Chad Taylor, (D-KS) dropped out of U.S. Senate race

[jenmito]

Sam Wang calls this a game changer in favor of the Ds: http://election.princeton.edu/2014/09/03/game-changer-kansas-democrat-drops-out-of-senate-race/

[JustAnotherGen]

1. So the Republican has committed

To caucus with whichever party is in power? Wow. I'll have to look up his views on issues. It's definitely an interesting change when looking at the probability of the US Senate remaining D.

[merrily]

2. Not that he promised to do that, but Lieberman did it after running as an Indie.

He voted with Democrats more times than most of us remember. But, when he did not vote with Dems, it really mattered. (Should I re-phrase that to, when it really mattered, he did not vote with Dems?)

I'd be leery of having an out and out Republican in the caucus, but, what can you do? I guess it's beter than nothing.

I am not the biggest optimist in the world, but I think the Senate will remain D if we do a good job on GOTV. We just cannot have that many idiots and/or bigots in this country. GOTV is critical in a mid-term though. They are full of anger and hate and therefore likelier to turn out than are the lower info Dems, who may be complacent. And then, there's all the I.D. shenanigans.

[JustAnotherGen]

3. I agree totally on GOTV

One thing I'm seeing is that minorities and women are VERY in tune with this election.

There is a lot at stake. They 'get' that.

And well - there is an awful lot of anger. Every single registered black voter needs to either have a phone call or their door knocked on. We can propel the candidates into their seats - but we cannot let people descend into hopelessness.


And I'm with you as well at feeling leery. . .

[merrily]

4. In some states, more than GOTV. Start now and make sure everyone in an I.D. state has i.d.s.

Also, rides to the polls. Alternatively, help people who need help get an absentee ballot.

[JustAnotherGen]

5. We are covered in NJ

[merrily]

6. Needless to say, MA has no ID requirement, even though I take one to the polls

every time anyway, plus a recent utility bill in my name, just in case anyone challenges me for any reason. But, no one ever has.

So, for you and me, let's make that an absentee ballot for anyone who may not be able to make it to the polls, whether because they are infirm or healthy, but traveling.

[JustAnotherGen]

7. I'm doing the same thing I did in 2008, 10, and 12 -

I'm taking people to the polls in the rural areas. I'm in horse country -- we have a lot of little elderly women who are anxious to vote - but that's the only way they can get there - if we volunteer.

I don't know if people are aware of this - but it really helps in the rural areas. You've no idea how many votes we are missing until you sign up for this effort!

[merrily]

8. Yep. I can walk easily to my polling place.

It is in a building that has been in the process of flipping from low cost senior housing to market rental apartments. Although it is very near another senior housing building, some of the people in both buildings are very weak and old and actually need absentee ballots. But, the city takes care of the people in those buildings in that regard.

I love, love, love going to vote, even if I have to stand on line a while.

Always nice to see you, Just.

[Chan790]

9. No.

This is good for the Democrats because the Democrat was slightly trailing an Independent candidate that holds fairly socially-liberal values, fiscally moderate and is functionally a non-partisan libertarian (a real libertarian, not a Paulite and not a Republican ashamed to admit he's a republican.) in a three way race. The fear was that the Indie and the Dem would split the non-crazy vote and the Republican would win with ~35% of the vote.

With the Democrat dropping out and throwing his support to the independent, this race moves away from the GOP. Very few people are going to move from supporting the Democrat to the Republican and not many are going to move from the indie to the GOP candidate as a result of this.