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Why Don't Republicans Vote
Two years ago, more than 70 percent of Inland California voters supported the recall of former Calif. Gov. Gray Davis â while majorities of voters also backed Gov. Arnold Schwarzeneggerâs election. That same Republican bastion, which includes Riverside and San Bernardino counties, didnât come through at the ballot box this week, party officials said Thursday.In fact, voter turnout in those key counties was among the lowest in the state, according to a report in the Riverside Press-Enterprise. Critical Riverside and San Bernardino counties are among the fastest-growing in the state â a region where the number of registered voters has increased by more than 260,000 since fall 2002. Republicans outnumbered Democrats there by more than 120,000, according to a tally last month. In past elections, the Inland area was a cornerstone of GOP strategy, and the resounding failure of the governorâs propositions this past Tuesday has local Republicans worried about 2006, according to the Press-Enterprise. "When your own people donât show up, youâve got a heck of a problem,â said Professor Jack Pitney, who teaches government at Claremont McKenna College. California Republican Party spokeswoman Karen Hanretty said officials will examine turnout in the Inland area. The party wants to know the particulars of the Republican vote - data that will become available when officials finish their canvass later this month. Kevin Jeffries, chairman of the Riverside County Republican Party, concluded that itâs easier to rally voters around a candidate than around complicated ballot propositions, adding that only half as many volunteers helped get out the vote for Tuesdayâs election as were mustered for last yearâs presidential contest. Posted by: Anonymoose 2005-11-12 |
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