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SD-48: The Thumping Illustrated: ED Performance Map

by: phillip anderson

Thu Feb 28, 2008 at 14:54:14 PM EST

Earlier today I spoke on the phone with someone who had worked on the Aubertine campaign. They told me about this new voter tracking system that I've been hearing about for weeks now, the system that Bruno's boys thought was going to win them the election that should have never been close. Basically, the GOP assigns their voters in each ED a barcode and equips their poll watchers a blackberry type device with a barcode scanner attached. Every time a code is scanned it's instantly relayed to GOoPer HQ and they know who has voted and who to send the body snatchers for. The staffer I spoke to earlier laughed as he said, "I'd rather have 100 WFP folks working their tails off than a barcode scanner any day." Well, behold the results:

The first thing that should jump out at you is the higher turnout in the northern and central parts of the district, Aubertine's homebase and the areas encompassing much of his AD. Then check out the southern part, Barclay's turf. It appears that many of Barclay's folks did what Danger Democrat figured they might do a few days ago, namely "vote with their fanny."

But, that's only part of the story. The really significant take away here is how the DSCC crew on site (which was run by Nathan Smith) along with the WFP's folks working their tails off simply outhustled Bruno's boys. They turned out their people in the ED's that they needed to.

Barclay's campaign didn't.

phillip anderson :: SD-48: The Thumping Illustrated: ED Performance Map

Tags: SD-48, Darrel Aubertine, Will Barclay, DSCC, voting, (All Tags)

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SD-48: The Thumping Illustrated: ED Performance Map | 1 comments

More nuanced? (4.00 / 1)

First, thanks so much for the map. It is very interesting.

Would submit, however, that, while you are correct that "instant relay" voter info technology is not as effective as human-powered GOTV teams (there go those Republicans automating jobs again!), mobilization of voters in GOTV campaigns can only accomplish so much. It is nuanced-- a voter who is very enthused about a candidate may need very little prodding, while a voter who is so-so about a candidate may choose to "vote with their fanny," and a GOTV prodding may simply irritate them into being sure they are not going to the polls.

In SD 48, both sides had Cadillac-version GOTV campaigns, as it was a special election (no competing elections statewide) and was of great importance politically. But, I still think a lot of voters decided to vote or not based on how moved they were by the candidate and his message. While working the phones and streets in Oswego, I ran into almost no enthusiastic Barclay supporters, while Aubertine supporters were pumped. This was as true a week and a half before the election as it was the day before. A good ground game is important, but a winning candidate is essential.

Oh, and the Aubertine headquarters used a bar-code scanner for voter info, too-- although not at every polling place (that does seem like a substitute for volunteer energy). The technology is also a help, just not a substitute for people-power and enthusiasm.

by: robinia @ Thu Feb 28, 2008 at 23:44:15 PM UTC