Not sure how many gubernatorial and senate races are going on in Maryland and Virginia, but it seems to me that this whole thing will help Republicans in these 2 states a lot. Not only because Republicans are seen as being tougher on crime, but also turnout in the DC suburbs will be very low because people will be afraid. This means that people in northern Maryland and southern Virginia will have a lot more say in the elections, and since I imagine these areas are a lot more Republican than the DC suburbs (especially in Virginia), it helps Republicans. I'll be glad if the Republicans win these races, altho I wish it didn't have to be because of this. Alex
Hate to burst your bubble there boyo, but it ain't happening. There's only one competitive district in the area, and that's where Connie Morella (R) is the incumbent. The sniper will have precisely zero effect. More importantly, despite your wishful thinking, the sniper will have no effect at all on local Virginia politics, because we elect our local officials in odd years. Nice try, but no cigar.
So due to gerrymandering, voters have no effect on elections anymore? Isn't that sadder than a criminal affecting who is elected?
I was talking about statewide elections, which is why I mentioned the contrasts between the DC suburbs and the rest of the state. Alex
The real issue is the idea of calling in the national guard to secure election centers! I mean, it's not really like I am against this idea, but who would have thought that in 2002 we would take such steps. Just think how this could be taken as related to history. Talk about "will to power" when you consider the times any military is around polling places, civil rights movement included.
Which part of "there are no statewide elections in Virginia this year" didn't you understand? Virginia's Gubernatorial elections take place in 2005. Which part of "there aren't any competitive elections in the area" didn't you understand? John Warner (R) is running unopposed for his Senate seat. There are no Maryland elections for their Senate seats. Maryland is running an election for Governor that is still wide open, but crime is not an issue between Townsend (D) and Ehrlich (R). What is an issue between them is gun control--and Ehrlich loses on that one because he's most notorious for trying to overturn the assault weapons ban. IF there is a "sniper effect", it works against the Republican candidate. You'd better thank your lucky stars that there isn't going to be an effect. In fact, you'd be better served in joining the rest of us in hoping that they got the guy this morning, instead of looking for the potential political gain of him running loose.
The fact that you never said that. The fact that you never said that. Non-issue, since the sniper doesn't seem to be using an assault rifle (if he is, he isn't using it to do anything a bolt-action .22 couldn't do). My girlfriend goes to high school in Virginia and I have a lot of friends in the area so don't say that I'm hoping he's still running free. However, you completely missed my point. My point was that voter turnout in areas not affected by the sniper (southern VA and northern MD) would be far higher than voter turnout in the DC suburbs and, since these predominately rural areas are far more conservative than the DC suburbs (I know this is true in VA and imagine it is true in MD as well), Republican candidates will have an advantage. Now you said there's only one competitive statewide race in the 2 states, but if, God forbid, the guy they have turns out not to be the sniper, there will be very low turnout in the DC area and this will help Ehrlich. Alex
If anyone uses the Sniper as an excuse to not vote then they should be banned from voting ever again. I can't stand people who use poor excuses for not voting, and then whine about the politicians. It's like the saying goes...If you don't vote then you don't have a right to complain!
He said "local elections", I thought he was talking about congress and state senate and ************ like that. Dante--I agree, but people will still stay away. Alex
i don't think the sniper's going to have any effect because the sniper has been caught (it seems). we'll know by Nov. 5, but I think we know now. Plus it won't effect politics because Morella and opponent are both for gun control.