Why has GOP turnout taken a dive? (MO down massive 57%)

CNN Politics ^ | February 8, 2012 | John Avlon

[red flanker]

Beneath Rick Santorum's stunning three-state sweep on Tuesday stands another stubborn sign of dissatisfaction with the status quo: Republican turnout is down.

I'm talking embarrassingly, disturbingly, hey-don't-you-know-it's-an-election-year bad. It is a sign of a serious enthusiasm gap among the rank and file, and a particularly bad omen for Mitt Romney and the GOP in the general election.

Here's the tale of the tape, state by state, beginning with Tuesday night: Minnesota had just more than 47,000 people turn out for its caucuses this year -- four years ago it was nearly 63,000 -- and Romney came in first, not a distant third as he did Tuesday night. In Colorado, more than 70,000 people turned out for its caucus in 2008 -- but in 2012 it was 65,000. And Missouri -- even making a generous discount for the fact that this was an entirely symbolic contest -- had 232,000 people turn out, less than half the number who did four years ago.

[BigSkyFreeper]

People are sick and tired of these endless debates every other day that amount to nothing more than lame attempts at ratings for channels nobody even watches.

[el_texicano]

From your keyboard to God’s ears. Oh my soul hovers between the hope you have written and the darkness of despair for this country.

Granted, Gov. Palin prayed God for direction and she gave us the answer Oct. 5th. But will God have mercy on us? There is NO ONE ELSE. Could it be that God has seen the deepening darkness gathering about us and plans to move Palin at just the right time?

What must be going on in Gov. Palin’s mind these days?

[Venturer]

I agree withyou, I would crawl a mile through broken glass to vote against Obama.

It isn’t hardly worth walking any farther than the toilet to vote in a republican primary when the RINO’s have already decided to have Mitt.

[no dems]

I see the POTUS election really only a tossup in 3 states Ohio, Penna, and Florida.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
You are absolutely right my friend. And, whoever wins 2 of those 3 States will occupy the White House from 2013 to 2017. That’s why we MUST have Marco Rubio or Allen West on the ticket in the VP spot to help carry FL. So, we have Santorum from PA and Rubio or Allen from Florida.....

YEP, WE’RE GOOD TO GO.

[BigSkyFreeper]

You’re gonna have to get beyond the fact Palin ain’t interested in running for president this year, and who can blame her? She’s been through this futile media anal exam once before.

[Road Glide]

“The GOP is not happy about any of this. The candidates were not what the base wanted to see”

The “GOP” [establishment] and “the base” do not share the same interests, values, or politcal goals, nor do they support the same candidates.

We are seeing the results of that schism as the primary season unfolds.

It doesn’t look that great for November. Hope my pessimism is proven wrong….

[Vigilanteman]

Seven reasons for Rick Santorum

1. Who has won the most states without the benefit of their own money, last election's organization or a billionaire casino sugar daddy?
   
2. Who is everybody's second choice when he isn't their first?
   
3. Who can get both the Romney people and the Gingrich people, who hate each other, to vote for him?
   
4. Who has the best record on immigration?
   
5. Who has the best plan for repealing ObamaCare? And is the only GOP candidate who didn't help write or approve legislation which helped spawn this fiasco?
   
6. Who has the best plan for expanding the American economy and strengthening American families?
   
7. Who is the closest thing we have to the "generic Republican" which polls show consistently beating Obama and is most likely to make the election about Obama's sorry record that about himself?

[Cowman]

in general, the more people think Romney is inevitable, the less they will come out to vote - but now that he's been proven beatable, we should see higher turnout numbers ahead

How many of those voters will be Democrat crossovers in "open" primaries trying to pick who they want to run against?

[no dems]

Ref. you Post #5: You forgot to mention the loss of Religious Freedom. Today the Catholic Church is under assault by the Obama White House and the Department of HHS. What church or denomination will be next?

[LibLieSlayer]

“Where’s RNC this year?”

Working hard behind the scenes to reelect obama.

LLS

[nwrep]

Can you define what you mean by “run”? Deadlines for ballots have expired in most states. The only thing she can run now is a marathon, not the GOP nomination.

[Dead Corpse]

Damn near record turnout at my Precinct in MN. They had 72 show up last Presidential election. 133 last night.

[Eva]

I think it is just the opposite, I think that he push to foist Romney on us, as the anointed candidate, followed by the negative campaign that Romney has waged, is what is killing the enthusiasm.

A whole lot of people felt disenfranchised by the GOP, when they crowned John McCain as the nominee after winning some of those questionable primaries in both New Hampshire and Florida, with same day registration and bus loads of Democrats, voting in Republican primaries.

McCain didn’t win the support of those disenfranchised Republicans until he brought in Sarah Palin.

[JLAGRAYFOX]

You betcha, right on!!! The low turnout is primarily due to two people, Mitt Romney & Newt Gingrich. These two incompetents and their ugly, ego driven, childish games and personal attacks have turned off millions of us Conservatives who have one objective this electoral year, defeat POTUS, Barack Hussein Obama and the Democrat Party in devastating fashion.

I have no use for either Romney or Gingrich and if all the pubbies are smart they will broom them into oblivion in the next few primaries. Our country is at stake, our Freedom is at stake, our Liberty is at stake, the future of our children and grandchildren are at stake, But.....Romney and Gingrich could care less, tearing each other apart, instead of destroying Obama every time they open their mouths!!! Pubbies, get rid of these two deadbeats!!! Go Santorum!!! You da man!!!

[who_would_fardels_bear]

"Governor Sarah Palin"

Yes that will indeed get us conservatives out to the polls excited enough to vote.

But then it will also get all the liberals out to the polls to stop her.

I'm afraid it would be a wash.

[AmusedBystander]

So, we have Santorum from PA and Rubio or Allen from Florida.....,

Santorum couldn't even get re-elected to the Senate in PA.

[no dems]

A lot of Newt voters stayed home.
____________________________________________________________
Can someone sing a little bit of “Stand By Your Man” ?

[no dems]

I seriously do not want to be listening to my liberal family gloating at the Thanksgiving table next year. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Aren't you ashamed to let people know that you have family members who would actually vote for the Marxist Muslim in the White House who will finish destroying this nation (the task which he as begun) if given another term. I would friggin' disown every damn one of them and not sit at the same Thanksgiving table with them.

[rivercat]

8. Who’s a big Gubmint guy?
9. Who has beady eyes and looks like Clark W. Griswold?
10. Who has zero chance of beating Zero?

We better start grooming a candidate for 2024...

[no dems]

Santorum wasn’t running against Barack Hussein Obama when he lost the Senate seat. He was running against a pro-life Democrat, in a Democrat State with a very popular family name. You’re comparing apples and oranges.

Now, enjoy the day.