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FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
It looks like voter turnout in the upcoming Pennsylvania primary on April 22nd could follow record-breaking trends set around the country this year.
Statewide, there are more than 8.3 million registered voters. That's only 50,000 fewer than the record set in the 2004 presidential election. And we're only talking about the primaries here. Officials say the numbers will go even higher as they continue to process applications that were due March 24th.
Chalk the huge numbers up to the excitement that seems to be bubbling over especially when it comes to the race between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. And the implications are not good for Republicans. 4.2 million Democrats have registered in Pennsylvania so far this year... that's an increase of almost 14% from the 2004 Democratic presidential primary, while Republican registration has remained virtually unchanged at 3.2 million. This means Democrats now outnumber Republicans in some counties outside Philadelphia that have long been bastions for the GOP.
It will be interesting to see what an increased voter turnout could mean in the match-up between Obama and Clinton. Pennsylvania delivers 158 delegates, more than any of the remaining states. The polls continue to suggest that Obama is closing fast on Clinton's one time lead of more than 30 points. The most recent CNN poll of polls shows Clinton ahead now by only 6 points, 49% to 43%.
Here’s my question to you: Who benefits most from record Democratic voter registration in Pennsylvania?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Keith from Irving, Texas writes:
Prevailing sense would say it benefits Obama, but you never know. Of course, Hillary's last few days will probably hurt her more than any recent voter registrations will help either candidate.
Dorothy from Lucasville, Ohio writes:
Jack, I hope it benefits Hillary once people realize that she will put this country back on course to be respected once again by other countries… not like it has been since Bush took office. We need to get out of debt, like it was when Bill was president.
Scott writes:
Barack Obama will. He's been able to excite and energize the electorate far more than Clinton has. Hillary will only benefit if a large portion of the new voters are cross-over Republicans who listen to Rush Limbaugh and want to keep her in the race.
Mark from North Carolina writes:
Is this yet another setup question to push Obama? Are we to assume that most or all new voters will vote for him? We won't really know until April 22nd, will we? Perhaps many of these new voters are simply sick and tired of having the networks tell them who to nominate!
Greg writes:
Definitely not the good Republicans left in the state who are still in their right minds!
Ron from Richmond, Virginia writes:
Any time a large turnout happens, it is good for the people. But it also says volumes about the State of the Union! We are barreling down an economic dirt road and the bridge is out.