CA: California voters changing party affiliation
Wow! Check this out from nctimes.com...
Look how many people are supporting Ron Paul:
Some voters temporarily switch parties
By: EDWARD SIFUENTES -- Staff Writer
Candidates' appeal, closed primary cited as reasons
Some voters appear to be temporarily crossing traditional party lines to vote in the Feb. 5 primary election, and presidential candidates are taking notice.
Some campaigns are hoping these voters bolster their ranks. Campaign and election officials said Friday that there were signs voters are showing interest in reaching across party lines.
Though there were no precise figures immediately available, San Diego County Registrar of Voters Deborah Seiler said she had seen evidence of voters switching sides.
"We've had people come in to register as Republicans," Seiler said.
That's mostly because in order to vote for a Republican presidential candidate in the California primary, a voter must be registered as a Republican, Seiler said.
The state's Democratic Party, meanwhile, has opened its primary voting to those who are registered "decline to state."
Seiler also said that her office sent out about 60,000 postcards advising these decline to state, or independent, voters who vote by mail that they may choose the Democratic or American Independent Party ballot. She said her office got back 18,600 requests for Democratic ballots and about 1,600 requests for American Independent ballots.
The secretary of state does not keep statistics on people who switch parties. But as more and more people register as independent, both major parties are increasingly reaching out to this bloc, political analysts say.
Because the state's semiclosed primary system is relatively new, there is little research on voters switching sides, said Bruce Cain, a political science professor at UC Berkeley.
Until 1996, only registered members of a political party could vote in that party's California primary. In 1996, voters approved Proposition 198, which created an open primary allowing any voter to choose any candidate.
That lasted until a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2000. The court said the open primary system was unconstitutional because it violated the parties' First Amendment right of association.
What resulted was a modified primary system that allows people without party affiliation to vote in a party's ballot only if the party allows them to do so.
On Thursday, Republican president candidate Ron Paul's campaign sent out an e-mail reminding potential supporters that Tuesday is the last day to register under a different party in time to vote in the primary.
"A lot of independents are Ron Paul supporters," said Holly Clearman, state coordinator for the Ron Paul 2008 Presidential Campaign Committee, "and we'd hate to miss out on them because of a technicality."
The Texas Republican congressman's smaller government message is also popular among Libertarians and some former Republicans, some voters said. But they cannot vote for him in California on Feb. 5 unless they register as Republicans.
Kristi Stone, an artist-entrepreneur from Encinitas, said she recently changed her registration from Libertarian to Republican to vote for Paul.
"Ron Paul is the only Republican that reflects my views," Stone said.
Escondido's Dann McCreary changed his status as a nonaffiliated voter to Republican to support Paul.
"He's the only true conservative that's running in this election," McCreary said Friday.
The computer engineer said he was a registered Republican until about 10 years ago, but left the party because of dissatisfaction with its direction.
Lars Almquist, another former registered Republican who grew up in Rancho Penasquitos, was at the Obama campaign headquarters in San Diego on Friday.
Almquist said he surprised his family when he told them he was registering as a Democrat this year in order to vote for the Illinois senator.
"My dad thinks I don't have any ethical standards if I'm voting for a Democrat," he said.
His support for Obama is based on the senator's approach to issues such as disease and poverty, Almquist said.
"He really does speak to the common hopes and dreams of people for a better place," Almquist said in a telephone interview Friday. "I really feel we need someone who stands for real change, not just as a slogan, but someone who can really bring about transformation in this country."
Staff Writer Mark Walker contributed to this report. Contact staff writer Edward Sifuentes at (760) 740-3511 or esifuentes@nctimes.com.
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Comments On This Story
Note: Comments reflect the views of readers and not necessarily those of the North County Times or its staff.
Shannon
[-] wrote on Jan 18, 2008 1:16 PM:
You want to know why people are switching. The Revolution is upon us. Apathetic voters are inspired by Ron Paul's simple approach to solving problems.The approach is following our consitution, giving citizens their power back, and moving away from a welfare state. As Ron Paul gains support, major media is seen as blocking his message by ignoring him. This only adds fuel to the fire. The world is taking notice that Ron Paul is the best candidate, if not in our country, then in theirs. He speaks for We The People, and is smeared by socialists who want the average person to be workers for their benefit. Media is entrenching themselves daily, and the word is spreading.
If you give one look at Ron Paul, watch "professionals" laugh cynically at him operating under the constitution, you will see an honest person for the people. The Revolution is growing and those that support Ron Paul's message (maybe not him personally) will elected a new set of representative into congress and the senate this year and for years to come.
This is the year of truth. No more politically correct rhetoric, controlled by mass media will suffice to the average person. We will make up our own minds. We will see the candadites. We will vote for the common person to represent us. No more career politicians, without a record to back them.
joshie
[-] wrote on Jan 18, 2008 1:30 PM:
Hi. I am a liberal Democrat of 16 years who switched to Republican to support Ron Paul. I may not agree with him on many issues but the ones I agree with hold much more gravity. I am anti-imperialist. I hate war and genocide (Iraq). Watching America turn into a police state is breaking my heart. We must form a coalition of freedom loving Americans from the left and right. United we stand..After the war has ended and the authoritarians are thrown out of positions of power the we can afford to be bicker. The Dems have only paid lip service to ending the war and if it takes a right-winger to set things right then so be it. I have also learned that the government is not the answer but the problem. I think many Democrats are realizing that their love of government is not healthy. Peace
Roberto1
[-] wrote on Jan 18, 2008 5:02 PM:
The three post I just read are more proof democracy is dead. Supporting a nobody, who has no chance of winning is the last desparat attempt of a society that once had civil liberties...we already know the winner will be the institutional republican or democratic leader. Al Gore won the election but George Bush became the president.
Travis D
[-] wrote on Jan 18, 2008 8:20 PM:
After 7 years of George Bush I never thought I would be voting for a Republican. Plus the fact that I have been a registered Democrat all my voting life should alone keep me for voting Republican.
Ron Paul is more then just a candidate though. He has inspired people all over the world to love freedom and fight for it. He is by far the only one that makes sense and you can tell because all of the Republicans are now using his lines on the economy. No one on either side has his level of knowledge on Monetary or Foreign policy.
Ron Paul is my new hero!
Traci
[-] wrote on Jan 18, 2008 8:23 PM:
Its time for the apathetic voters to take this country back. The "axis of evil" rhetoric is old and based on a lie. We only attack countries that threaten to not accept dollars for oil. Saddam, now Iran who also threatened to dump the dollar are "evil" Chavez, threatened to dump the dollar, now he is also "evil" whats evil is the killing and the panderingt that its all for democracy, bull crap! its for oil and power and we Americans need to unite and take this country back PLEASE VOTE RON PAUL
To Roberto1
[-] wrote on Jan 18, 2008 8:31 PM:
Democracy can die all it wants ... we don't have a democracy ... we have a democratic republic. Different entity. The fact that (and you're right) we really already know who the next president will be ... for the most part anyway. The saddest part isn't that people will actually vote for someone who doesn't have a chance under our current system. The saddest part is actually that those votes (submitted by American citizens) don't actually count when all is said and done. You want democracy? Get rid of the electoral college. Make every vote count. Only then will the decline of a true democracy even matter.
Don
[-] wrote on Jan 18, 2008 8:48 PM:
I am a lifelong socialist and a 40-year registrant with the Peace and Freedom Party, the only socialist party on the California ballot, since its beginning in 1967. This morning I re-registered as a Republican at San Francisco City Hall, voted for Ron Paul, the only anti-imperialist with a chance at being elected president, in the presidential primary and then re-registered Peace and Freedom Party.
Jacob W.
[-] wrote on Jan 19, 2008 12:29 AM:
Ron Paul has reinvigorated me into fighting for this country. I too have registered Republican to vote for him, and I will keep fighting until the revolution dies (never).
Jeff
[-] wrote on Jan 19, 2008 12:42 AM:
I'm in New Jersey and I switched from Democrat to Republican so I can vote for Ron Paul on Super Tuesday. Ron Paul will repeal the Patriot Act, and restore the 4th Amendment. That's one of my main reasons for supporting him. The government isn't doing a good job if it's trying to spy on its citizens.
Daniel
[-] wrote on Jan 19, 2008 12:43 AM:
Vote Al Gore in 2000 and Kerry in '04. I changed my party affiliation and in 2008 I'm voting Paul, even if I have to write his name on the ballot.
Chelu
[-] wrote on Jan 19, 2008 12:47 AM:
Was registered independent because the whole "party before issues" was a big turnoff, and many on both sides are blinded by that. I tuned-in early in the process to scout all the candidates. Then I found Ron Paul, and here was a Republican going against the grain of what his party/country has become, and doing it courageously on a stage where ten other men of his party strognly disagreed with, and at times mocked him. I took the time to research his platform further, and compare with the others. Then most importantly, compared records to see whether they were trustworthy on the issues. After that, changing my registration, because of Ron Paul, was the easiest decision of my life.
Kyle
[-] wrote on Jan 19, 2008 12:50 AM:
I switched to Republican to vote for Ron Paul. I was independent, and will become so once again... after we win this.
Jon R
[-] wrote on Jan 19, 2008 12:57 AM:
I am an apathetic voter. I am an Army Afghanistan and Iraq veteran.
I am an individual who thinks that the containment policy was never needed and still thinks it does not be needed.
Ron Paul gets his philosophy from our constitution and our founding fathers. When was the last time you knew where a president backed his philosophies from.
Freedom and our democratic republic is a new government. Don't let the experiment fail.
Ask your self where your candidate's philosophy of government comes from.
Do you know?
Who is Ron Paul? Why have you never seen him on Cable news?
Landon
[-] wrote on Jan 19, 2008 1:56 AM:
Former Libertarian party activist, I’m now back in the Republican party to make a difference for Dr. No. He is a true conservative, and classic republican... The reason I've been apart of the Libertarian party is because I am so ashamed of my former party. We are in an unpopular occupation with no end in sight, 75% of people in the United States are against it. We are on the edge of a major recession Congressman Paul has warned about for years; we got kicked out of power in 2006 for runaway spending, because of ethical breaches, and we lost our confidence as a party to stand up for our ideals of limited government and free enterprise. Now we are at a major crossroads in the history of this country and our party is looking for a leader who can take the party and the country back from the collectivist ideology that is rampant in Washington D.C. That leader, is Ron Paul.
Obama...
[-] wrote on Jan 19, 2008 4:23 AM:
may be the ONLY candidate who can deal with America's illegal immigration woes. He is the only candidate who seems to pull no punches when it comes to hard issues. Let's see the Illegal immigration activists try to pull the race card on him. As a lifelong conservative, I can't see the Republicans winning after Bush's failures, no matter how ideal the candidate. That leaves Billary or Obama... and I think we've all seen and heard enough from the Clintons and Bushes this generation. Don't you?
Tess
[-] wrote on Jan 19, 2008 5:58 AM:
Ron Paul has my vote, and support. I did find it hard to bring myself to register as a Republican after the mess we have had with Bush, but I am not voting for a party. I am voting for the one person that does and will follow our Constitution. I am voting for integrity, and a future for our country. I am voting for Ron Paul.
Rev Mark
[-] wrote on Jan 19, 2008 7:34 AM:
I was a long time Independent until I switched to Republican in order to be more involved in the Party to support Dr Ron Paul.
I almost cringed when I checked the box to change affiliation, but that was based on the old dying Neo-Con wing of the party.
There's a new wing in town, one that truly believes in the Constitution and limited government.
Jack
[-] wrote on Jan 19, 2008 7:40 AM:
I am with Landon. I had pretty much written off the future of America within the next 20 years. I was debating on which country I was going to move my family. I am a 45 year GOP medical professor who beleived in the GOP Platform, but was ashamed by the Republican party. All the current administration does is spend more and grow the govenment faster than a democrat and try and dominate the world in a effort to lower oil prices. We can not affort either the Bushite type of Republicans or the Democrat platform. People like Ron Paul are giving me hope again in America. I donated big on line and am putting up signs all over my community. I people like Ron Paul are not elected to govenment, This country will see a huge Brain Drain off people getting out before the implosion of the formerly great America. Get out and help get our country back.
Amy
[-] wrote on Jan 19, 2008 7:42 AM:
I switched from Independent to Republican to vote for Ron Paul.
Gore v. Bush made me switch from Democratic to Independent and Paul is the only one who could sway me to ever be in a major party again.
Nancy
[-] wrote on Jan 19, 2008 7:43 AM:
Thanks NCT for finally allowing an article with Ron Paul in it. He is huge news and the corporate media is trying to squelch his efforts to keep status quo which is killing this country. Maybe I will keep reading your paper. Keep up the great work.
Ben
[-] wrote on Jan 19, 2008 7:56 AM:
I switched from independent so I could help elect Dr. Paul who is the most presidential of the whole race. I found that the GoP creed is great and alot of the members are great, but alot of the GoP members seem to have very nasty attitudes and a lack fairness and intellegence. I will probably be switching back to independent.
Danny
[-] wrote on Jan 19, 2008 8:01 AM:
I was also once a republican. after the second time bush was elected i changed to libertarian and said i would never vote for another republican that was similar to bush. well, needless to say about 9 months ago i changed my affiliation back just to be able to vote for Ron Paul in the primaries. depending on how the primaries go, i will decide whether or not i stay registered republican, but i must say, its not looking good.
John Voter
[-] wrote on Jan 19, 2008 8:26 AM:
I am one of those Republican "carpetbaggers", who has switched from "Decline To State" to "Republican", just so I can vote for Ron Paul! Maybe people will start taking a look at what their political party registration and affiliation MEANS in all this!
Nick
[-] wrote on Jan 19, 2008 8:36 AM:
The whole party affiliation thing is a joke. You shouldn't have to register with ANY PARTY to vote. Every American Citizen should be able to vote for the candidate of their choice regardless of the candidates Party or the voters Party. Enough already with Party affiliation non-sense. Democrats and Republicans both have a history of being corrupt and doing a lousy job of running this Country. It's udder madness. Like I said, you should be able to walk in and vote for whatever candidate you choose, PERIOD!
Randy
[-] wrote on Jan 19, 2008 8:48 AM:
The probability of a Republican being elected, while we are in the throes or an economic downturn, is remote.
i just wish
[-] wrote on Jan 19, 2008 9:13 AM:
GW was running again, hes doing a heck of a job.
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2008/01 ... _18_08.txt
