Direct From The Boiler Rooms: Turnout Watch
The following updates come direct from reputable state sources and from senior Democratic and GOP officials monitoring turnout from the parties' central boiler rooms:
From the Ehrlich (R-MD) campaign: "Our internal poll tracking is showing that turnout is light in our key counties. If this trend continues through the rest of the day we may face real trouble. In 2002 we won because of the incredible turnout. Our latest comparison of turnout, shows a decline that could put the election in jeopardy."
From a Republican: "Rhode Island – High turnout in traditional Chafee towns (Warwick, West Warwick, Narragansett, Barrington, Bristol, North Kingstown and South Kingstown). Also, Chafee ID’s in these towns are turning out, between 30% to 50% of Chafee ID’s in many of these precincts by 1:00pm. Areas of concern for Chafee are East Providence, high turnout, not a traditionally strong GOP area and low Chafee turnout in East Providence. Coventry turnout high. This is a good town for Governor Carcieri but only average for Chafee. So far (1:00pm) turnout is 28% of the level from the 2000 Presidential year. Expect turnout to approach 400,000."
From a Democrat: "Turnout is high. Especially in interesting places like VA10 and WA5."
From Jon Ralston in NV: "Add those to the number here who have voted early and sent in mail ballots and the total in Southern Nevada so far is 234,000 or so -- that's 36 percent of registered voters. In the last two elections, a large percentage has voted after 3 p.m., so there may be a deluge to come. If the initial number represents about a fourth of those who will vote today, the total turnout could still be above 55 percent. It was 57 percent four years ago."