An escalating number of voters registering as Democrats is providing evidence that the 2008 election could produce a wave of support for Barack Obama — and trigger a decades-long shift of party allegiance that could affect elections for a generation.
The numbers are ominous for Republicans: Through May, Democratic voter registration in Broward County was up 6.7 percent. Republican registrations grew just 3 percent while independents rose 2.8 percent.
Democrats have posted even greater gains statewide, up 106,508 voters from January through May, compared with 16,686 for the Republicans.
"It's a huge swing," says Marian Johnson, political director for the Florida Chamber of Commerce. "I looked at that and said, 'Wow.'"
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-flbvoters0712sbjul12,0,7473721.storyAnother News Report
Democrats out-registering GOP nearly 7-to-1 so farJohn McCain's Florida problems may be growing: Democratic voters have out-registered Republicans by a nearly 7-to-1 margin since January.
State totals show Democrats gained a net of 106,508 voters from January through May, compared with 16,686 for the GOP -- a shift that could muddle any McCain campaign math that banks on a Florida win to gain the White House.
New Democratic registration outnumbered Republicans in six Central Florida counties -- even heavily Republican Seminole County. Orange County actually lost nearly 2,500 GOP voters and gained 11,800 Democrat voters so far.
"It's a clear sign that Democrats are re-surging in Florida," said political scientist Aubrey Jewett with the University of Central Florida. "I think the numbers certainly should worry the McCain campaign."
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_politics/2008/07/democrats-out-r.html