Crossing over for Hillary?

Some of the folks in line at the Democratic caucus at Parkview Elementary (Precincts 4508 and 4250) were probably your friendly Republican neighbors.

Although Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama split the precincts in today's voting, according to early returns, Clinton had the most total votes. And Carolyn Benson, a political consultant, said Republican voters were openly telling her they were crossing over to cast ballots in the Democratic primary to get Clinton nominated.

"Who knows how many there were? Those are just the ones who were telling me," said Benson, who was at the site to assist her husband's TCC government students as volunteer election officials.

About 150 or so Democrats (and Republicans?) crowded into the Parkview cafeteria to sign up for the Democratic caucus. After signing in they were free to leave, unless they wanted to be delegates.

There were 17 Republicans in the GOP caucus in the adjoining auditorium.

"They don't have anything to fight about," Benson said.

Or maybe they were taking the fight next door.

-- Tom Uhler

Comments

[Bud Spidley]

So are Republicans voting for Hillary because they think McCain will stand a better chance against her? They should be careful what they wish for. If a Democratic president is inevitable, their choice counts for more than just who the weaker opponent will be.

[Firekite]

Regarding republican crossovers, I voted at precinct 4250 and asked around in the parking lot looking for these crossover votes. Didn't find any. I was there for perhaps 30 minutes, talked to maybe 20 voters.

[Charles Glass]

As the Election Judge at a five precinct Republican Primary voting location last night, I was astounded at the number of people who came to our polling place inquiring about how to vote in the Democratic Primary. I even had some voters who took a ballot, marked it and just before placing it in the E-Scan, decided to vote in the Democratic Primary.

I was amazed at the lack of general understanding of how the primary process is supposed to function. I homed my speech to include: "We are really having two elections today. One is to determine the Democratic candidates that will appear in the November General Election and one to determine their Republican opponents." The pre-election promotion that instructed voters that they must "vote twice" this year helped to fuel the confusion.

One lady was even angry that we asked if she wanted to vote Republican or Democrat. She felt that she was being force to divulge her voting preference!

Of course, we had about a half dozen poor souls who were asked at least three time if they intended to vote Republican and responded in the affirmative only to come back from the voting booths to inquire "Where's Obama on this ballot?"

Our particular location was not overrun with voters for either party. The Democrats certainly had more voters that the Republicans. Only just prior to the Demoract's caucuses and the Republican's Precinct Conventions did things get loud and busy. We were working franticly to close the polls and get the results to our Rally Station and the caucuses and conventions taking place at the same time did slow down the process.