PA GOP to try and get back voters

Posted: Wednesday, April 09, 2008 11:28 AM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: Republicans

From NBC/NJ’s Matthew Berger
HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Republicans in Pennsylvania are concerned about all those new Democratic voters in the state and are launching a program to get some of them back.

The closed Democratic primary has brought a wave of new Democratic registrations, and the Republican Party estimates it has lost 1.79 percent of its membership this year. There are currently 4.19 million registered Democrats in the state, compared to 3.19 million registered Republicans.

State GOP Chair Robert Gleason said Wednesday that he is not surprised by the change, and assumes that if the state had a contested Republican primary, the reverse would have occurred. The party is used to being in the minority, he said, typically down 400,000 to 500,000 registrants.

But, party officials believe they can get as much as 40 percent of those who left this year back into the Republican fold after they’ve voted in the primary.

“If someone changed their party affiliation, we will be meeting them at the polls to welcome them back,” said John McNally, PA GOP Voter Registration Committee chairman. “I want to assure every Republican that our party plans to address this issue, and we will expand our Republican registrations.”

In addition to handing out registration cards at polling sites on April 22, the party plans to send new registration forms to those who have switched parties and to launch a media campaign. Officials would not suggest a cost, saying volunteers would do most of the work.

Gleason said that he recognizes some of the names of those who switched, and believed many changed parties to vote against either Clinton or Obama. Others, he believes, left because they wanted a voice in the primary but will come back, because they agree with the party’s principles.

Gleason also said the party is concerned about voter fraud, and Democrats coming from New Jersey to vote in the Pennsylvania general election. He said he has enlisted a firm to research voter fraud in the state and planned to research people registered in both states.

Of course, voters can cast a ballot in November despite their party affiliation. But Gleason said it was important to get the numbers back up for future primaries and local elections, as well as to show the party’s strength.

“I’m not embarrassed by it,” he said. “I don’t like it, but I’m not embarrassed by it.”

*** UPDATE *** Here are the PA GOP registration numbers:
- Nov. 11, 2007: 3,245,271
- April 1, 2008: 3,187,152

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Comments

As usual if the Democrats are doing well Republicans assume it must be due to voter fraud.

John B, Des Moines, IA (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 11:37 AM)

Hmmm, it will be interesting to see. While it would be very organized if they can do that, there will still be some sort of cost to do that (and a considerable cost, that's a lot of manpower). And even if its done by "volunteers", there may be no salary cost but there are costs associated with having that many volunteers and there are lots of opportunity costs whether you have volunteers or paid workers doing it (those volunteers aren't going to be able to do other things they might have done while volunteering for you).

Gotta salute the GOTV teams for both Dems...way to make the Republicans work harder!

Obama for President 08

Lisa in New Britain, Hillary demographics but voting for OBAMA (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 11:37 AM)

Nothing like trying to play catch up!!! When new voters registered they had and choice and they made it. People in PA aren't dummies. Get over it

Dems 08

GAil, Dayton, Oh (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 11:41 AM)

Don't worry Repubs PA. The Hillary or Obama supporters will switch to Republican once their candidate loses the primary.

Common Sense, PA (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 11:41 AM)

The Republican party should be worried, the way they turn off young people I wouldn't be suprised if they are gone in 20 years if they don't reinvent themselves and stop focusing on issues like abortion and gay marriage which young people overwhelmingly disagree with them on. As a 22 year old I can't imagine a scenario in which they won't be a huge minority in the next 2 or 3 decades.

Gone (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 11:44 AM)

Maybe people around the country are just getting sick of the lies, smears, and fearmongering that the Republicans have used against anyone that doesn't follow in lockstep behind what they want.

I used to be a Republican. But after the last decade of lies, smears, fearmongering, trashing the constitution, subverting our justice dept, destroying reputations of good people for political gain, etc... I've firmly switched to Democrat.

I'm fiscally conservative, so I don't agree with a lot of what the Democrats believe on fiscal policy, but I'm sick and tired of the garbage most of the Republicans are offering and saying.

Other than a very few like Chuck Hagel, I couldn't support any of them for any position.

In fact I'd love to see an Obama/Hagel ticket.

BL, Cincinnati OH (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 11:46 AM)

Ha, This is not your year Repubs...good luck in trying. 527's should be outlawed and illegal during an election, as should all special interest in goverment affairs. That's what has ruined our democracy. People want their gov., the gov. of our forefathers--back! Let your voice, finally, be heard over that of big buisness. Be American, Be Proud.

Go Obama

one american (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 11:55 AM)

TO ALL HILLARY SUPPORTERS:

I have listened to you for two months complain about the unfair media and threaten to vote for McCain or sit out the election…Well I hope you stick to your guns!!

We need your help.

The next president will appoint 1 maybe 2 SUPREME COURT JUSTICES

Can you imagine 1 or 2 more CONSERVATIVE justices appointed by McCain…WOW…WOW..WOW.

Think off all that can be accomplished:

Tort reform…put the lawyers out of business and increase corporate profit;

Labor reform…kill the UNIONS and increase corporate profit;

Social reform…gay marriage…ABORTION…affirmative action…

Immigration reform…thank you Hispanics in California & Texas for helping out

Uniform Religion…Uniform Language.

We will have the Christian Nation our Fathers wanted…and all thanks to Hillary Clinton…a true irony.

McCain will also teach Iran a lesson it or its people will never forget…you think anyone in Iraq will ever mess with us again.

McCain will keep our tax cuts and protect our corporate interests.

McCain will not bail out homeowners in trouble with their mortgage because they are too lazy or incompetent (dare I say stupid) to work.

McCain will make sure the Bush tax cuts are continued.

Thank you Hillary and all of her true supporters for helping SAVE OUR NATION

I LOVE YOU HILLARY

Michelle, Los Angeles, CA (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 11:56 AM)

I try to keep from assuming the worst as to why so many registered republicans switched affiliation this year, however, I doubt they are voting America's best interest and rather to sway the democratic nomination, I am disheartened.

Tired of Being Tired (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 11:56 AM)

I would say that after the primary this must be the DNC main strategy. This is the edge they can't afford to lose. They have the GOP at a loss FINALLY!!!

Send out newsletters,flyers, mailers reminding evryone the sorry state they are in is SOLELY the responsibilty/fault of Republicans. Don't let them back in....it only gets worse from here.

Dr.Strangedog, MI (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 11:57 AM)

Here we go again with a Florida-like voter scandal, as per his NJ accusation.

The GOP's touting of family values, and superior morals is the biggest crock. They have neither rebuked Rush Limbaugh for his wretched scheme to interfere with the Dem's Primary, nor have they offered their members any guidance as to how they should conduct themselves, as true patriots, during this election cycle.

Here's a anagram for them, GOOPP; standing for, 'Greatest Offenders Of Poopy Politics'.

For their information, they blew it with some repubs. They'll still be long gone come November. Maybe even for good.

Pulling for Obama '08

donna, pgh., pa. (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 11:57 AM)

Lets see, the Republican Party, the party of trickle down economics, whoops it hasn't worked out too well for anyone except the elite. The party of neo con imperialism in the middle east, Petraeus & Crocker have been telling how wonderfully THAT's working out. The party of lie, deceive, spy on the other party in the guise of fighting terror, subvert the Constitution, award huge no bid contracts, lose pallets full of money, signing statements.....yea they should be able to attract a lot of young idealistic new voters. "we will be meeting them at the polls to welcome them back,” said John McNally, PA GOP Voter Registration Committee chairman. Sounds like harrasment.

JohnnyU, WA State (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 11:59 AM)

Maybe, just maybe it is because 70% of America has finally woken up and realized that the republicans have raped the people of America over and over...they have passed laws to throw us in jail without representation, they have passed laws that let corporations shirk their responsibility in bankruptcy but punish individuals who file, they have made the rich, filthy rich and sat by while the middle class got poorer, they have convinced the jerrys and daves of the world that mexicans and gays are to blame for their lot in life...

If every republican fell over dead today this would be a far better and safer world tomorrow

Rick, NC (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 12:49 PM)

The GOP will never get back any voters...in fact they are losing them by the thousands...The only way a Republican will become President is if they steal it again and I guarantee this country will see anarchy if they do. The only reason the GOP would want to stay in power anyway is too keep the war going. They screwed up by starting it. Thinking it would be a cake walk. NOW. It’s an absolute mess and they don't know how to fix it. IF we leave, IRAN will be right around the corner and will end up taking political control of IRAQ and thereby being even a bigger threat to ISRAEL...not considering the money being made by the elites and neo-cons. This is a pressing issue and John McCain would keep the war going and any other Republican for 100 years just to save face and ISREAL from the mistake the Republican Party made. THEY feel obligated now to make sure ISRAEL is secure, because the Republican Party made their security worst by invading IRAQ.

WW,Philly,PA (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 12:49 PM)

If the GOP would start acting like conservatives again this wouldn't happen. Instead, the party chose a big government liberal as its presidential candidate - no wonder the party is shrinking.

Depressed Conservative (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 12:57 PM)

Gleason states, “they will come back because they agree with the party’s principles”. WHAT? This is typical GOP denial about what many Republican’s and Independants have figured out about the Republican Party. Lying, Spying and Trampling of the Constitution. Gleason then he ends by stating “I’m not embarrassed by it,” “I don’t like it, but I’m not embarrassed by it.” That should say it all because first one would have to admit that the GOP has isolated themselves from the true feelings of the Anerican mainstream to be embarrassed about the disater they have created in this country and the ruined US repatation around the world!

Lou, Canton, Ohio (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 1:54 PM)

Attention PA GOP Voters: Since McCentury has the nomination wrapped up already, why don't you all send a strong message to the GOP that you want your conservative party back by voting for Ron Paul? He never dropped out and has been campaigning in Pennsylvania for weeks and has the necessary signatures to be on the ballot. Come on, it'll be fun.

Americans for a president that doesn't suck (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 2:07 PM)

I am uncertain how there is anyone left who trusts the Republicans fiscally. So far, the Republican administration (with the Republican congress until 2006) have quadrupled the national debt, outspent every other Congress that came before and provided enormous tax-payer subsidies to corporations that for the most part were doing just fine without them.

Vote with your head, vote for the economy, vote for jobs.

Vote Democratic 2008 -- don't let the corporations and their Republican stooges win again.

Carol, Long Valley NJ (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 2:19 PM)

Good luck with that..We all know after the last GOP candidate that they can not chew gum and walk at the same time. Putting out the fires started by McCain gaffes and trying to win back some of it's base that are so anti-McCain it makes the Clintonistas look somewhat gentile with the threats of crossing over to the dark side. McCain is not going to bring the conservative base into the fold. I wonder how many 'protest votes' the dems can count on from the right wingers who would never support McCain? Will it make a dent in the Clintonistas that would 'protest' if Clinton looses the nomination? I'd like to see pollsters ask conservatives that question.

WD NJ (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 2:21 PM)

Republicans switch to become democrats? Lol, what are you drinking? Turmoil is the objective. Read the posts all over the internet. Obama's racist supporters hate Hillary and her destroy America for a vote followers. Republicans are laughing all the way to the democrat primary voting booths. Got to love it.

v racer (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 2:42 PM)

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