, I witnessed two people trying to vote early at the Aurora Election Commission. They appeared confused over which party's primary ballots to pull. Ultimately the couple pulled a Republican ballot for one primary and a Democratic ballot for the other (I don't remember if they pulled a Dem ballot for the special and a Republican ballot for the regular or vice versa.).
Here is another perspective from Tom Bowen (Foster's campaign manager)...
"...that the # of ballots cast in the congressional is even close is staggering. By the voter file, Republicans outnumber Democrats by almost 2-1 in this district. I would have expected those numbers to be very different than they look right now. It’s extremely positive for us."
Here's an additional take on the Early Vote totals and political climate here in the 14th/Kane County from ArchPundit
Strong turnout in AUR5-3 & AUR5-6 today, in fact just under/near 50% turnout
for both Pcts, according to the Election Judges.
(roughly 500 registered voters in 5-6 700 registered votes in 5-3)
Many new or first time voters, strong youth voter turnout.
For AUR5-6 only here are the raw (unofficial) totals:
Total Votes Cast (Dem & Rep)
Special Primary: 155
Reg. Primary: 206
Rep. Special Primary: 58 votes cast
Rep. Reg Primary 62 Votes Cast
Dem. Special Primary: 97 Votes Cast
Dem. Reg Primary: 144 Votes Cast
No irregularities, voting problems (technical or otherwise)
Valid and complete ballots for both Pcts.known
Well, it seems the local Dems are capable of turning out and voting after all,
even gaining ground (and votes) from the Independant and new voter block.
Now the task is to maintain the momentum going into the March 8th Special Election (short term)
then ramp up for November's finale.
If the Laesch/Foster camps and staff can come together to minimize backlash between their supporters,
the local (Kane, Kendall, DeKalb)Democratic results could make the 14th CD race quite competitive and
'winnable'. Each candidate has shown key strengths in their approach, staff and 'ground game'. A call
or two placed to Serra's supporters would be wise as well, given his strong showing against Stein.
As the saying goes..."There is no magic, only hard work" when to comes to winning elections and (more critically)
party building. If you want it bad enough, you put forth the 'sweat equity and shoe leather' to bring it home.
Kudos to the Laesch campaign, staffers and volunteers, they've shown (once again) the merits of the above
statement.
Also, a hat tip to Hiram Wurf for his observations and gracious assessments now that it's all over but the shouting
Given the problems reported in Aurora in this election, along with the razor thin margins, this may not quite
be wrapped up.
Hoping the animosity and vitrol will be 'kept on the leash' by both the Laesch and Foster camps.
There will be plenty of that and more coming from the Oberweis camp in the weeks/months ahead.
Something is rotten in Denmark, folks.
>>> There should be a recount if only to reassure the voters in the 14th District that the system still works.