Voter registration surge give Democrats hope in northwest NJ

[brentspeak]

Source: Newark Star-Ledger

by Lawrence Ragonese and Mike Frassinelli
Saturday October 18, 2008, 6:57 PM

...

In three of the reddest Republican counties in blue-state New Jersey, Democrats have made voter registration inroads this year, cutting into the lead of the dominant GOP, including major gains in Morris County, arguably the most important Republican county in the state.

Democratic leaders hope the spur in their numbers can translate to more than just a one-time, passing interest in voting for Sen. Barack Obama for president.

They are optimistic it could give a boost to 5th District Congressional District candidate Dennis Shulman, who is challenging incumbent Republican Rep. Scott Garrett. They also are keeping fingers crossed for a filter-down of support to Democrats running for county and local elections, too.

...

In Morris County, a crush of new voters registered by last Tuesday's deadline. The new totals show almost 71,000 registered Democrats, up more than 75 percent from about 41,000 in the 2004 presidential election. Republicans saw a much smaller rise, to 111,000, as their lead over the Democrats has shrunk substantially and the number of unaffiliated voters decreased.



Read more: http://www.nj.com/morris/index.ssf/2008/10/voter_registration_surge_give.html

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Encouraging news that Obama may be helping some Democrats at the local level. Fingers crossed that Shulman can kick Garrett's butt out of office once-and-for-all.

[kirby]

1. This of course assumes the 'new registrations' are not thrown out

or otherwise challenged/purged/subverted by GOP lawyers.

[karynnj]

2. This is my county and there have not been any problems of that type

What is reassuring is that in addition to these new voters, the independents may break for Obama. Obama does not need to win this most Republican county - the goal has always been simply to keep the margin down. If McCain is in danger here, he likely wins the state by a landslide. (Gore and Kerry both won easily)

[VWolf]

3. Moved to Sussex county this year,

so my wife and I are two of the 'surge'.

[tilsammans]

4. Good point here:

"In some towns, like Hanover and Mount Olive, where in many years there were no Democrats running for local office, some voters registered Republicans just to have a say in choosing their GOP mayor and town councils, he said. "
================

In my town, incumbent Rethugs often run unopposed. There are times when nobody new steps up, not even other Rethugs.

All that said, I could NEVER register as a Republican in an attempt to effect change. Yes, I'll go to town meetings and hoot and holler, and send viral e-mails on in support of GOP challengers whom I felt better represented the community than the GOP incumbents.

But register as a Republican? No. Hellin'. Way.

:kick: