<Pam's Thread Drift>
I saw both Palin and Obama within a week and a half of the election.
Both crowds were enthusiastic though the Obama crowd had more 'if I can just see him my life will be complete' folks in it.
We *are* a Republican part of the state so that may have played a role.
Many of the Dems I spoke with were from out of state.
The crowds were *about* the same size. The official fire dept count for Palin was 15-18K. The only numbers I've seen for Obama were 30-35K but those are not anywhere near correct [given by very partisan school officials]. I would guess no more than 20K at the Obama rally, probably closer to the 15-18K at the Palin rally.
So why is that significant?
Both had about 48-72 hours or so notice that there would be a rally. Palin was announced Wed AM with the location changed Thursday AM to allow for more people. Obama was announced Thursday AM, with the location not determined until Thursday noon to a venue with less capacity but easier security.
Palin's total capacity was less than Obama but completely full. Obama had greater capacity [estimated 20K - 5800 in the stands, rest on the football field] and not full.
Palin's rally was at noon on a Friday.
Obama's rally was at 9 on a Saturday night.
Palin's rally was held on the coldest day of the year to date. High of 45, cloudy, drizzly. When she spoke it was about 40*.
Obama's rally was held on one of the nicest Nov. 1's in recent history. High of about 75* making waiting outside fairly nice. When he spoke it was still nearly 70*.
Palin's rally had restroom facilities for those in line while Obama's had one port-a-potty for everyone in line [or the yucky bathrooms at the park across the street]. [Yeah, that has nothing to do with anything except poor planning - 2 more showed up at 430 or so and the ones on the field were inaccessible].
Obama's rally did have concessions but was held at a football field with that set up. Palin's was held in a parking lot.
My sister forwarded me an email she got:
Some say Obama is the Messiah of the Democratic Party, but [my sister] fed 30,000 people with one grill and 4 George Foremans.
It still wasn't 30,000 people, but pretty impressive.
So what does all that mean? Based on my own personal experience, Palin didn't hurt McCain at all in most areas of the country and that would hold with that survey I posted.
<end Pam's thread drift>
They were estimating 75-80% turnout here but I haven't heard. Last I heard we were still a toss-up state with 7xxx provisional ballots to be looked through and only 5xxx votes separating the candidates.
I did hear there was a county in Colorado where they TIED!
Carol
Edit:
Missouri looks to have gone McCain by about 6000 votes according to CNN. That's only the 2nd time since 1900 that we haven't picked the president. My county went 57% McCain, 41% Obama [not sure where that other 2% went...
] Not sure if that's official or not though...
This is the story I heard. I'd guess the 330 provisional ballots will break the 11223-11223 tie.
