HARRISBURG —
In a year in which voters nationwide are relatively unenthusiastic about the presidential election, Pennsylvania has a half-million fewer registered voters than four years ago, and Democrats’ registration advantage has narrowed.
In fact, numbers available Tuesday show that voter registration in Pennsylvania for the contest between Democratic President Barack Obama and Republican Mitt Romney may not even exceed the total registered in 2004, when then-President George W. Bush, a Republican, was challenged by Democrat John Kerry.
“The state has moved into a more neutral position, in terms of momentum for either party, and that reflects to some extent the more disengaged public that we have right now,” said pollster and political scientist Christopher Borick of Muhlenberg College in Allentown.
That hasn’t stopped efforts to sign up new voters. Political party and campaign workers go door-to-door or show up at train platforms, music festivals, county fairs, parades and other gatherings with voter registration forms in case they find someone who wants to register while they are otherwise trying to remind party faithful to vote.
“I take them everywhere,” said Ce-Ce Gerlach, 26, an Obama campaign volunteer in Allentown.
“I think that’s every volunteer, and it was the same thing as in 2008. Once you’re involved, you’re involved. You start registering people when you’re in line at the grocery store. It’s a never-ending process.”
Oct. 9 is the deadline to register for the Nov. 6 election, in which Pennsylvania is viewed as one of the nation’s crucial swing states – underscored by the volume of political ads running in the state.
At least $13 million has been spent on presidential campaign TV ads in Pennsylvania since April 17, according to information from several ad buyers provided to The Associated Press.
Through July 11, Obama’s campaign had spent more than $4.8 million, while a Democratic super political action committee, Priorities USA Action, had devoted almost $1.8 million. Romney’s campaign was not on the air in Pennsylvania up to that point, but a Republican super PAC, Crossroads GPS, had spent about $2.8 million; a pro-Romney super PAC, Restore Our Future, had spent $1.8 million; and the conservative group Americans For Prosperity had spent $2 million.
The most recent independent poll in Pennsylvania, released June 12 by Quinnipiac University, showed registered voters favoring Obama over Romney, 46 percent to 40 percent.
Currently, Democrats outnumber Republicans by fewer than 1.1 million registered voters. That compares to a more than 1.2 million voter advantage Democrats held when Obama won Pennsylvania in 2008 by 10 percentage points over Republican John McCain.
About 8.25 million voters are registered, far below the 8.75 million registered in 2008, as the number of new registered voters has not kept up with people moving, dying or being purged from the voter rolls due to years of inactivity.
The current total is even more than 100,000 fewer than in the 2004 presidential election.
Click here to subscribe to The Tribune-Democrat print edition.
Click here to subscribe to The Tribune-Democrat e-edition.
Ex-Hit Man's Past Is a Shock to Some Neighbors
Fans: Gandofini 'Put New Jersey on the Map'
Does Future of Human Race Depend on Kansas Mine?
Reining in 'Bad News' Sports Parents
James Gandolfini Dies at Age 51
Fmr. TWA Flight 800 Investigators Want New Probe
Raw: Heat, Spurs Back on Court Ahead of Game 7
Dolce and Gabbana Convicted of Tax Evasion
Paris, Prince Depositions Used in Jackson Trial
Coiffed Cattle Get Their Close-up
In Berlin, Obama Channels Cold War Activism
Police at Patriots Tight End's Home for 2nd Day
Fed Suggests Bond Purchases Could Slow
AP: DOJ Broke Own Rules Seizing Phone Records
Raw: Baby White Rhino Debuts at Australian Zoo
Time Lapse: Rebuilding Bridge Post-collapse
Ohio Woman Accuses 3 of Holding Her Captive
Hunt for Ex-Teamster Boss Hoffa's Remains Ends
