I live in Michigan and we normally go Republican when it comes to Presidental elections but in 2000 we went Democrat. I believe the reason for this is because that election also included a state proposal for allowing kids to attend any school they wanted and their funds going with them. Of course this was opposed by just about every public school offical and teachers (who even sent political material about it home with students) and was hotly debated.
This caused just about every teacher (who are mostly Democrats) to turn out in record numbers to vote. I have never had to wait in line that long to vote prior or since.
My theory is that if this proposal was never put on the ballot, Michigan would have votes Republican like usual and the whole Florida thing would have been a non-issue because 18 electorial college points would have gone to the Republicans instead of the Democrats.
2006-10-01 00:35:26 · 8 answers · asked by parkdad73 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Elections
Why bring this up? Devos is running for Governor and he is one of the owners of Amway who was the major supporter of the proposal.
2006-10-01 00:37:06 · update #1
You would know your local demographics better then most. Could be valid. But it still makes the Florida disenfranchisement of many black voters something to question. 2000 was a very strange year.
2006-10-01 00:56:02 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would suspect you are correct. People tend to come out and vote when there is an issue or individual that is volatile. The mistake the Republicans made was in not recognizing that this could happen. The last two elections have shown that the Republicans were outspent by the Democrats but were able to use a people to people Grassroots program effectively to turn out their voters.
If you are concerned about this election - call your State or local Republican party headquarters and ask how you can help. It is not the money you have but the time you volunteer that will turn the tide.
I am not sure I understand your Amway comment?
2006-10-01 03:08:13 · answer #2 · answered by Faith White 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your theory about "reasons" people come out to vote could be right on. Perhaps there were droves of people coming out for the referendum and while there just completed the entire ballot.
Michigan, however, doesn't have a track record of voting republican in presidential elections.
Perhaps you're on to something here. If we go to the states the vote straight democrat and put something on the referendums to piss off either the Gun Right Advocates or the Religious Right.....then we'll bring out more conservatives.
Good plan.
2006-10-01 01:59:19 · answer #3 · answered by tjjone 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sorry, but you're off the mark. Michigan has voted democrat in each of the last 4 presidential elections. In 2000, Gore beat Bush by 5.14% which isn't all that close. I doubt that the democratic-leaning teachers could have influenced the states vote by that much.
2006-10-01 01:40:37 · answer #4 · answered by Shaqfan11 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
so youre coming up with a theory that people who can vote did and this makes florida invalid fixing an election in florida has nothing to do with how michigan went.
2006-10-01 05:58:26 · answer #5 · answered by region50 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Plain and simple, because the people of Michigan have brains.
2006-10-07 11:47:30 · answer #6 · answered by PROUDJEW 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's very rare for any election to be influenced by a single issue.
2006-10-01 01:57:38 · answer #7 · answered by malcy 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
and it will be stranger in 08.
2006-10-07 11:10:40 · answer #8 · answered by George K 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋