IOWA: WILL EARLY VOTING MATTER? [Brian Kennedy 10/31 01:39 PM]
The Des Moines Register Poll finds the race in Iowa is tied and that nearly one third of the electorate has already voted via mail or at early voting stations. Most significantly, is the finding that among the early voters Kerry leads by 11%, however, this news may not be as disconcerting as it first appears. The Kerry camp and their liberal allies have invested millions of dollars in absentee ballot programs designed to get their vote in early. Accordingly, a disproportionate share of the Kerry vote was cast early. But the question remains whether this was a wise use of resources. GOP campaign planners have operated under the assumption that with passions running high voters can’t wait to get to the polls and there will be record turnout with or without costly early voting and get out the vote programs. Why spend money hassling voters to vote early or get to the polls when it is clear they are already coming? The GOP has instead invested resources on advocating to independent and undecided voters. In three days we will find out which campaign had the better strategy.
