Does the Gubernatorial Recount Help or Hurt? | 12 comments | Create New Account
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Does the Gubernatorial Recount Help or Hurt?
Authored by: Jeezum Crow on Sunday, September 05 2010 @ 07:21 PM GMT+5
I don't know if it helps, hurts or is neutral in its effect on the November election but if I had to guess, I would guess neutral. I hope that is the case, but as I see it that is not the issue. The real issue is verification or correction of the numbers.
Authored by: Maus Anon E on Sunday, September 05 2010 @ 07:29 PM GMT+5
It's an interesting debate. I think it helps the Dems. Everyone is focusing on them instead of Dubie. And so far, the Dems have managed to behave like adults.
Authored by: babalu on Sunday, September 05 2010 @ 07:32 PM GMT+5
Given that the primary was early and with no strong minor party or independent candidates, I don't think it will hurt a thing. It's going to be a race between Dubie and either Racine or Shumlin, and who knows, possibly Markowitz, with all three of them so close to the count that Markowitz could have asked for a recount, too.
There are still many towns in Vermont counting ballots by hand; and although I'm sure everyone put in their very best efforts at accuracy, mistakes do happen.
Towns are not switching to scanning machines because hand counting was so easy; it's the combination of ease and accuracy that sells them.
And on the matter of recounts; in some states it's automatic when so close and I personally feel it should be in Vermont, too. I feel it puts the runner up in a position to take some very undeserved criticism and it seems especially this year, there's been plenty of it. Unfair.
Authored by: SJM on Monday, September 06 2010 @ 06:27 AM GMT+5
I would say that it will have a slightly positive effect on the race since the Democratic candidates have run such a positive race towards each other while all attacking the Republican candidate. There is really no animosity between any of the Democrats and the recount will only serve as a unifying event and give the eventual Democratic candidate increased name recognition.
That is as long as the recount avoids controversy...hanging chads...and voter registration rolls with the names Mickey Mouse, Wile E. Coyote and Yosemite Sam(though in Vermont this one is a possibility...)
Authored by: paulgardner on Monday, September 06 2010 @ 07:27 AM GMT+5
The VPR piece SJM links is pretty discouraging. The two political science professors they quote believe the effect of the recount on the democrat's chances is negative.
I fail to see how it can help. The name of the game in VT politics is name recognition. It is very hard to get that in VT. We don't pay much attention to our own state politics outside a very narrow window of time leading up to the election. The recount has taken that away.
It's true that the recount is getting some positive attention. But on election day the recount will not be on the ballot.
Authored by: cgrotke on Monday, September 06 2010 @ 10:45 AM GMT+5
With Progressives staying out of the picture this time, it
appears we'll have a classic election between a Democrat
and a Republican in Vermont. Despite our love of
independence, this could be a party line vote. (Are
significant numbers so dissatisfied that they'll switch to
the other major party? I doubt it.)
I don't think the recount hurts. It gives voters on all sides
more confidence that the winner is indeed the winner.
It's probably a safe bet that we'll have the winner of the
recount as our next Governor - that's my guess, at least.
Authored by: pjmelton on Saturday, September 11 2010 @ 05:06 AM GMT+5
The 'o' and 'v' are the later formulations. The word comes from Latin gubernare. There are a lot of examples of forming adjectival forms from the original Greek and Latin words, but I can't think of any others right now.
--- "For every action, there is an equal and opposite criticism. " -- Steven Wright
