I voted in the Missouri presidential primary today. Turnout was light – I was number twelve at my polling as of 6:55 AM. Given the weather – cold, and road conditions which range from not bad where I live to lousy (as in ice covered) more northerly in the St. Louis area, I wasn’t too surprised. I think turnout will be light overall, as these lousy conditions are statewide.
I have to admit I voted for Howard Dean. Now while I don’t think Bush is the perfect Republican candidate, I do think he would make a better president than Dean. But you get to choose which party ballot you vote in Missouri, and I have a feeling Bush is going to win on the Republican side. So instead of voting for Democrats I would actually want for President (Lieberman, Gephardt if he hadn’t dropped out), I voted for somebody who I thought would do the best job of losing to Bush. I don’t think I’m alone – at my heavily Republican polling place, the stubs on top of the ballot box were overwhelmingly green – i.e. Democratic. Of course it could be that the voters who did brave the elements were overwhelmingly Democratic — the Republicans took the day off confident in Bush’s primary victory; but I think there were more people like me voting for their man by casting a vote for someone else.
I’m partially retracting my prediction from yesterday. Polls mean nothing – turnout is going to be light, and Republicans voters are coming out and voting for Democratic candidates. I wouldn’t be surprised if Bush doesn’t get many votes and his challangers get more votes than expected. And on the Democratic side, I still think Kerry will win, but not by the margin in the polls.
