If Voter Interest in Campaign 2008 Is at Record-High Levels, Why Do I Keep Yawning Every Time I See McCain and Obama?
From a July 10 Pew Research Center look at registered-voter "engagement" in the upcoming election, which will take place sometime later this year:
The outlook for the presidential election at mid-year is substantially different than at comparable points in time in recent campaigns. First, turnout is likely to be higher this fall—perhaps much higher than in previous elections—as voter interest continues at record levels. Second, as has been the case since the start of the campaign, Democrats enjoy a substantial engagement advantage over Republicans that may significantly alter the composition of the November electorate.
Higher engagement, says Pew, is likely to increase voter turnour, which is likely to push the Dems way over the top.
What say you, Hit & Run readers? Are you more engaged, less engaged, or whatever this time around? Will you vote this time like your whole world depended on it? Or is it simply it is what it is time? (I think I lost myself there). Who will speak now for the vanishing voters, lord love their souls?
Here's a chart that explains the engagement level better than Sister Mary Ignatius ever could:
Other Pew fun facts: Fifty-six percent of voters think there should be a third major party.