In my state, you are only allowed to vote in party primaries if you are a registered voter of that party. I used to be registered as an independent and then a Libertarian, until the election of 1996. I wanted to vote for Steve Forbes in the primary, but Bob Dole was selected. It was at that time I registered as a Republican, just so I could vote in primaries.
Yesterday, Juan McAmnesty won in FL’s primary, which is supposed to be a closed primary. I have to wonder just how “closed” it really is, after seeing this…
In northern Coral Springs, near the Sawgrass Expressway and Coral Ridge Drive, David Nirenberg arrived to vote as an independent. Nevertheless, he said poll workers insisted he choose a party ballot.
“He said to me, ‘Are you Democrat or Republican?’ I said, ‘Neither, I am independent.’ He said, ‘Well, you have to pick one,”’ Nirenberg said.
In Florida, only those who declare a party are allowed to cast a vote in that party’s presidential primary.
Nirenberg said he tried to explain to the poll worker that he should not vote on a party ballot because of his “no party affiliation” status.
Nirenberg said a second poll worker was called over who agreed that independents should not use party ballots, but said they had received instructions to the contrary.
“He said, ‘Ya know, that is kind of funny, but it was what we were told.’ … I was shocked when they told me that.” Nirenberg said he went ahead and voted for John McCain.
…and this:
One breakout that puzzles me though is the vote share by party identification. Romney and McCain were tied among Republicans at 33-33, while McCain won independents 44-23. (See page 4 of the exit poll.)
If I’m reading the poll correctly, it suggests 17% of Republican primary voters identified themselves as having no major party affiliation, while 3% identified themselves as registered Democrats.
I’m not much on conspiracy theories, so I won’t dwell on this. I do wonder, though, that if all the polls that show how the base is p#ssed at McLame are true, how did he win in a “closed” primary? I mean, NH and SC are both open primaries, meaning that “indepedents” can vote in them (and indies love themselves some Johnny Mac). But FL? I’m still trying to figure that one out.
Anywho, pardon my pessimism, but I think Juan’s got the nomination wrapped up. Schmuckabee’s done, but he probably won’t throw in the towel like Rudy did this morning. Rudy seems to be backing McAmnesty. Super Tuesday will feature a lot of Southern states, and the South by and large doesn’t seem too keen on Romney (from MA). Delegate-heavy California also votes next Tuesday, and Juan’s doing quite well out there, too. Ugh…I need a drink.
