Texas polls busy on last day of early voting [Great news for GOP]

Dallas Morning News ^ | October 31, 2008 | Rudolph Bush

[Zakeet]

The old records are on the floor, stomped into dust by a constant parade of early voters who, even before one vote has been counted, have made this an election year for the books.

Early voting ended in North Texas on Friday much as it began 11 days ago, with long lines of people filing into polling places to cast ballots in what many called the biggest election of their lives.

[Snip]

With 967,000 registered voters, Tarrant [County] can boast that nearly half of them have already been to the polls.

Mr. Raborn said his county was on pace to clock around 439,000 early ballots for the election, a significant leap over the previous record of 290,746 early votes set in 2004.

In Denton, the expected turnout was about 180,000, vs. 113,000 in 2004.

And in Collin County, 193,218 people had voted early through Thursday, about 45 percent of registered voters. More than 20,000 additional voters were expected to turn out Friday. That compared with the 154,544 who voted early in 2004.

[Zakeet]

Tarrant, Denton and Collin Counties went for Bush over Kerry by more than 2:1 in 2004.

Despite MSM reports, GOP voters are indeed turning out ... in record numbers!

[Jedidah]

Those numbers are primarily from metro areas, which include many Obama voters.

McCain should have no worries in Texas.

[jerod]

If McCain loses Texas, you might as well jump off a cliff.

[itsthejourney]

No lines here. I was 4th in line earlier in the week.

In other news, The Dallas Morning News was one of the msm to be thrown off Hussein’s plane.

[Shire]

I live in East Texas and my husband and I early voted. Had to stand in a long line to vote and I heard on the news that my county has experienced a huge early voter turnout. I haven’t really spotted any Obama signs — just McCain/Palin. By the way, we never got polled and I have had no one call me and ask anything. I wanted to make sure my McCain/Palin vote happened and nothing got in my way to keep me from casting my vote!

[Al B.]

Those numbers are primarily from metro areas, which include many Obama voters.

Obama may carry inner city areas in Dallas, Houston and Ft. Worth but vote totals are by county here. Tarrant (Ft. Worth), Dallas and Harris County (Houston) are all solidly Republican.

No worries indeed. Only question is how big the margin will be in the king of red states.

[snarkytart]

This is good news, because it shows we are enthusiastic about voting (for whatever reason), because TX is a safe red state.
If people are coming out in a state they know is McCain’s anyway, then it looks good.

[txzman]

“If McCain loses Texas, you might as well jump off a cliff.”

When Texas goes Democrat, it’s time to leave the US.

[Mrs.Z]

While in line, I talked to people who “have never voted early”, and “haven’t voted in years”.

In Fort Worth, there were 3 times as many lines set up, and although lots of Blacks were voting, the numbers of retirees and working people my age (40-50) was overwhelming.

I was actually there twice (because I drove my hubby the second time), and the thing that struck me was that there were practically no young people. Not even young Black voters.

No under 30 voters = blowout for the pubs.

[basil]

Since I live near Austin (a blue dot in a red state), I do see several Obama signs around. However, when I see one I just shrug and think that those poor folks vote won’t even count here. The electoral college will take care of that.

[Riodacat]

Texas polls busy on last day of early voting [Great news for GOP]"

Yip-yip-yahooee.. Big whup!!!
Texas was never in play.. Even if 100% of us vote McCain it will make no diff in the EVC.
We're gonna have to look for good news elsewhere..

[deport]

End of day results as of Thrusday, Oct. 30. Maybe they'll post the final results later on today but it may not be till Monday

Early Voting--top 15 counties

Early Voting - October 30, 2008

November 4 , 2008
Early Voting
Cumulative Totals
Thru Close of Business
October 30, 2008

County	Reg Voters	# In Person On October 30, 2008	Cumulative In- Person Voters	Cumulative % In- Person	Cumulative By Mail Voters	Cumulative In- Person And Mail Voters	Cumulative Percent Early Voting
Harris	1,940,356	77,139	591,027	30.46%	52,502	643,529	33.17%
Dallas	1,208,151	52,569	417,198	34.53%	29,628	446,826	36.98%
Tarrant	959,499	50,773	378,742	39.47%	26,946	405,688	42.28%
Bexar	930,943	38,283	333,847	35.86%	23,117	356,964	38.34%
Travis	609,180	30,370	245,428	40.29%	15,303	260,731	42.80%
Collin	424,528	23,074	186,296	43.88%	6,922	193,218	45.51%
El Paso	388,643	12,162	95,258	24.51%	4,376	99,634	25.64%
Denton	358,525	20,606	143,556	40.04%	7,000	150,556	41.99%
Hidalgo	305,206	8,971	71,817	23.53%	2,381	74,198	24.31%
Fort Bend	299,002	14,483	128,645	43.02%	7,095	135,740	45.40%
Montgomery	241,927	10,419	84,735	35.03%	7,582	92,317	38.16%
Williamson	231,977	12,670	92,941	40.06%	3,899	96,840	41.75%
Nueces	198,938	6,593	54,205	27.25%	3,967	58,172	29.24%
Galveston	189,042	7,173	62,057	32.83%	5,481	67,538	35.73%
Cameron	174,222	4,237	33,216	19.07%	1,838	35,054	20.12%
Total	8,460,139	369,522	2,918,968	34.50%	198,037	3,117,005	36.84%

[elhombrelibre]

Outstanding news!

[Jedidah]

I don’t disagree that McCain will handily carry Texas, but I live in Tarrant County. I’ve seen the early voting lines, and Obama blacks are voting in droves. The whole SE quarter of Ft. W. is black, as well as much of central & SE Arlington. North Ft. W. is Hispanic — not sure how they’ll break.

As for Harris County, sure the suburbs are solidly Republican. But Houston is largely black, especially after Katrina. Ike probably made it worse, with refugees from Galveston. Crime is up, too, since the least election.

Denton & Collin are, indeed, solidly Republican.

Again, McCain has no worries here in Texas, and I think Cornyn will be, too. But I’ve seen those lines. Early voters could vote at any county polling place, not just near their homes. S. Arlington (white & affluent) had black voters in droves at their early voting spot.

Just saying what I’ve seen. Some early voters are so fired up they can’t wait to cast a ballot; others just like the convenience. I don’t find it worrisome, but I don’t read much into it, either.

[Jedidah]

Excellent. My polling site experiences have been in Arlington, both north and south. I like what you saw.

[Kandy Atz]

Collin County is the northern suburbs including Allen, Frisco, McKinney, Plano, parts of North Dallas, the 75 and Dallas North Tollway corridors heading north. These are affluent for the most part working families, professionals and small business owners that would be crucified by Obama’s tax increases.

With the exception of a few nutcases, zero has no support. But then again, he never had a chance down here. 2004 71% voted GOP and in 2000 73% voted with the good guys.

God Bless Texas. Maybe the next census will give us a few more electoral votes and representation in Washington and take away some of the Dems advantage in New York and Illinois.

[Jedidah]

You’re apparently a youngun.

Texas was solidly Democratic not too long ago. John Tower (1966) was the first GOP Senator since Reconstruction, as I recall. It wasn’t until the 80s that Republicans took over.

[manic4organic]

My wife reported much the same as you when she voted yesterday. I’m going Tuesday.

[Professional Engineer]

And in Collin County, 193,218 people had voted early through Thursday

It was fun too. As my son and I walked up to the polling place, a bunch of Obamanites starting waving signs at us. I most definitely told them to "Keep The Change".

[Tammy8]

I think the big news in this article is the huge voter turnout in places where McCain is definately expected to win. We can hope this carries through nationwide and there is a huge turnout of McCain voters. Large turnout traditionally favors Republican wins.