Republican Governor Turned Away From Poll, Democrat's Office Gets Skunked
Nov. 7, 2006 — -- Reports from ABC News reporters covering the elections throughout the country.
Missouri's Talent "Not Ready" to Say People Outside Missouri "Won or Lost" Race
ABC News' Aaron Katersky reports: After voting in St. Louis County this morning, Sen. Jim Talent, R-Mo., showed a hint of frustration with the way in which his Senate race had been impacted by the national climate.
"Win or lose, this has been my campaign," Talent said. "I'm not ready to say that people outside Missouri won or lost this for me."
After waiting in a sizable line to cast her ballot, Democratic state Auditor Claire McCaskill said she had never been so happy to stand in a line and predicted that "more people would vote today in Missouri than ever have in a midterm election."
Dems Worry Indianapolis Voting Problems Could Endanger African-American Incumbent
ABC News' Mark Halperin reports: National Democrats are worried that voting problems in African-American neighborhoods could endanger Rep. Julia Carson, D-Ind., of Indianapolis.
Carson's 7th Congressional District was not on the ABC News Political Unit's competitive list, but it is a race that Democrats have had to work on more than most to make sure she does not become an endangered incumbent.
The concern is that if there are widespread problems in her Democratic performing areas that she may lose the seat. The Indiana Democratic Party tells ABC News it is not overly concerned that the problems are disproportionately affecting Carson, but national Democrats are keeping a careful watch on it.
South Carolina Republican Governor Turned Away From Polls
The Associated Press reports: "Even Gov. Mark Sanford needs the right ID to vote in South Carolina. One day after eye injuries interrupted his last day of campaigning, Sanford forgot his voter registration card and was turned away from the polls, returning 90 minutes later to cast his ballot.
"I hope my luck turns," Sanford said. "Yesterday, I had the eye issue. Today, I was absentminded and didn't have my voter registration card."
Poll workers at a Sullivans Island precinct turned the governor away when he didn't have his registration card and the driver's license he showed had a Columbia address. He returned later with a new card. http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=2635123
Mehlman Whips Things Into a Frenzy on Limbaugh's Radio Show
ABC News' Mark Halperin reports: On Rush Limbaugh's radio show, RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman is saying there are problems in many states that are working to the advantages of Democrats -- improper conduct in some cases (fraud and intimidation) and things such as ballot shortages.
New Mexico GOPer Criticizes Democratic Election Officials for Ballot Shortage
The Associated Press reports: Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M., says an Albuquerque precinct that ran out of ballots shortly after the polls opened at 7 a.m. has more registered Republicans than any other in her district.
The congresswoman -- angry and her voice wavering -- called the problem "beyond incompetence."
She blames the Bernalillo County clerk and the secretary of state, both Democrats. County Clerk Mary Herrera blamed the secretary of state. She says clerks originally were told they'd get ballots for everyone registered. But she says they were notified last week that the numbers were being reduced based on absentee and early voting.
Herrera says her office objected. Wilson is in a hard-fought race against Democratic state Attorney General Patricia Madrid in a district that voted for Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., in 2004.
Cardin on Misleading Republican Flyer: "It's Just Absolutely Fraudulent."
ABC News' Stephen Brandon reports: Rep. Ben Cardin, D-Md., who is running against Republican Lt. Gov. Michael Steele for the Senate seat being vacated by retiring Democratic Sen. Paul Sarbanes, called a misleading Republican mailer "absolutely fraudulent" while visiting a senior center in Silver Spring, Md.
The mail piece, which is targeted to African-Americans, misleadingly suggests to readers that Prince George's County Executive Jack Johnson and former NAACP head Kweisi Mfume are supporters of the Maryland GOP ticket.
"In all my years, I've never seen anything like this before," Cardin said.
White House Not Going to Talk About Exit Polls
ABC News' Jon D. Garcia reports: As expected, White House Press Secretary Tony Snow said the White House was not going to talk about exit polls.
Snow also said that the president was in a good mood and that we would not see him again today. President Bush is now back in the Oval Office.
Colorado Democrat's Office Skunked
ABC News' Daniel Steinberger reports: When Jay Fawcett's Democratic campaign for Congress opened its office this morning in Colorado Springs, Colo., the Fawcett campaign said it found that the office had a skunklike smell making it very hard to work and utilize its 200 volunteers.
Colorado Springs police confirm there was an obnoxious smell at the office but said that no one appeared to have gained entry into the office. Police suspect the smell may have come from a chemical that can be used for pranks and can be easily bought over the counter at stores.
Fawcett is in a competitive race against Doug Lamborn for the 5th Congressional District seat being vacated by retiring Republican Rep. Joel Hefley.
This district that is considered mostly Republican has seen a late surge by Fawcett in recent weeks. If Fawcett beats Lamborn today, he will be the first Democrat ever elected to the seat in the district's history.
The seat, which was created in 1972, has been held by only three other men -- all Republicans. Lamborn's campaign has been hurt by Hefley's decision not to endorse him.
Labor's GOTV Push ABC News' David Chalian reports: The AFL-CIO's 2006 union voter mobilization was the AFL-CIO's largest ever, reaching 13.4 million voters in 32 states.
AFL-CIO in the "Final Four" days alone:
Bush, Mehlman, Staff Plan Working Dinner
ABC News' Ann Compton reports: At 7 p.m. ET, President Bush and RNC chairman Ken Mehlman will have a working dinner at the White House residence with senior staff and listen to election returns. The president's longtime friend Brad Freeman has come in from California, and former aide Karen Hughes flew in with the president on Air Force One.
State by State Voter Turnout Characterizations From Election Officials
Partisans on both sides like to boast of a big turnout of their voters. There is no way to know at this point what the turnout is, of course. As with every Election Day, there are anecdotal reports of a "big turnout."
ABC News characterizes turnout based solely on how elections officials in the states describe turnout.
Arizona:
Kevin Tyne, deputy secretary of state, "steady" and "smooth" turnout.
Connecticut
Polls Busy as Election Officials Predict Strong Turnout
ABC News' Tahman Bradley reports: In Connecticut, which features some of the nation's most highly competitive congressional races, voters are heading to the polls today in record numbers.
A spokesman for the secretary of the state of Connecticut says that turnout is high throughout the state and that they are expecting about a 66 percent increase in voter participation from 2002.
Connecticut only needs a roughly 62 percent increase over 2002 for this year's election to qualify as the largest turnout of any off-year election in the state's history.
The state features three marquee House races: Republican Rob Simmons and Democrat Joe Courtney in CT-02; Republican Chris Shays and Democrat Diane Farrell in CT-04; and Republican Nancy Johnson and Democrat Chris Murphy in CT-05.
The state also features a high-profile Senate contest between Democrat Ned Lamont and Joe Lieberman who is running as an independent.
Florida:
A spokesman for the Florida Department of State sees: "steady across the state -- not low, heavy or light" as of 2:24 p.m. ET.
Iowa:
Casey Sinnwell, the assistant director of communications for the Iowa secretary of state, said he had spoken with the state's larger counties, and voting was "normal to heavy" and "going well" as of 2:12 p.m. ET.
Kentucky:
Les Fugate from the State Board of Elections says it is hard to quantify the turnout right now. They have a very long ballot this year, so it's unclear if more people are coming out or if it is just taking them longer to get through an entire ballot. That said, there are very long lines in urban areas.
Minnesota:
According to the Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer turnout is looking very strong, anecdotally. Very long lines and the polling places have been very busy. Won't know numbers till after the polls close and the ballots are counted.
New Hampshire:
Deputy Secretary David Scanlon says New Hampshire turnout seems to be very strong. They had predicted a 48 percent turnout, and they believe they will surpass that based on initial indications.
New Jersey:
State Board of Elections spokesman Jeff Lamb says they do not have any substantial turnout information yet. Think they will have a better handle after 5 p.m. ET. Some minor problems have popped up around the state, but they have all been addressed at this time.
Missouri:
Stacie Temple -- communications director for Secretary of State Robin Carnahan -- says they do not and will not have an estimate of actual turnout today, only real counting after polls close. Temple says that their projection as of yesterday was 49 percent, and that today's outlook is that actual turnout could go higher than 49 percent.
Montana:
Bowen Greenwood, communications director for the Montana secretary of state's office, cites "heavy" turnout and says turnout is expected to be "on level with presidential year."
Ohio:
A spokeswoman from the Ohio secretary of state's office says that they are unable to make turnout assessments in the state because individual counties do not immediately report their numbers to the secretary of state's office.
Rhode Island:
Peter Kerwin, director of communications for the office of the secretary of state, says turnout is "strong this morning, but tailing off."
Virginia:
Secretary of the State Board of Elections says turnout is "heavy" across the commonwealth.