Google's Blogger service, or "Booger" as it's otherwise known, was offline most of the day, but here's the dish, even if served cold:
I'm putting on my political analyst hat today.
Democrats put alot of work and money into the effort to take the 50th Congressional district seat formerly held by the now imprisoned Republican Duke Cunnigham. Close, but no cigar fellas!
Frankly, they did not expect to win the runoff which was required after the April 11, special election failed to give any candidate a majority. After all, Cunnigham won the district with 58% of the vote in the newly created district in 2004 with Francine Busby garnering 36% (105,590 votes) in that previous race.
But Dems must have gotten excited when Busby captured 44% (60,010) in the April election (official results here). Even though the total percentage of votes cast for GOP candidates was 53% Her nearest rival, Bilbray, only captured 15% (20,952), nearly one third of Busby's strength.
The turnout for the April special election was: 38.86% of registered voters with 137,529 total ballots cast.
Both parties pulled out all the stops, spending millions to influence the race. And Busby had a strong final showing of 45.46% compared to Bilbray's 49.33% (official tally here).That's a 9% shift from the 2004 result.
Interesting that even though Democrats pulled out all the stops, and California was conducting a statewide primary on the same day, the turnout for this race was LOWER than the special election: 35.42% with 125,882 ballots cast.
And Busby, actually got 4,423 FEWER votes than she did in the Aprill 11th contest!
It must be disheartening to Democrats, that in a head to head contest with a relatively weak opponent, their own candidate cannot build upon the strength of previous efforts to win. And it's amusing to watch Dems spin this until they get dizzy.
Seems we on the GOP side seem to worry a great deal about motivating a strong turnout for 2006. But who would have thought Dems would have a BIGGER turnout problem?
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