Post by Champs Elysees on Jan 19, 2008 14:30:16 GMT -5
[Low turnout reported in South Carolina
Posted: 10:29 AM ET
COLUMBIA, South Carolina (CNN) –– Three hours into voting, the South Carolina State Election Commission reports that turnout has been low "across the board" for today's Republican primary here.
"All the reports I've received from various counties is that turnout has been light," said commission spokesman Chris Whitmire.
Polls opened at 7 a.m. throughout the state, where cold, rainy weather may be a factor in slowing turnout.
But Whitmire said that since state elections are usually held on a Tuesday, it's difficult to discern any pattern.
"On a normal election day, there is a rush in the morning before work, but we don’t have that phenomenon since it’s a Saturday," he said. "It's hard to tell on a Saturday when it's going to be convenient for any one person."
Fred Thompson's campaign manager Bill Lacy said in an e-mail to supporters Saturday that "it's not exactly warm but it beats the snowstorm we had in Washington on Thursday."
One dedicated Republican precinct in Lancaster County, a Charlotte suburb where light snow is expected later today, did report unusually high turnout. Thirty voters, all of whom came from a local retirement community, showed up within the first half hour of voting.
But a polling station in conservative Lancaster County, CNN's Mary Snow reported only about two dozen people had cast their votes after one hour of voting.
In the Upstate city of Anderson, one Mike Huckabee supporter cast her vote despite the chilly temperatures.
"We are concerned about the weather but we can't control it," said Mary Mills. "I'm an evangelical and I voted my conscience."
At the same polling station, Huckabee told reporters he is concerned about the weather in that part of the state, which is home to many of South Carolina's evangelical voters who make up his base.
"If it starts snowing up there, that's something we hoped wouldn't happen," he said. "I just hope that our voters are so committed that it doesn't affect the fact that they are going to vote because it's a mission they have to deal with today."
Posted: 10:29 AM ET
COLUMBIA, South Carolina (CNN) –– Three hours into voting, the South Carolina State Election Commission reports that turnout has been low "across the board" for today's Republican primary here.
"All the reports I've received from various counties is that turnout has been light," said commission spokesman Chris Whitmire.
Polls opened at 7 a.m. throughout the state, where cold, rainy weather may be a factor in slowing turnout.
But Whitmire said that since state elections are usually held on a Tuesday, it's difficult to discern any pattern.
"On a normal election day, there is a rush in the morning before work, but we don’t have that phenomenon since it’s a Saturday," he said. "It's hard to tell on a Saturday when it's going to be convenient for any one person."
Fred Thompson's campaign manager Bill Lacy said in an e-mail to supporters Saturday that "it's not exactly warm but it beats the snowstorm we had in Washington on Thursday."
One dedicated Republican precinct in Lancaster County, a Charlotte suburb where light snow is expected later today, did report unusually high turnout. Thirty voters, all of whom came from a local retirement community, showed up within the first half hour of voting.
But a polling station in conservative Lancaster County, CNN's Mary Snow reported only about two dozen people had cast their votes after one hour of voting.
In the Upstate city of Anderson, one Mike Huckabee supporter cast her vote despite the chilly temperatures.
"We are concerned about the weather but we can't control it," said Mary Mills. "I'm an evangelical and I voted my conscience."
At the same polling station, Huckabee told reporters he is concerned about the weather in that part of the state, which is home to many of South Carolina's evangelical voters who make up his base.
"If it starts snowing up there, that's something we hoped wouldn't happen," he said. "I just hope that our voters are so committed that it doesn't affect the fact that they are going to vote because it's a mission they have to deal with today."