How Obama can pick up extra votes Tuesday

[JohnnyRingo]

...A lot of extra votes.

I'll give it a local reference and call it the "YSU factor".
I'm using that because here in NE Ohio, I remember a year or two ago when Youngstown State was in the playoffs. YSU was the regional favorite to win of course, and the local media hype was enormous.

I really wasn't aware of the school's colors until that winter, but I soon learned from the large number of "fans" who suddenly materialized in the shops and bars here wearing red and white. There were YSU shirts and hats everywhere.

Many of these fans, I believe, never watched a college football game or attended a university in their life, but they didn't want to miss out on the victory party. They wanted to celebrate with the winners after the game, so they jumped on the bandwagon with the die-hards.

I think it showed the human tendency to go with a favored candidate when they themselves didn't have a deep knowledge or conviction for either contender. Tuesday, I believe we'll see many casual voters who don't care much about politics, and perhaps only vote once every four years, walk into the polls and faced with a quick decision, will vote for the candidate they already perceive as "the winner".

This is why they don't release numbers early, and use exit polling instead so as not to influence those who have not yet voted.

It may be a form of herd instinct, but given the much publicized early calls for an Obama win, I think we'll see a good percentage come from those who just want to wear something blue, and party with the Democrats Wednesday.