I also notice that Trump has given up bringing in a couple of people of color to stand behind him on the podium. Rumor is that he recruited and paid those who did. The last African American man seen behind him was ignoring the speech and actively engaged on his cell phone. These past few days, Trump's podium picks are all the typical white base types.
The narrative as controlled by the chattering class has so vilified Trump and Republican supporters voters may be answering questions to deflect from their true intentions. I don't understand how polling works but being thought of as a hater and a racist, when that is not what is in your heart-- that hurts.
1
I am amazed that the many races are close as some are and that many are favoring the looney left wing candidates
We have a great economic situation going on....unemployment is the lowest YEARS. Wages are trending up....welfare payments are down from historical levels....record numbers of Blacks and Latinos employed....efforts are being made to secure the border....no Major wars going on....The stock market is up big, helping 401 K plans and IRA investments. HOWEVER.....because of the guy in the White house at the positives are at risk....that's a shame. Trump is just to self absorbed to see that a demonstration of a little humility and
more dignified behavior on his part could have preserved all the positives ..... Even a decent hair cut on his empty head probably would have helped.
1
Two years of Donald Trump and the Democrats are only up by 13 percent on the question of who should control Congress.
This number tells me one thing- Given that most of that 13 percent is a result of all Trump’s stupidity, bigotry, ineptitude, incoherence, etc. etc. etc. Democrats need to come up with a more appealing message...
“Trump is bad” will probably be insufficient to win Democrats the Senate now or in 2020.
So, what’s the plan folks? Is this the Democratic high water mark? I’m worried that it just might be...
I suppose every democracy has to put up with occasionally-hysterical election campaigns. I didn't realize that this one was actually going to contribute to the conversion of the press to the entertainment journalism of cable news.
Looking forward to starting to hear news from the Mueller probe tomorrow.
2
There are a lot of missing pieces making most of what not just the Times but everybody is covering with the volume up to 11.
What are the pools of likely voters for these polls, and how likely are they to be right with turnout at outlier levels?
What percentage of people have already voted where? It might not matter at all if the polls are making a late swing to the Dems if there's nobody that still has to vote among them.
I read one poll late last week which had only 1000 respondents and yet still gave figures for various demographic breakdowns, and then cited a fairly low margin of error, which must of been the margin for the whole sample, not the subgroups.
It matters a lot that everybody vote, but everybody please take what the press outlets are saying about polls with a huge grain of salt right now.
1
One item that has been given very little coverage in the examinations of the polling process is that during 2016 a significant number of people who were going to vote for Trump were either too embarrassed to admit it or too savvy to admit it. They were your friends or coworkers who didn't have too much to say about politics. They didn't wear the Red Hat but they wanted a tax cut. They wanted a wall. They really didn't want tax money going to public education. Many of them found comfort on FB where others (including the Russians) spouted similar thoughts...
They did confuse the pollsters by outright lying or saying that they were "unsure" - We have been training Americans in the 'Me-first' model for decades and decades so it doesn't surprise me that there are enough of us in the stealth mode to throw the elections to candidates whose only take on a social contract is the military one; schools, roads, hospitals, neighbors? Let everyone fend for themselves.
I have my fingers crossed that the rest of us will overcome those of that mindset this election. We'll see soon enough.
7
"Democrats have a 13-point edge on the question of which party should control Congress" is right up there with "90% probability of a Clinton win," which was similarly raised to the top of the New York Times website like a false flag.
People, they've got to run this newspaper but when it comes to where this country will be tomorrow, there's only ONE THING with meaning - your vote, today. Your single, solitary vote, which - along with a hundred million other single, solitary votes for checks and balances and decency and integrity and honesty and compassion and fairness and thinking and planning and growth and opportunity and democracy - will put our country back on the right track. Even if it means a long, long wait in line - please, VOTE. PLEASE. And tweet, post, call, email, text... to EVERYONE in the country. Tell THEM to vote.
4
@Jonathan - Indeed , I was flabbergasted that this newspaper gave Hillary Clinton an 84% chance of winning the presidency just days before the vote. I think about it quite often.
2
Regardless of the results of today's elections I encourage people to keep looking forward. There is much more we can do.
For a start, read up on the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. It provides a constitutional solution for bypassing the problems associated with the Electoral College. If we could get it into place by 2020, which is entirely feasible, it would radically change the nature of that race.
DC and 11 states have already adopted it. Four more states are considering it (MI, OH, PA, NC). Only a few more states are needed to make it happen. In fact, if Florida were to adopt it that would secure it, as only 29 electoral seats are required.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Popular_Vote_Interstate_Compact#Legality
2
According to exit polls, if they are accurate, most white women actually voted for Trump rather than Hillary in 2016, by a significant degree.
Strange but apparently true.
Why would most white women vote for Trump in 2016 rather than a white woman for president?
What was wrong with Hillary?
Hillary drove most white women from the Democratic Party?
Had most white women actually voted for Hillary in 2016 as the Democrats had expected, apparently Hillary would be president.
This time the polls are indicating white women are overwhelming intending to vote for the Democrats, not Republican.
If that turns out to be true this time it would be quite a major change from 2016 and the Democrats will do well in 2018.
2
Dear Democrats,
If you haven't yet voted, VOTE TUESDAY!
- Just do it!
If you have voted, volunteer with your state or local Democratic Party. Get out the Vote! Drive people to the polls.
My wife is driving voters to the polls in Atlanta from 7am to 7pm Tuesday for the Democratic Party of Georgia. (And she used to be a Republican.)
We need presidential-year level turnout tomorrow. And we may well get there - in districts and states across the nation, with your help.
14
Please Americans, go vote and vote the Democratic ticket all the way up and down. Send a message to Trump and his GOP cronies who benefited from the tax cut and his sycophants in Congress that you reject him and all that he stands for. It is time to take your country back. End the racism and tacit support for white nationalists. End the constant shootings. End the gutting of social programs and regulations on the environment. End the self-dealing and chicanery along with the blatant conflicts of interest. End the reality show that Trump has made out of the presidency. End the stacking of SCOTUS to the right. End the GOP's hold on state houses and legislatures which has allowed them to gerrymander districts to ensure their election and depress Democratic votes. End voter suppression. End the willful ignorance and pandering to the worst in people. Put the racism, sexism, anti-semitism, xenophobia and the rest of the evils encouraged and endorsed by this odious man.
Your friends and neighbours outside the US can do nothing but watch and wait. Please vote and make sure that everyone you know does so as well. Young people, it matters more than it ever did - vote. Organize drives for the elderly to the polls. Do whatever you can to hobble Trump until 2020 and then vote him out of office.
As Winston Churchill once said, 'This is not the beginning of the end, but it is the end of the beginning."
16
@Judy
Sorry. I was typing too fast and missed a couple of words. What I meant to say is " Put an end to the racism, sexism......"
3
@Judy
Sorry Judy, Americans don't vote. Only about 70% of eligible voters are actually registered, and only about 40 % of those actually vote in mid terms. A wave election in the US involves about 60% of the eligible electorate. Any candidate, who can gain the support of 20+% of eligible American voters , has a seat for life.
1
Our Nation's founders, knowing the injustices in Europe and elsewhere at the time, codified a new nation predicated on Rule by the people through their Representatives. Our Constitutional Democracy has endured for several centuries and has proven itself a nearly ideal form of government as evidenced by the greatness that we have become.
Now, on the eve of a most historic election, we are threatened by the Authoritarian inclinations and aggression's of the Trump led opportunistic and power hungry Republican Party.
If we fail to vote tomorrow for the interests of all Americans, not just ourselves, we will be visited with the horrors of single party rule in what will be an Undemocratic, Unconstitutional monopoly government backed by the carefully cultivated loyalty of the military and nation's gun owners that only represents Republican voters.
We stand to lose health care, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Food and Drug safety, clean air and water, even our very lives suffering under the lack of an effective democratic government and the welfare of the people it is mandated to assure by our Constitution.
The only bulwark against the loss of Democracy and it's Representation is for all of us to vote to keep our Democracy. That means a vote of "No Confidence" in the very aggressive power grabbing armed Republican Party.
I will most assuredly vote tomorrow for the True Democratic party to preserve our nation and it's principles of governance. I will vote early and wait.
8
Stacy Abrams will not be allowed to win, Kemp is rife in voter fraud. Kemp will see to that. He feels emboldened by Trump to commit this crime and knows he will get away with changing votes for democrats to republicans. Early voters in Georgia and Texas have seen their votes for democrats flip to republicans before their very eyes on the voting screen. And no paper trail to the voting machines owned by republicans, no proof of what their vote was. Why is there no reporting on this. A travesty. And I do believe that the voters will pick Stacy, and probably Beto too, but we will never get those results. Banana Republic. Please NYT report on this fraud, it is right in front of us, do not be frightened about being accused of being too liberal to report it. The right is fascism. First the Muslims, now the Jews..Look at how it started in Germany. I so very much hope I am wrong!
10
A Vote for ANY Republican IS a vote for Trump and his criminal mob.
Do you want.. higher taxes on the middle class? Vote Republican!
Do you want..Nazis marching in the streets? Vote Republican!
Do you want…to pay much more for prescription drugs and health insurance? Vote Republican!
Do you want…the government to take away your Social Security and Medicare? Vote Republican!
Do you want...your children to eat poisoned food, drink polluted water and breathe air that gives them cancer? If so, then vote for the Republican candidate.
Do you like paying more for consumer goods, gas and food? Then, by all means, vote for a Republican candidate and vote for Trump’s tariffs!
29
Libertarians - good God, I am so sick of these people. Dreaming of a world where government does nothing but provide security while stripping away all the government services that provide social stability. And in the process playing Democratic voters for suckers and siphoning off their votes so Republicans keep control and continue wrecking the country. There's an old term for them and their followers - "useful idiots".
17
Here you go again, making predictions which influence outcomes and are detrimental to paths forward to collaboration.
2
Please all folks with any iota of decency and honor, vote democratic. Calling all women, please vote for our future, vote democratic. All you republicans, your party is like a Halloween scarefest, please acknowledge the dreadful nature of this beast and vote democratic.
15
@Michael A. Bayard Kavanaugh lied several even before the sexual allegations.there were emails to prove it. And he doesn't believe in separation of church and state. Totally unqualified.
22
Once again we have fake polls like we had in 2016. Did Hillary win?
2
>>> "Did Hillary win?"
Only if you count the votes of the people.
Luckily for Trump, our electoral system was structured to protect the interests of slave-holders and tiny states like Delaware.
12
I dunno. You mean in the pop vote or the Electoral College?
By the way, the polling wasn’t really off. A stats class or two might help you. Start with what “margin of error,” is.
8
@Fake Polls The only poll that got it right last time was Rasmussen. They predicted Hillary would win the popular vote by 2%. She won by 2.1%
3
It appears that what was discussed 6 months ago as a possibility will happen.
The Dems will "take" the House, but the GOP will control the Senate.
My real fear is that if on Thursday the DOW loses 400 points, Trump will blame the Dems. If it gains 400 points, he'll take the success personally. And on and on and on for a lot of areas where bad and good things are likely to happen. China and Iran and France and the caravans and ... come to mind.
Despite the fact that a GOP controlled Congress under President Obama, and one with Trump as POTUS, were unable to do much beside adding $400 billion to 1 trillion more to OUR debt. Annually.
He knows his audience. Which is indeed mostly himself.
I do hope that the Dems actually lay low on all of the investigations and just form plans with ... facts ... for the best of all of us.
Yeah, I know, Rush and Sean and 50 million or so Trump supporters ignore facts.
1
@jhanzel
"My real fear is that if on Thursday the DOW loses 400 points"
Who cares about the stock market? The very future of our country is at stake. VOTE!
(And yes, I have money invested in stocks. But I also have my priorities straight.The long-term stability of our nation is without a doubt more important than a short-term pump-and-dump game on Wall Street.)
4
Most people away from the coasts are just happy to be working again. Nobody in Washing cared about the Midwest when unemployment was over 10%. We will see what people actually do tomorrow.
1
Yeah, that must be why that Obama guy came out of Chicago and took unemployment down from your ten percent to 4.7.
19
@Joseph Falcone
President Obama saved the auto industry contrary to Mitt Romney's ideological advice; and Obama also signed the legislation extending unemployment benefits (about 189 House Republicans opposed).
https://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/16/us/politics/16cong.html
George W put this nation on unstable footing with his two never-ending wars. Republican deregulation of banking industry enabled the reckless subprime loans which resulted in the Great Recession. But yeah, Rush, Hannity, and Trump tell you to blame Democrats as the "uncaring" Washington.
So, you continue to blame "Washington" and are clueless that wage earners got 10 years of a pittance of the Trump tax cut. Corporations got almost half of their tax reduced WITH NO EXPIRATION. The 10-year price tag of $1.5T gets added to national debt.
Yes, tomorrow, we'll see if people figured out who poisoned their water and didn't fix their roads.
13
@Able Nommer
Enough with the nonsense about GWB being a warmonger. HRC supported every military action GWB did, and then some
1
I reject description of President Trump as unhinged because I doubt that he has ever been hinged. Still, he is obviously more frantic, angry and wildly raving during his ongoing desperation tour into today. Let's all keep an eye on him and how he reacts to this well-earned thrashing.
14
You probably watch CNN,MSNBC, Cbs These reporter’s owners support the democrat party. The news on these stations are always negative for President Trump. Do you ever watch Fox or read the Wallstreet journal? You are probably getting a bias liberal view point after all you probably read the New York Times which means you are being feed extreme liberal views every day.
I predict that the republicans will win the house and the senate.
1
Hey, Mussolini got bad press in America too, except from Father Coughlin and the German-American Bund.
4
I myself do in fact watch FOX—Chris Wallace is excellent, and they run very good polls—and sometimes read the WSJ on financial news.
Unfortunately most of FOX might as well be the Volkischer Beobachter or Pravda, two papers that REALLY knew how to stroke a Maximum Leader.
Sorry, but I like my news to report it when a lazy, ignorant greedhead happens to actually act like a lazy, ignorant greedhead.
14
I've never been polled even once over the last 20 years. I just question how reliable they are. What happened to the blue wave of Florida immigrants who were supposed to defeat Trump in 2016? Do not underestimate the economy and the $$ in our pockets from the Trump tax break. I'm one of the "wealthy" at $85000 a year who now sees an extra $200/month. Being that my health insurance is $750/month, it's like Trump got me a $200 discount!
2
"Democrats enjoy a 13-point advantage " please do not say this!!! the horrors of predictions for Presidential race of 2016 still reverberate!
14
Don’t pay any attention to the polls. Remember Hillary didn’t win, but polls predicted that she would win.
1
And don't forget, American ex-pats in Canada, that you can vote too.
9
@Ambrose
What about the one million plus americans living in Mexico. can they vote too?
1
Re: Florida's races. The Florida GOP ran a presidential election level GOTV for the early vote and had formidable turnout. The Democrats caught up and passed the Republican votes this weekend. Many Republican early votes came from the small, rural counties that usually are the GOP strength on election day. Does one cancel out the other?
Polling indicates that the N/A voters are leaning Democratic at a 2-1 ratio. At nearly one million N/A early votes cast, things look much better for Gillum and the Blue ticket than for the Trump folks on the Red ticket. #BRINGITHOME.
5
Gillum is pulling ahead and bringing Nelson along on his coattails? Who would have thunk it three months ago, Nelson following Gillum? I’ll take it, looks like FL is going blue at the top.
9
Tribalism is way too strong in this country. You might find something about the Democratic platform distasteful or objectionable, but the alternative is... Really horrible?
Over the past two years the Republican party had planted a huge flag in the ground. They stand for base fear, raw hate, unchecked lust, unquenchable greed, worship of crass brutality over strength of character: Animal instincts, the pull of our lower nature. They represent a stark and sudden regression to a fascist society. I am very sorry that this sounds melodramatic, because the immensity of the shift in Republicanism isn't really hitting home to the rank and file.
The Right loves to paraphrase Ben Franklin: Those who would sacrifice freedom for security deserve neither. We should be very careful how we define freedom these days. We are on the precipice of shackling ourselves to a crude iconoclast because a "caravan" of refugees makes millions of Americans shake in their boots.
7
@Dan hi Dan. The Right should rather take a look at Teddy Roosevelt and his Fair Deal.
1
@Dan - "Tribalism" ... Yes! This is a growing problem in our country.
My hope is that DEMs will gain a majority over the next 2 elections, and then use their position to identify Republicans who are flexible and sincere enough (there are some), to work with them on developing a bi-partisan agenda around issues like infrastructure and healthcare, while putting on the pressure by reversing gerrymandering and cleaning up campaign finance laws.
1
My God, this is a roller coaster ride. Despite cautions among pollsters about reaching election conclusions, they present data like this on the heels of a narrowing of the generic ballot outcomes between Ds and Rs. The emotions whipsaw between hope and panic. I won't sleep without medication tonight and likely beyond.
3
I used to think that the polls contained just a little more accuracy than a drunk weatherman, and believed that the only people whose predictions I'd believe were the ones that had some 'skin in the game,' like the London bookies that specialized in American elections.
That belief was shaken in November of 2016, when the average odds (the "line") against Trump winning were 7-to-2: I think that means for every dollar you bet that Trump would win, you would get $3.50 back... and seeing those bookmakers all 'take a bath' when Trump won, I thought that it couldn't have happened to nicer people.
The reasons I'm so happy to see this mid-term election period coming to a close is so I won't be forced to watch candidate commercials, and will also will not be smothered with 'what the polls say' about anything, because my respect for them is now lower than my trust in an alcoholic cardiologist.
GeneGrossman.com
1
Despite "big poll" for Democrats, I remain cautious - after the big disappointment in November 2016.
Although I very much hope so, I'll wait and rejoice when the polls prove accurate.
There are some Americans who are embarassed to admit that they support Trump and the GOP, but they will vote Republican. Apart from the economy, it's not what they are for that matters, it's what they are against. Unfortunately Trump has tapped into their intuition.
3
Catharsis for many may arrive tomorrow. We shall see.
2
I was at that Malinowski canvass. One of the more amazing things I've seen. People converged on that house from *everywhere.* The motivation to oust Republicans was truly something to witness.
16
@Bill Camarda Lacey created a time lapse video of this location from 12-1pm on Saturday. It was amazing to watch.
3
Filmmaker Micheal Moore has been unflinchingly correct on the 2016 and I believe will again be correct in 2018; Democrats will display their historic ability to lose elections which they should win.
Perhaps Democrats gain control of the House. But besides launching investigations, where is their comprehensive legislation on Medicare for all, living wages//jobs or immigration reform?
@Memnon - Here's a quick answer to your question. See the article below.
The top of the DEM agenda - campaign ethics reform, infrastructure and prescription drug prices
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/31/us/politics/democrats-midterm-elections.html
4
So much at stake tomorrow and the results will tell us a lot about where we're heading. Is Donald Trump the result of a perfect storm of lingering events or is he a harbinger of our future? Holding on to democracy has never been easy.
Every fifty years or so, after relative calm, maybe from complacency, maybe from changes, there is an eruption and chaos. It ultimately redefines us usually for the better. We've never been "one nation" without division except during times of war when, like family, we come together for common goals. In between, it's individuals pushing every which way.
The record setting numbers of early voting shows that we care a lot about our country even when, or especially when, we disagree.
2
Illustrating yet again why the generic ballot may be the most useless tool in a stream of useless polls.
3
VOTE tomorrow, do not take anything for granted nor believe your vote does not count. If you want to count, vote.
Next, stay informed and involved. Push for automatic voter registration that provides any necessary ID. Voting is the foundation of Democracy, it should be protected and accessible.
Advocate for the return of fair representation and elimination of gerrymandering. Redraw all maps into simple rectangles with equal population density for the 2020 election.
Protecting election integrity is key to US security. Blocking the vote is not protecting against voter fraud. Voting is so important, i know the challenges can be overcome for a necessary ID system that does not burden US citizens. Name changes and different database formats, typos and changing criteria are silliness.
7
How about MORE on the important issues people will be voting on -- the economy, healthcare, tax windfalls for the .001% while the 99% suffer, election-tampering, etc, etc, etc -- and LESS on polls and prognostications!
Focusing on ISSUES will encourage people to go OUT AND VOTE! All this politicking and poll palavering will NOT do that.
What is it about focusing on ISSUES -- not endless opining and polling -- that's become such anathema to the media?
4
Take polls with a grain of salt. Please vote and encourage others to vote as if we were drastically behind and the fate of our country depends on it.
Because it does.
8
Even in Boston people have Beto stickers on their laptops!!!!! Ted Cruz is toast!!!!!
8
@Robert James
I hope so. The massive voter turnout looks good for Beto.
@Robert James
Really? People in a liberal, east coast town in a liberal state filled with college students support Beto? Who expected that!
1
Does anyone know if the impeachment trial will be held in the Capitol Building or the Supreme Court? Just wondering.
4
Which one?
I expected this despite all other polls, because I refuse to believe that I am living in a country where the majority are racists and white supremacists.
4
@Kodali - You are living in a country in which the minority can twist the law around so that they "win" elections.
2
Nice poll. I love polls that say Dems are favored to win. Almost as much as I loved the polls that gave Clinton a 90% chance of winning in 2016 and sent minorities and young people to bed early instead of a polling place.
Until she didn't. Since then, I consider polls not only grossly unreliable, but totally counterproductive to the point of being evil. Please stop already with the polling! I've cut down my reading of the Times by 50% and that's where it will stay until I see some responsible, constructive journalism from this paper.
17
@MikeG Brilliant! Touché!
@MikeG Clinton was given an 80% chance of winning 2016. That's just 4-1.
1
@Juvenal451 - The day before the election the NYT gave her a 85% chance, 6.7:1. A couple weeks earlier they had it at 95%, 20:1.
Check out the final results chart (Total Electoral Votes), as the actual election results came in. Trump's win was well above the "margin of error" at the start of the day.
https://www.nytimes.com/elections/2016/forecast/president
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/upshot/presidential-polls-forecast.html
I am very worried that Republicans will steal this election through dishonest tactics at the polls. They have proven that they will stop at nothing to win. Lying about dates and polling requirements, voter suppression, intimidation, rejecting voters for specious reasons, and using fear and anger to mislead voters, are all tactics they have used extensively.
Voters: Understand that the Republicans are trying to cheat to win. No matter what your party affiliation, be on your guard. Don't be intimidated, and realize that if this kind of election dishonesty is to be stopped, you must vote Republicans who enable these practices out of office. Let us reform our body politic first, level the playing field and then we can go back to civil, reasoned debates about policy. But until the cheaters are eliminated, we are in grave danger.
15
The 15-20% Democratic swing in special elections this and last year cannot be a fluke. Unlike the generic ballot, they are real, i.e., actual results. I think you are going to see carnage on the Republican’s side. But don’t listen to me—please go out and vote!
5
@California Man I'm anything but naive, seldom wrong, but most definitely cute!
2
@37-year-old guy
I think it's cute how naive people never think they're naive.
1
Godspeed, American women! Vote! Our democracy depends on it. Trump is on every line of every ballot. Trump is lies, racism and fear. Vote for health care, Social Security, Medicare, infrastructure, public education, and ethical government. Vote out the immoral opportunists who are slavishly serving Trump. Vote for voting rights for all. Vote for civil rights for women. The Times Upshot polling is fantastic. Keep it up, NY Times! Voters, use www.actblue.com to donate just $1. We are in until the end and then some. Vote for sanity, skepticism and decency. They will do anything to seize power forever. Never-the-less we persisted!
14
For any of you readers interested in the accuracy of polling, as I am, I've put together the following summary of the Upshot poll mentioned in the article.
Of the 96 polls taken, many are the same race polled twice, at 2 different times. Of the 96 polls, there are 66 unique races. Of the 66 races, 51 place the opposing candidates so close that they are within the margin of error. In other words, either candidate could win and the poll would be "accurate".
That leaves 15 races in which the poll results show the candidates separated by more than the margin of error. In terms of polling accuracy those are the polls to examine after the results come in.
The other 51 races should really be listed as "too close to call".
Other problems with the Upshot poll:
Some races were polled weeks ago with no update.
Many races have very large "undecided" responses.
In general the sampling size is small, with a margin of error +- 4.5% to 5%, which means there needs to be a 9% to 10% difference between the candidates before the poll begins to indicate a likely winner
Personally I find the "horse race" emphasis of the reporting at the NY Times to be less than helpful to our political process, which should be vastly more focused on discussing policies rather than rooting for our respective teams. But the media thrives on conflict and keeps our attention that way.
I will NOT be watching the Needle election night coverage that the Times is boosting so strongly.
4
Across the nation, Republicans have demonstrated their disrespect for the concept of a free election. Their gerrymandered districts and efforts to suppress the votes of minorities and elderly are so common they aren't newsworthy. The decision to move the only voting place out of Dodge City, Kansas reflects the Republican's desire to keep the latina Americans from voting. Don't sit on your hands this election, cast a vote to create a better Congress, and a better government.
13
This may be one of the most important elections in a persons lifetime on the federal, state and local levels . With Trump and his Republican cohorts in all levels of government ,it is becoming
increasingly clear that the our basic rights are at stake. Thus it is so important that people, regardless of the weather or long lines, get out and vote these Republicans Out of office !
8
Not only as a woman, but also has the daughter of a laborer, granddaughter of Italian immigrants, RN, mother of daughters, and wife of a life-long protector of our natural resources, a true conservationist, tomorrow's election is of profound importance. More is at stake than unjust, nativist, and bigoted policies. Our country has reached a nadir of all that should be moral and ethical since Trump was elected. It has sunk so low that it is no longer recognizable as a fair and equal democracy. Certainly, there must be more good people in this nation than not, who think, who are concerned not only for their own welfare but also for their children's and their children's children. How I want to believe we can begin to get our country back for us, the people who count. How I hope that we remember this government is of, by, and for the people no matter ethnicity, race, religion, or gender.
21
The only thing that is clear is that the closer the election is (especially for Governor races), the more likelihood there will be shenanigans, hacking, suppression and court cases to absolutely make sure that they stay in republican hands.
The census comes around in 2020 and redistricting (gerrymandering) is required for the President (republicans) to even have a chance to retain the White House.
This is not a midterm - this is the prelude to the general.
26
Just saw Malinowski‘s Reject Fear TV ad over the weekend and it’s one of the best I’ve seen in a long time.
6
The only thing that is clear is that the closer the election is (especially for Governor races), the more likelihood there will be shenanigans, hacking, suppression and court cases to absolutely make sure that they stay in republican hands.
The census comes around in 2020 and redistricting (gerrymandering) is required for the President (republicans) to even have a chance to retain the White House.
This is not a midterm - this is the prelude to the general.
5
I learned two valuable lessons in 2016;
Men are stronger and more accepted than women in an election. It's not misogyny on my part, just recognition of a fact of life.
Polls have the effect of changing turnout in favor of those down in the polls. Everyone loves an underdog and the lower poll numbers inspire them to vote.
Don't count your chickens early.
Eat Eggs instead of chickens. Then there will be more chickens laying more eggs thus bringing down the prices of both chickens and eggs.
1
@Shakinspear
They're different types of chicken.
The early voting might actually bode well for Dems. Four years ago, GOP were ahead 7% in early, but their governor Scott only won by 1%. This year they’re actually behind Dems in early by 1%, so a similar swing could mean a Dem victory of 7%. Still, can’t be complacent.
2
One day left - something to be grateful for. Too much campaigning!
5
I believe the Independents will be the deciding votes in all these close elections. From what I've seen in Social Media that voting block favors Dems.
Most (I) voters are not Trump sycophants. They still believe integrity and character are desirable traits in a President. Not so much the average GOP voter nowadays.
When we no longer care about the character of our elected representatives, this Democracy is finished.
6
National polls were accurate in 2016. Unfortunately, those don't necessarily catch the nuances of the Electoral College.
Midterms aren't national elections, even if this one is more so than most because of the Trump effect. The only thing we can say is highly likely true is, if every eligible voter turned out, Democrats would clean up.
We'll see who really turns out tomorrow.
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Whatever happens tomorrow, we won't see a truly representative government until we end the gerrymander, and abolish the Electoral College.
Whichever politicians have the backbone to work on this are the ones we should support.
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@R Mandl
Yes. We need a national election, monitored and audited by independent commissions. No more Reconstruction era EC gerrymandered, corrupted electors. EC votes do not reflect the
true population counts; a national election would take all votes into account. If the GOP cannot win a national election, it needs a change of direction in its policies; that won't happen until it moves away from the control of large corporate donors.
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@R Mandl - My thanks both to you and to Linda Miilu who replied to you. California, your state, has adopted the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. I encourage anyone reading this to promote the Compact to the legislators in your own states. This is a simple, direct way to get around the Electoral College without having to go through the very difficult process of an amendment to the Constitution.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Popular_Vote_Interstate_Compact
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@J Jencks, It's not constitutional and will not work. Stop trying to sell snake oil. The solution is non-partisan redistricting.
I am more afraid of the impact from gerrymandering, voting restrictions and obstacles placed on minority voters, and voting systems interference/hacking by Russia than turnout.
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@mrpisces
All the more reason for every Democrat to VOTE this year!
Yes, it is an uphill battle. But we can overcome this with shear numbers. Get out the vote!
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Internally and externally today, the country is under assault, its future, its existence may be questioned. . Vote today for the country, because the time may come when your descendants will have to vote under another flag.
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While thinking about voting please recall and consider Trump's words and actions in Helsinki, Finland, in front of V. Putin, his comment on Lebron James's intelligence and Melania's reaction to her husband's words and all of the lies and "jobs saved" and how well the Obama economy is still doing. Please don't forget that the national debt has climbed because of Trump and the country has gotten more unsafe since he became POTUS. Save your health care and vote.
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@John - Indeed , however don't forget that he is putting those chinese in their place.
The biggest winner tomorrow will be candidate APATHY (vis a vis GOP). The Republicans have sown distrust of government for years. They love that Americans have grown accustomed to living with and enabling CYNICISM, which gives birth to apathy.
President Trump 24% of popular vote.
Would be (should be) President Clinton 26% of popular vote.
President APATHY- 43% of vote.
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@Tim Shaw
'President Clinton'
What a joke.
Without the Super Delegates that Debbie Wasserman the then DNC chair got to line up to elect her, she should have lost to other DNC candidates.
It was totally cheating that she started the race 150 points ahead. That she had to fight off Sanders to the end for the nomination, tells you how truly popular that person is.
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@AutumLeaff
Another Bernie die hard. He could not have won a national election with all that Independent Socialist baggage from Vermont. And, Mrs. Bernie? Didn't she use her seat on the Board of a small university to force the purchase of her useless "beachfront" property? They went bankrupt after that. Bernie now owns an expensive vacation home. He trashed Clinton with GOP talking points. Clinton was not corrupt; she served in public office for 26 years; no fake "scandals" ever panned out, including the awful lie about Vince Foster. That was a new low, even in politics.
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@Linda Miilu - Neither you nor I know whether Bernie might have beat Trump. Neither of us can do anything here except express opinions based on the facts we choose to mention. I'll mention a few in favor of Bernie beating Trump.
It's well known that HRC lost to Trump by a SMALL amount in several key swing states and had she won just 77,000 more votes in PA, WI and MI the Electoral College would have turned.
In May '16 Quinnipiac did polls comparing a HRC/Trump race to Sanders/Trump race. In all the key swing states Sanders had a wider winning margin than HRC, sometimes by several percent. This margin was well more than enough to have won those states.
In short, he had a head start. Compared to HRC he was better able to connect with swing voters, the unemployed steel, coal and auto workers
Yes, the GOP would have bashed Sanders. If Mother Teresa ran as a DEM they would bash her too.
But he had a headstart in the states that mattered. That might have been enough.
I hope you'll give it a little thought. I think my analysis is valid. By the way, I think HRC would have made a fine president and I voted for her. But who I, a West Coast Liberal, like matters very little in the national outcome. The DEMs MUST pick a candidate who can do well in the swing states. That's the ONLY way to get the Electoral College.
https://poll.qu.edu/2016-presidential-swing-state-polls/release-detail?releaseid=2345
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This is the best article in a long time. I hope there will be losses and we need the corrupt electoral college the first thing. If they can't find a favorite son Republican candidate that can gather millions more popular votes that is to bad and you will never get another mean spirited GOP President.
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And Georgia has a lot to offer. First of, quite a number of politicians are inclined to embrace the tenets of pecksniffian, and sometimes persnickety persuasions. Prevarication can be another path, a whole host of election fighters can resort to, and many candidates are becoming adept in performing ''kabuki dances'' in the last push to garner a few more votes. The validity of a candidate's complaint against an opponent might need to be ascertained, before anything else, when desperate.
One party candidate casting aspersions on his or her opponent's sincerity, has remained the modus operandi, for eons in politics, to gain a quick advantage. With the poll numbers between the parties doing a ''yo yo'' set of swings, the unprecedented voting numbers may narrate a different story. Or not.
Voter suppression for about 53,000 in GA, has been another polemical issue of note, and, it can be another potential scoring point for the Dems. Whether all these will translate into votes in favor of the Dems, is anybody's guess. It will be known day after tomorrow, or tomorrow night, perchance, won't it?
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@Vernon
Please note that SoS Kemp has already removed more than a million from the voting rolls, 670,000 in 2017 alone. This is just the most recent and obvious transgression of honor and honesty.
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I’m uneasy about predictions that democrats will take the house. If you have a memory at all, you remember the predictions for the 2016 General. In the truest words of a president who speaks his mind and tells it like it’s not: “We’ll see what happens.”
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I'm steeling myself for a possible Republican pickup in the House. I keep my eyes wide open all the time.
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@Respect Our Right To Vote And in the words of the late, great Yogi Berra, “It ain’t over till it’s over.”
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@Respect Our Right To Vote
I would like to see Trump's tax records; those records would really tell it like it is. Loans, Russian money laundered through The Bank of Cyprus and Deutsche Bank. He owes Russians a lot of money; he is compromised, and would have to sell off assets to pay off those loans. He also owes Saudis money; that is why he was rubbing that globe with another murdering sheik.
2
It's feeble that my party, with everything that has happened since Trump emerged from his gilded sewer, is going to make only a fairly typical signature midterm gain. They should be CRUSHING it in the House and the Senate and everywhere else. When are we going to fight like Republicans?
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@Jeffrey Gillespie Alas, it is not clear that Democrats will take the House. Democrats must turn out massively to overcome Republican cheating. A friend called me asking how he could vote "on line." I told him that this was impossible--he had to go to a polling place and cast an actual ballot. He told me that he had been receiving social media messages saying that everyone should do online voting. Another Republican cheat that people should be aware of.
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@Jeffrey Gillespie
When we hire "advisors" like Steven Miller and Bannon. When we have a President who loads a Cabinet with grifters: Zinke, deVos et al. When we no longer care about the legacies left by FDR, Truman, LBJ and Obama. When we no longer care.
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@Jeffrey Gillespie:
My local state representative has a fairly simple mantra - fairness, decency, and reasonable.
Throw in professional, responsible and sound civics.
Then stick with that like white on rice - over and over and over again until people associate that unmistakably with the party.
A wall at the boarder is not reasonable.
Open boarders is not reasonable.
Throwing children in cages is not decent.
See how that can be a guide to good politics and good policy?
If the fair, decent & reasonable standard is adhered to and sticks, it becomes impossible for the GOP to pin a stupid idea, like open borders, upon the Dems. It then becomes even more discrediting of themselves.
1
There's lots of talk of a good economy and Trump's economic success. There was when Obama was in power too and had his own economic success. But it turns out what mattered at the last election was where in the country that success was occurring. The rust belt was suffering and not included in the Obama success story. So I wonder where is Trump's economy good? Is it the same places as Obama ie not the rust belt where the economy is weak(er). I wonder how this will impact votes for Trump, or if his racist and patriotic rhetoric will carry him through as he at least acknowledges those in trouble (eg $ already devoted by Trump for opioid crisis) and talks to them. How long will it take for them to realise he is not on their side?
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@Stella
Who forced the purchase of cheap, weak Chinese steel rivets for the Bay Bridge? A Republican from Oakland. All the rivets had to be replaced at great cost. The rust belt was failing before Obama; he tried to save the auto industry; he saved the auto parts industry; he had no cooperation from Republicans. He tried to fund infrastructure; he had no cooperation from Republicans. He tried to work out an oil deal with Iran; he got no cooperation from Republicans. He finally got American hostages freed by returning Iranian deposits in U.S. banks; he was vilified for that by Republicans. He tried to get money for a basic national health care system; he could not get that past the GOP and insurance company donors, even when he included them. He withstood vile insults to himself, his wife and his daughters with dignity. I am amazed he would now expose himself to that again. Bless him.
2
Why would anyone think that three-time-bankrupt businessman is a good leader with a sound economic plan is beyond me. Deficit is highest ever and he talks about prosperity, looks to me we are in for a hard crash in the next few years. Maybe it’s better if Democrats loose so that GOP can take some responsibility, for a change, for allowing lunatic to run around unabashed. I know, I am a dreamer.
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They won't need to take any responsibility as long Democrats hail them as a Grand Old Party. The way you did, just now.
Watch your language.
''Advisers to Mr. Scholten tell us they are preparing for a recount if the vote is razor-thin. They have also cut a final digital ad with Mr. Scholten saying it was time for new leadership in both parties, calling to replace Nancy Pelosi and Paul Ryan.''
Speaker Ryan is retiring. What was the point?
6
@Lawrence The point was to try to get the voters who hate both of those people.
@Kathrine
There are GOP voters who do not know that Ryan worked hard to take Medicare away from them; they don't know he is leaving. They don't know that Pelosi has a safe seat in SF; she will retire when she is ready. In the meantime, she knows more about legislation than many GOP "reps" will ever know. So, they count on gerrymandering and voter suppression. Think about that: America is admired for being a voting Republic; take away the right to vote for all, and you have a fake Republic, like No. Korea.
1
Anyone who thinks they can sit out the vote tomorrow because they just "know" their local races won't be competitive...needs to get a clue. Don't listen to the polls or the prognosticators. Go out and vote. It's your civic duty.
And if you also want to protect America from a fascist takeover, which is imminent, then you'd better go to the polls tomorrow, November 6th, and....
VOTE OUT ALL REPUBLICANS WITHOUT EXCEPTION!!!
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The NYT says: "Trump advisers spent the weekend preparing the president for Republican losses and what that could mean for his agenda." What agenda? We usually think of an "agenda" as an orderly, thought out plan for the nation moving forward. But this alleged "nationalist" has no agenda FOR the nation. He may have a plan to make another billion or two for himself and his family. He may have a plan for his next TV series. But other than the tax plan, which is a done deal, and excluding immigrants of color, he has no agenda. Let's try not to credit him with too much actual thinking.
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@lhc A they preparing him for a fashion makeover? I don't think they let you wear a tie with an orange jump suit and flip flops. Hair spray is out too. No micky-d's
He will fit in so well. Everyone in jail is also innocent, victims of witch hunts.
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@lhc His "Agenda" is funneling as many taxpayer dollars into his own pockets as he possibly can. This meeting was probably the GOP sitting him down to explain that if they lose control of Congress, they won't be able to protect him from investigations into his illegal profiteering and fraud.
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@lhc
"Alleged Nationalist?"
A nail-biter despite Kemp's tricks
If Dem voters put in their licks
Stacey may be seated
Governorship greeted
It's one of my most eager picks!
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