Talk-radio advice torments Republican leaders

[khirkhib]

This was in the Oregonian today.  I don't know if you guys know Lars Larson but this probably isn't a great idea for them to do because it is tough to get out the vote when you don't know who hasn't voted yet.

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Oregon Republicans usually have no better allies at election time than the state's conservative talk-show hosts. But this time, the radio talkers are giving Oregon Republican Chairman Kevin Mannix fits.

While Mannix has been pleading with Republicans to get their votes in ASAP, the radio hosts have been telling their listeners they ought to wait until Election Day because they fear for the safety of ballots turned in early.

At least partially as a result, figures from both Republican and Democratic campaigners show that a larger percentage of ballots from Democratic voters have been turned in than from Republicans. That makes it harder for Republicans to concentrate their get-out-the-vote resources on undecided or wavering voters -- and it raises the danger that some hitch will keep procrastinating voters from getting their ballots in by the Tuesday deadline.

"It's absolutely the impact of the talk-show hosts," said Mannix, who added that "no matter how well-intentioned, if someone holds on to their ballot, we will lose votes."

Lars Larson, the best-rated of the conservative talk-show hosts in Oregon, is critical of the Oregon law allowing county officials to open returned mail ballots as early as seven days before the Tuesday deadline. The officials use the time to inspect the ballots and place a mark over votes that might not be read by the counting machines.

Some Republican activists -- including one who raised the issue with Vice President Dick Cheney during an Oregon City campaign stop last month -- say they worry that elections workers could tamper with the ballots or that ballots could be lost or stolen.

Mannix has had his own beefs with Secretary of State Bill Bradbury, but he said he is "confident the county clerks are doing their job, and we have observers present."

Larson said he's not reassured. He said he's continuing to tell his listeners to "turn it in as late as possible."

http://www.oregonlive.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news/1099052524177610.xml?oregonian?lcvg

[A18]

Why does it matter when it's turned in?

[khirkhib]

I don't know.  Lars is telling his listeners not to.  I thought a Bush supporter might know.

[Alcon]

Seems like this is probably more motivated by rationalization (it's because they trashed ballots in 2000!) and paranoia than anything.

[No more McShame]

Hey khirkhib, is Lars still on 750 on drive time?  He's a good host.  I'm a little skeptical on mail-in voting as well, but most states have open absentee ballots and do not require ID at the polls anyway, so there's probably not any additional fraud with mail-in voting as there would be in any other state.

[khirkhib]

He still is at KXL, he has a little tv show to. 
He bugs me, obviously.
Randi Rhodes is on at the same time and gets better rating here.

[alcaeus]

   How is it the campaigns in Oregon know anything about ballots being turned in?

[khirkhib]

The persons name is on the inside envelope.  So everybody gets the information as to who has voted thus far that way the parties know who they have to contact, who hasn't turned in their ballot.