Blanked Out

The election judges in my precinct (Ward 2) just told me they have already received more votes than by this time during the 2004 Presidential Race.

That’s incredible for a midterm. I will be checking into more precincts throughout the day to see if turnout is high everywhere.

Go vote - if you need to know where you vote, go to this Pollfinder.

Aaron Landry is also posting on high turnout in his precinct in Longfellow, Minneapolis. He had to wait 25 minutes to vote. People were voting outside of the booths for crying out loud. Amazing.

FYI: Abdi Aynte’s live blog of the Ellison and Fine campaigns is up at Minnesota Monitor.

From Aaron:

It was awesome - some people voted in a chair next to an election judge - some people voted on a piano - some people voted on an old church pew.

MinnMo live voter turnout and issues tracking here.

The Ellison campaign just put on the best midnight madness literature drop rally I have ever seen. Roughly 400 people packed the Plaza Verde hall in south Minneapolis. The event was attended by an impressive list of electeds, candidates and other passionate Democrats: Jesse Jackson, Andy Luger, Al Franken, RT Rybak, Rebecca Otto, Jorge Saavedra, Scott Dibble, Karen Clark, Margaret Anderson Kelliher, Elizabeth Glidden, Robert Liligren and many others.

It was also the most diverse crowd I’ve ever seen at a political rally. From mohawks to hijabs, it would be difficult if not impossible to find any group that was not represented.

Need a jolt of energy before you go vote? Click on the picture to the left to see the intro to Keith.

MN Blue also has coverage of the rally and more pictures.

Minnesota Monitor story here.

I’ll be live blogging as much of the day as possible. Currently on the itinerary:

• Informal exit interviews with voters
• Keith Ellison Victory Party
• MPR Policy & a Pint
• DFL Victory Party
• Early election results from counties

Any ideas for novel election day activities is more than welcome in the comments section.

For intel on State Legislature campaigns, MN Campaign Report is your destination.

Statewides and congressionals should head to MN Publius and their Election 2006 feature.

Minnesota Monitor will have live reports from embedded bloggers.

MN Blue is also going with a live blog - with special attention to the IRV measure in Minneapolis.

The only thing that matters on Election Day are the people who actually make it to the polls. Pollsters use modifications to their selection methods to obtain a population that is likely to vote. In 2004, these methods were far from perfect.

It was my experience two years ago that gave me a permanent cynicism toward any prognostications based on polls, whether they be positive or negative. Simply put, Democrats were unable to close.

Here are quick closers to use:

• CD1: Gutknecht admitted he didn’t know how bad Iraq had gotten. Gutknecht abdicated his oversight responsibility and does not deserve re-election.
• CD2: When Murtha said we should increase troop levels in Iraq or get out, Kline blasted him for telling the truth. Kline has an excellent military record but has forgotten the first rule of war: go hard or go home. Kline supported an unrealistic war plan and now it’s time for him to go home.
• CD6: Bachmann has showed disdain for the entire concept of rational thought. On Iraq, when WCCO asked Bachmann what the strategy should be she gave a meaningless sound-bite as an answer. Our troops deserve more and Bachmann’s lack of strategy would endanger lives.
• Gov: While the Governor cannot directly change the Iraq policy, Pawlenty has said he would still support Bush even if his approval rating fell to 2%. That betrays a dangerous fanaticism and ignorance of reality.

Iraq has supplanted terrorism as the main issue driving the election. Believe it or not, but the most common reason given by moderates and independents for voting Republican was “we need to fight them over there so we don’t have to fight them at home.” That patently false propoganda has fallen apart.

In every competitive race, the Minnesotan Republican candidates have proven themselves unsuitable for public office due to their support for the administration’s Iraq policy. As you urge your family, friends or perfect strangers to vote tomorrow, remind them of these closers.

Current forecast for tomorrow: high of 65 and partly sunny. Perfect. Keep your fingers crossed.

Enter Karl Rove:

His plan is three-pronged: to reenergize any conservatives who may be flagging; to make sure the GOP’s carefully constructed campaign apparatus is functioning at peak efficiency; and to put the resources of the federal government to use for political gain.

(…)
But the success of the get-out-the-vote effort depends on putting a reliable army of volunteers into the field, and some worry about the sour mood among Republicans this year. Rove and Mehlman have tried to ensure quality control by recruiting experienced operatives to supervise key state operations.

(…)

In a twist that resembled an Amway sales meeting more than a political strategy session, they offered those who signed up on the spot a chance to win an iPod and other prizes. 

MN Publius reported the MN GOP is also offering an Apple iPod and other gifts for GOTV volunteers.

This is why no matter what the polls say, you should help get out the vote with the candidate you support.

Blanked-out is still out. The splint is off but now my left arm has swollen to epic proportions and so I’m back on the painkillers. Think Popeye.

In the meantime, go vote in the primary. It matters. Don’t know where? See below:

Code provided by Dan Weinand