Obama is a Kennedy puppet. I saw the relationship at the President's State of the Union address. Not my kind of candidate or politics. Illegals must leave if justice is to be served.
The candidacy of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has energized black voters throughout the country, and Richmond County seems to be no exception, poll watchers said Monday.
Next week's presidential primary brought a steady stream of voters, largely Democrats, to Richmond County polling sites on the first day of advance voting for the primary.
Democrats have outpolled Republicans almost 2-1 in both advance voting and the number of absentee ballots in Augusta, said Board of Elections Executive Director Lynn Bailey.
In absentee balloting at the elections board office and advance voting through noon Monday, 200 Democrats had voted, and 117 Republicans cast their ballots, Mrs. Bailey said.
The elections board has mailed 483 Democratic absentee ballots, 223 of which have been returned, and 271 Republican ballots, 109 of which have been returned, Mrs. Bailey said.
At the end of the day Monday, 582 people had cast ballots at three advance voting sites in Richmond County, but Mrs. Bailey said the number of Democrats and Republicans at those sites had not been calculated.
Augusta State University professor emeritus Dr. Ralph Walker attributes heightened primary interest to Mr. Obama and the excitement generated by the Democratic candidates.
"Everybody was fired up watching the South Carolina race, and with Obama making an amazing showing the young people are all fired up."
Dr. Walker said it has been a long time since he has seen young people showing such an interest in a race.
Dave Barbee, the Republican Party's 10th Congressional District chairman, said the early voters are not voting for Mrs. Clinton.
"The minorities have a legitimate candidate in Barack Obama, and they're proud of him, and they're going to vote for him, and I don't blame them," Mr. Barbee said.
Mrs. Bailey said she did not know whether Mr. Obama's candidacy was responsible for the increase in Democrat voting in Richmond County, but she does expect polling sites to be even busier the rest of the week.
A similar trend was apparent in McDuffie County, where an official said Monday that Democrat ballot requests were outpacing Republicans 73 to 43.
McDuffie has shown consistent Republican support in recent elections.
Columbia County seemed to retain its traditional GOP support.
At the close of early voting Monday, those asking for Republican ballots outnumbered Democrats 212 to 127, according to Debbie Marshall, director of elections.
Reach Sylvia Cooper at (706) 823-3228 or sylvia.cooper@augustachronicle.com.
BY THE NUMBERS
189,282 - Voters added to the state's rolls since 2004.
30,028 - Black women who joined the rolls since 2004.
40% - Growth in Hispanic voters in Georgia since 2004.
ADVANCE VOTING
Richmond County advance voting runs from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. through Friday at three locations: the elections board office, 530 Greene St., Room 104; Henry Brigham Recreation Center, 2463 Golden Camp Road; and Warren Road Recreation Center, 300 Warren Road. Voters who cast ballots during advance voting will be required to provide one of the six forms of photo identification required under Georgia law.
Comments
Obama is a Kennedy puppet. I saw the relationship at the President's State of the Union address. Not my kind of candidate or politics. Illegals must leave if justice is to be served.
A Clinton regime will turn our country into another Mexico. Hilliary favors open borders. The North American Union is coming. Then, American citizenship will mean nothing. Not many decent candidates again!
I was recently told NOW is not the time for a woman to be president. Excuse me, men have been presidents since the beginning and look at all the drama! This was told by a brother and based on gender. This statement proved to me he wasn't going to vote on the words of the candidates or either he was looking for excuses to justify his intent to vote on a race. I truely believe this election is going to be based on race, gender and age. My feelings are the Clinton's have had there day in office and I like what Obama has to say, and the rest of them I'm still listening so right now I'm uncertain about who I will vote for but it will not be based on the color of their skin, man or woman or their age.
Not only are more citizens voting for Democrats over Republicans in Augusta, it's happening all across the Country. Things don't bode well for the Republicans. Get ready for more illegals, abortions, gays, islamofascists, socialized medicine, taxes, and less morals, guns, and God. Thank God. Going to vote today. As much as I like Obama, Edwards is the only candidate left in the race that is closest to the center or leans slightly to the left. Edwards gets my vote today and Obama gets it in November. VIVA DEMOCRATS!!!
Dave Barbee is endorsing Obama. He is the chairman of the republican party. Black people don't need Dave to decide for them. Blacks have always had a "legitimate candidate". Hillary will be hard to beat and Dave knows that.
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