megimoo
09-19-2008, 08:45 PM
Early US presidential voting starts in battleground states
Voting in the US presidential race began yesterday as the first ballots were cast in the state of Virginia, part of an unprecedented nationwide surge in early voting that is forcing Barack Obama and John McCain to recalculate their campaign strategies.
With more than six weeks before election day, Virginia is the first of 36 states to allow early voting this year, with at least a third of the electorate predicted to vote before November 4. It is a record-high number that has forced both candidates to change turnout plans, travelling schedules and the timing of advertisements.
Early voting is taking place in a string of key battleground states – including Ohio, Wisconsin, Florida and Minnesota – where Mr Obama and Mr McCain are tied, and where a few thousand votes could decide the outcome in each state.
The large number of states allowing early voting has rendered traditional campaign strategies obsolete. No sooner had Mr Obama and Mr McCain picked running-mates and held their conventions than they had to turn their attention to “closing messages” in many states at a time when they would usually have just begun stumping. Only 11 states permitted the practice in 2000 – part of a strategy to increase voter turnout. Democrats have pushed for it because they believe that it reduces the disenfranchisement of poor and black voters.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections/article4791388.ece
Voting in the US presidential race began yesterday as the first ballots were cast in the state of Virginia, part of an unprecedented nationwide surge in early voting that is forcing Barack Obama and John McCain to recalculate their campaign strategies.
With more than six weeks before election day, Virginia is the first of 36 states to allow early voting this year, with at least a third of the electorate predicted to vote before November 4. It is a record-high number that has forced both candidates to change turnout plans, travelling schedules and the timing of advertisements.
Early voting is taking place in a string of key battleground states – including Ohio, Wisconsin, Florida and Minnesota – where Mr Obama and Mr McCain are tied, and where a few thousand votes could decide the outcome in each state.
The large number of states allowing early voting has rendered traditional campaign strategies obsolete. No sooner had Mr Obama and Mr McCain picked running-mates and held their conventions than they had to turn their attention to “closing messages” in many states at a time when they would usually have just begun stumping. Only 11 states permitted the practice in 2000 – part of a strategy to increase voter turnout. Democrats have pushed for it because they believe that it reduces the disenfranchisement of poor and black voters.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections/article4791388.ece