Early Florida Voting Drove Obama's Win

MIAMI — More Floridians voted for John McCain than Barack Obama on Election Day, but the Democrat sealed his victory in the state by winning more early and absentee votes.

An Associated Press study of 94 percent of the state's total shows that the Republican beat Obama by almost 5 percentage points on Nov. 4, but Obama trumped McCain by 11 percentage points in early and absentee balloting. Overall, Obama beat McCain 51.4 percent to 48.6 percent in Florida, becoming only the third Democrat in 11 presidential elections to carry the state.

The results reflect the Obama campaign's heavy emphasis on early voting in critical states such as Florida, which had the most electoral votes of any swing state _ 27 _ and decided the presidency for George W. Bush in 2000.

The AP analyzed election results reported by 55 Florida counties, separating the absentee and early ballots from the votes cast on Election Day.

More than 2.6 million of Florida's 11.2 million registered voters cast their ballots in the early period between Oct. 20 and Nov. 2. Florida's total turnout for the presidential election was 8.4 million voters; it was not yet clear how many voters mailed in their ballots.

Republican Gov. Charlie Crist had signed an executive order Oct. 28 extending early voting hours as record numbers of voters waited for hours in long lines. Democrats hope to make those extensions permanent when the state legislature meets next year.

Democrats also added 461,000 voters to their rolls, compared to 172,000 more Republicans.

In 2004, the difference between Election Day results and early and absentee balloting was negligible for both John Kerry and Bush, according to an AP analysis of election results. Bush carried Florida by 381,000 votes and bested Kerry by about 4 percentage points in the early voting and about 5 percentage points on Election Day. Bush won the state overall, 52.1 percent to Kerry's 47 percent.

More than a third of the votes cast in Florida in that election were cast early or by mail, taking advantage of a 2000 rule change allowing absentee ballot requests without having to prove that voting in person would be a hardship.

Obama won the presidency with 365 electoral votes to McCain's 173.

Comments

[getoffthecross]

Hip-Hip and freakin' Huzzah!

For six weeks before the election, I was knocking on doors and prodding strangers. My wife and I voted two weeks early (not quite 2 hour wait, which is less than I've waited for some crappy rides in Orlando), and then bothered and conjoled friends and family, some of which had never voted, to do the same. We gave what we could to the campaign, and then gave some more. And then there was literally the hours on stage http://www.jokerzinternetradio.com/phpmotion/play.php?vid=1088) just trying to bring a little common sense to the national conversation.

I did NONE of that for Al Gore or John Kerry. But I couldn't let another election slip by without doing literally everything I could. Even if we hadn't won, I was at least somewhat content in the knowledge that there wasn't much more we could have done. The win was just icing on the cake. Good icing. Wonderful icing. Lip-smacking, no-more-ne­ocon-agend­a icing. The tears are still just below the surface each and every day.

Obama is just a man. He will not be perfect. But I still think he's working on behalf of all Americans, and not just the rich ones. That's enough for me right now.

[MThomasNC]

I worked the polls in my hometown here in NC both early voting period and election. I gave out information to the voters. Over 75% of the early voters were democrats. Most of the republicans came out on election day.
My town was one of the deep, deep blue in the country. Obama carried the country which have Fort Bragg and Pope AFB as well as the state.

[christianmama4change]

I canvassed for Obama on election day and I'm so thrilled our state Florida went for him!

[LJB1977]

s someone who volunteered for the Obama campaign here in Tampa, Fl - I was thrilled to read this! I totally give credit to Obama's ground effort and to the people who left their homes, jobs, schools to come and work for the vote. I met one person who left her job in England - she was an American, came and lived with a family who took her in - all just for the campaign. It was an amazing effort by all - and thank you to the early voters!!!!

[Zhonni]

Wow, what a story and what dedication. Coming from London to get out the vote? That is just awesome.

And people said all Obama had was just WORDS, well, WORDS are powerful tools to tear down, to build up, to mobilize..­., I mean, words are everything. Ok, I stop(not enough words I presume).

[vfippinger]

We are just S. of you in Sarasota.
How proud all of us should be with this historic Candidate now President elect.
We painted old Red Sarasota Blue.
see the bridge walk from Oct 19th. (bridge to Katherin harris house I might add)!

http://www.dvonkessel.com/obama

[df26]

For those of you that maybe interested there is a Petition online at http://www.gopetition.com/online/23256.html As a huffpo contributor reader and reading many of your comments opinions and complaints I wrote this Petition to reflect what I hope is your feelings about this need to reform the way this nation votes. There is also a sister website I started where you can go and post your ideas form discussion and strategy groups where you can work with people who feel the way you do. I do not have all the answers and no one single person can do this alone. It is a nonpartisan effort to change the current very flawed process from one that is in some cases political. To a simpler more transparent process. Thanks for any help. If not by us or for us we need to do this for our children
http://onevoteamerica.ning.com/

[OutsiderSA]

Elections here are a two day event and public holidays. The 1st day is guaranteed a holiday and if necessary, the President declares day 2 a holiday if turn out is big. Not sure who takes the knock on industry, but possibly it comes in the form of a tax break for companies.

The count lasts 2 days max and it is hand counted.

[hip dibler]

florida, i take back all those things i said about you.

[Pierpier]

Obama GOTV won the election. It's time however to reform our electoral system. It is unacceptable that 30 % of eligible voters still don't vote. Let's get mandatory ID cards and abolish registration, as is done in Europe.

[missyme]

California rocks. I live in Florida. I voted early. I actually waited pretty much 3 hours, granted I checked and rechecked and rechecked the ballot to make sure that I voted for Obama. I wanted to make sure that I made no mistake. In fact, I took all my voting cards (old and new) to make sure that I didn't leave any at home. Everyone who waited wanted to be there, joyously waiting their turn patiently.
According to all the pre-election polls, I was sure that Florida did not need to count for Obama to win but I was so worried about the Bradley effect that I was canvassing 15 minutes before the polls closed. When the votes were counted in Florida, I was vindicated. I jumped up and down, screaming YES! YES! YES FLORIDA CAME THROUGH FOR OBAMA.
Obama was the only choice for America in the 2008 elections and he won hands down. For a year and a half, I was part of the Obama team volunteers. I felt that Obama needed ME to win. That's the way his campaign made me feel. Obama had become the friend, the good neighbor, the brother, the husband, the son I wanted to be successful. On November 4th at 11PM Eastern time, I realized that Obama made 60 millions of Americans feel the same way. That is powerful.A­merica was hungry for new leadership and change. It is not in vain. Obama will lead America to greener pastures .

[neesy08]

Good for you. And thank God for gov. Crist. Had this been Jed Bush, I doubt he would have extended the voting hours. It helped also in Obama's win

[nellie]

He really earned good guy points in this election. Imagine, preventing your own party from stealing the election.

[vernbvb]

Gov. Crist was not going to be blamed for his Floridians being disenfranchised. He appears to be a very fair governor.

[LillyDePlume]

I wrote Gov. Crist a thank-you letter on that one!

[LadyMing]

Got to give thanks to the Governor, at least in part for Obama's win in Florida. I'm just glad there wasn't any recounts! yay!

[mlrlmsw]

Being a community organizer is sort of like being a small town mayor, except as a community organizer, you get the voters out to win the election. Take that, Sarah Palin. A woman too dense to realize that community organizers were on the ground working for her and John McCain, too, though certainly not as successfully or enthusiastically as the Obama/Biden ground operation.

[sunbeltvoter]

Some friends of mine live in a very tiny town in Florida. They have never had presidential campaigners come by their house before. Obama supporters knocked on their door on at least three separate days this fall. (McCain zero if you are counting.) To have done that tells me the level of Community Organizing of the Obama campaign was nothing short of astonishing.

[roshni]

Awesome job to the Obama ground staff and volunteers who organized this and the voters who stood in line for hours to have their opinion heard. Also, kudos for Gov. Crist for extending the hours in the polling booths. It was the right thing to do.
I hope a version of this is happening in GA now so that we can defeat Chambliss and put Martin in the senate.

[conniedogs]

Some stood in lines for hours, never whispering one complaint, anxiously anticipating the beginning of a brand new day. God knows I hope it wasn't all for naught!

[roshni]

It wasn't. Have faith. Things will get better.

[conniedogs]

Thanks....­I needed that!

[SabrinaFair]

One of the many things proven by this election is that the old Republican dirty tricks don't work anymore. The American public is wise to all of their tricks and propaganda.

Guess now they have to come up with some real policies and issues.

[realpolitic]

Democrats have learned that we must vote early or Republicans will steal the election. Karl Rove must be saddened by this development.

[gopSTEALSyourTAXmoney]

Karl --the college dropout----NEVER had a chance against OUR Harvard trained---
---top of the class----new to be President-­------WHAT A MAN!-----THAT OBAMA!