It’s only March, but this year is shaping up like none I’ve ever seen before and I’ll tell you why: The turnout for Republicans is off the charts so far this year, while Democrat turnout has been in the toilet.
Here are some numbers. Vote count difference compared to 2008.
| Republican | Democrat | |
| Iowa | 57% | -27% |
| New Hampshire | 19% | -13% |
| South Carolina | 71% | -31% |
| Nevada | 70% | -32% |
| Alabama | 51% | -27% |
| Arkansas | 89% | -26% |
| Georgia | 34% | -29% |
| Massachusetts | 23% | -7% |
| Minnesota | 79% | -13% |
| Oklahoma | 38% | -20% |
| Tennessee | 55% | -40% |
| Texas | 103% | -50% |
| Virginia | 109% | -21% |
Can you spell “Enthusiasm gap”?
In 2012, the number of Republican ballots cast was almost exactly 60M as it was in 2008. Barack Obama won in 2012 even though almost 4.4% fewer Democrat votes were cast.
The interest in the primary races this year have been quite telling. Republicans have been turning out in droves to vote, with turnout averaging 61% more than 2008. Democrat participation, on the other hand, has been in the toilet – down by an average of 23% in states so far from 2008.
If this trend holds to any significant degree, two things are going to happen.
1. Get used to saying “President Trump”.
and
2. It’s going to be a bloodbath for Democrats all the way down the ballot.
So, look for Democrats to pull out all the stops in a desperate attempt to get their voters to the polls, because as it stands right now, there’s not a lot of interest on that side of the spectrum.
And frankly, that’s good for gun owners, by and large.
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