Walker's reelection in badgerland wasn't all that impressive

[Matty]

Burke outperformed Barrett in most counties... according to Miles' maps.

[Maxwell]

No, but a good deal of polls showed this race within the margin of error and it turned out not to be, so that's progress in Walker's favor.

[ElectionsGuy]

Yes, yes it was. Considering how much anger he stirs up on the left its impressive that he wins by 5-7 points every time.

[PPT Spiral]

Walker exceeded expectations because many believed the race would only come down to 1-2 points. That clearly was not the case.

[HillaryLandslide2016]

The Democrats failed once again in their GOTV efforts. Many Blacks stayed home. Therefore, a Walker victory wasn't that impressive, I agree with you on that.

[Maxwell]

I know responding to a troll is nonsense, but the whole "muh turnout" thing is not an excuse. Democrats should know how to get their people to vote, and if they can't do that, then they're an incompetent party and that, among many other factors, matters in an election. Walker beat his vote count in 2010. Compared to other states, turnout was high in Wisconsin. Burke lost fair and square, and by more than expected.

[Kraxner]

The three elections walker won pretty much stayed within the mid single digit range. I doubt he'll be able to flip wisconsin if he somehow wins the GOP nomination. You'd have to run double digits to have a chance of flipping a state thats seen as "the other guy's territory" in a presidential election.

I know responding to a troll is nonsense, but the whole "muh turnout" thing is not an excuse. Democrats should know how to get their people to vote, and if they can't do that, then they're an incompetent party and that, among many other factors, matters in an election. Walker beat his vote count in 2010. Compared to other states, turnout was high in Wisconsin. Burke lost fair and square, and by more than expected.

A lot of democrats are refusing to recongize the results of the election because "ba ba ba low turnout!!!",  whether the democrats like it or not come Janurary its not harry reid who will be running the senate.

[HillaryLandslide2016]

I know responding to a troll is nonsense, but the whole "muh turnout" thing is not an excuse. Democrats should know how to get their people to vote, and if they can't do that, then they're an incompetent party and that, among many other factors, matters in an election. Walker beat his vote count in 2010. Compared to other states, turnout was high in Wisconsin. Burke lost fair and square, and by more than expected.

White, racist, old, angry men were so angry and upset that they turned out in a record high. It's actually a good sign that hard-working Democrats didn't stoop to their level. But I guarantee you: 2016 will be a much more different year for the GOP.

[ElectionsGuy]

@HL2016: It wasn't the failure to turnout blacks (6% of the electorate as usual), it was the failure to flip working class people in western and northern Wisconsin to their side. Sorry, but turnout isn't an excuse, but I know that won't stop you from then complaining about old racist whites. If you want to take out an incumbent governor, you have to do a little more than just turnout the base.

[HillaryLandslide2016]

@HL2016: It wasn't the failure to turnout blacks (6% of the electorate as usual), it was the failure to flip working class people in western and northern Wisconsin to their side. Sorry, but turnout isn't an excuse, but I know that won't stop you from then complaining about old racist whites. If you want to take out an incumbent governor, you have to do a little more than just turnout the base.

I'm not denying that. The Democrats absolutely SUCK at winning Midterm elections. And it's not just turnout. Thats why we need a STRONG, INSPIRING DEMOCRAT in 2016. And I guess I don't need to tell you who that might be?
By the way: Republicans didn't win A SINGLE SENATE CONTEST behind the Blue Wall in 2014! What does that tell us about 2016? You guess...

[Libertarian Socialist Dem]

@HL2016: It wasn't the failure to turnout blacks (6% of the electorate as usual), it was the failure to flip working class people in western and northern Wisconsin to their side. Sorry, but turnout isn't an excuse, but I know that won't stop you from then complaining about old racist whites. If you want to take out an incumbent governor, you have to do a little more than just turnout the base.

I'm not denying that. The Democrats absolutely SUCK at winning Midterm elections. And it's not just turnout. Thats why we need a STRONG, INSPIRING DEMOCRAT in 2016. And I guess I don't need to tell you who that might be?
By the way: Republicans didn't win A SINGLE SENATE CONTEST behind the Blue Wall in 2014! What does that tell us about 2016? You guess...

How much does Ready for Hillary pay you to troll these forums? Seriously

[Kraxner]

@HL2016: It wasn't the failure to turnout blacks (6% of the electorate as usual), it was the failure to flip working class people in western and northern Wisconsin to their side. Sorry, but turnout isn't an excuse, but I know that won't stop you from then complaining about old racist whites. If you want to take out an incumbent governor, you have to do a little more than just turnout the base.

I'm not denying that. The Democrats absolutely SUCK at winning Midterm elections. And it's not just turnout. Thats why we need a STRONG, INSPIRING DEMOCRAT in 2016. And I guess I don't need to tell you who that might be?
By the way: Republicans didn't win A SINGLE SENATE CONTEST behind the Blue Wall in 2014! What does that tell us about 2016? You guess...

How much does Ready for Hillary pay you to troll these forums? Seriously

From the looks of it he's not really a hillary supporter but probably parodying her supporters.

[Libertarian Socialist Dem]

@HL2016: It wasn't the failure to turnout blacks (6% of the electorate as usual), it was the failure to flip working class people in western and northern Wisconsin to their side. Sorry, but turnout isn't an excuse, but I know that won't stop you from then complaining about old racist whites. If you want to take out an incumbent governor, you have to do a little more than just turnout the base.

I'm not denying that. The Democrats absolutely SUCK at winning Midterm elections. And it's not just turnout. Thats why we need a STRONG, INSPIRING DEMOCRAT in 2016. And I guess I don't need to tell you who that might be?
By the way: Republicans didn't win A SINGLE SENATE CONTEST behind the Blue Wall in 2014! What does that tell us about 2016? You guess...

How much does Ready for Hillary pay you to troll these forums? Seriously

From the looks of it he's not really a hillary supporter but probably parodying her supporters.

That's definitely a strong possibility as well.

[HillaryLandslide2016]

@HL2016: It wasn't the failure to turnout blacks (6% of the electorate as usual), it was the failure to flip working class people in western and northern Wisconsin to their side. Sorry, but turnout isn't an excuse, but I know that won't stop you from then complaining about old racist whites. If you want to take out an incumbent governor, you have to do a little more than just turnout the base.

I'm not denying that. The Democrats absolutely SUCK at winning Midterm elections. And it's not just turnout. Thats why we need a STRONG, INSPIRING DEMOCRAT in 2016. And I guess I don't need to tell you who that might be?
By the way: Republicans didn't win A SINGLE SENATE CONTEST behind the Blue Wall in 2014! What does that tell us about 2016? You guess...

How much does Ready for Hillary pay you to troll these forums? Seriously

From the looks of it he's not really a hillary supporter but probably parodying her supporters.

That's definitely a strong possibility as well.

Of course I am being paid to troll you guys. Geez, I don't even earn that much money with it. Just $100 per hour.
But seriously: I think Hillary is the best candidate the Dems have in 2016. I support her, I adore her, I will vote for her no matter who the Republican candidate is. Whether you believe me or not, I don't really care. What I know is that I grew up with her as my First Lady and my senator. She represents the American Dream like no one else does.
And by the way: YES, I support Ready For Hillary. But I do not get paid by them.

[smoltchanov]

I know responding to a troll is nonsense, but the whole "muh turnout" thing is not an excuse. Democrats should know how to get their people to vote, and if they can't do that, then they're an incompetent party and that, among many other factors, matters in an election. Walker beat his vote count in 2010. Compared to other states, turnout was high in Wisconsin. Burke lost fair and square, and by more than expected.

Absolutely agree. Democrats simultaneously amuse and greatly irritate me, when they begin to whine about "midterm dropoff"  and turnout in general. Whose problem it is, after all??? Republican's?? Indies, like me??? Who is to blame (but themselves) if they are utterly unable to convince their voters to go to the polls?? Who is to blame if they are not able to convince more Indies (again - like me) to support them??? Why anyone, but them, must care about turnout among THEIR voters??? And why Republicans are generally able to lead their voters to the polls?

It's nobody's problem, but "interested persons" (i.e. - Democrats)!

[Kraxner]

I know responding to a troll is nonsense, but the whole "muh turnout" thing is not an excuse. Democrats should know how to get their people to vote, and if they can't do that, then they're an incompetent party and that, among many other factors, matters in an election. Walker beat his vote count in 2010. Compared to other states, turnout was high in Wisconsin. Burke lost fair and square, and by more than expected.

Absolutely agree. Democrats simultaneously amuse and greatly irritate me, when they begin to whine about "midterm dropoff"  and turnput in general. Whose problem it is, after all??? Republican's?? Indies, like me??? Who is to blame (but themselves) if they are utterly unable to convince their voters to go to the polls?? Who is to blame if they are not able to convince more Indies (again - like me) to support them??? Why anyone, but them, must care about turnout among THEIR voters??? And why Republicans are generally able to lead their voters to the polls?

It's nobody's problem, but "interested persons" (i.e. - Democrats)!

Whenever democrats talk about low turnout i subliminally put democrat so it becomes "low (democrat) turnout"

Because honestly thats what they really mean when they refer to low turnout.


If this was an election where the votes were 50/50 we wouldn't be hearing of complaints about low turnout.

[politicus]

Absolutely agree. Democrats simultaneously amuse and greatly irritate me, when they begin to whine about "midterm dropoff"  and turnput in general.

It's hardly whining, just an explanation.

[smoltchanov]

Absolutely agree. Democrats simultaneously amuse and greatly irritate me, when they begin to whine about "midterm dropoff"  and turnput in general.

It's hardly whining, just an explanation.

Everyone knows that explanation. But when you have a phenomenon you don't like - you either do something to avoid  (or, at least, mitigate) it, or simply accept it as something "given" and stop to talk about it. Democrats of late (since first Republican wave of 2010) tend to have overrated expectations before election (this year most Democratic sites expected preservation of Democratic senate, new Governorships and either minimal gains or minimal losses in House even 2 weeks before elections). During my discussions on DKE almost everyone tried to convince me that "Brown (MD) is an excellent candidate and, generally, Republicans can't win statewide in Maryland" and that "Orman and Davis will win because Roberts and Brownback are horrible" (i fully agree that Brownback IS horrible, but i also remember how republican Kansas usually is). And after election  - all sort of "this night be damned" and "foolish voter" "explanations" begin "en masse"...

[Nichlemn]

I kind of feel that the whole "Democrats just do worse in midterms" narrative is an ad-hoc explanation for 2010 and 2014. It didn't use to be the case - it was always that the President's party did poorly in midterms (and that's what happened this time, although in an above-average way).

[smoltchanov]

I kind of feel that the whole "Democrats just do worse in midterms" narrative is an ad-hoc explanation for 2010 and 2014. It didn't use to be the case - it was always that the President's party did poorly in midterms (and that's what happened this time, although in an above-average way).

I would say "almost always". For example - 1998 wasn't too bad for Democrats...

[Oregreen]

@HL2016: It wasn't the failure to turnout blacks (6% of the electorate as usual), it was the failure to flip working class people in western and northern Wisconsin to their side. Sorry, but turnout isn't an excuse, but I know that won't stop you from then complaining about old racist whites. If you want to take out an incumbent governor, you have to do a little more than just turnout the base.

I'm not denying that. The Democrats absolutely SUCK at winning Midterm elections. And it's not just turnout. Thats why we need a STRONG, INSPIRING DEMOCRAT in 2016. And I guess I don't need to tell you who that might be?
By the way: Republicans didn't win A SINGLE SENATE CONTEST behind the Blue Wall in 2014! What does that tell us about 2016? You guess...

How much does Ready for Hillary pay you to troll these forums? Seriously

From the looks of it he's not really a hillary supporter but probably parodying her supporters.

That's definitely a strong possibility as well.

Of course I am being paid to troll you guys. Geez, I don't even earn that much money with it. Just $100 per hour.
But seriously: I think Hillary is the best candidate the Dems have in 2016. I support her, I adore her, I will vote for her no matter who the Republican candidate is. Whether you believe me or not, I don't really care. What I know is that I grew up with her as my First Lady and my senator. She represents the American Dream like no one else does.
And by the way: YES, I support Ready For Hillary. But I do not get paid by them.

How on f.ing earth does she represent the American Dream? She was First Lady, had to move to New York to win a Senate seat and you kooks voted for her just because her name is Hillary and she is Bill's wife. And then Obama nominated her as Secretary of State. That's all! Those are "her" only "achievements". Try harder!

[DrScholl]

It wasn't anything to write home about at all, and it definitely doesn't indicate that he could carry the state running for President. No one is saying the election results aren't valid, but Democrats do have an issue with turnout.

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

@HL2016: It wasn't the failure to turnout blacks (6% of the electorate as usual), it was the failure to flip working class people in western and northern Wisconsin to their side. Sorry, but turnout isn't an excuse, but I know that won't stop you from then complaining about old racist whites. If you want to take out an incumbent governor, you have to do a little more than just turnout the base.

I'm not denying that. The Democrats absolutely SUCK at winning Midterm elections. And it's not just turnout. Thats why we need a STRONG, INSPIRING DEMOCRAT in 2016. And I guess I don't need to tell you who that might be?
By the way: Republicans didn't win A SINGLE SENATE CONTEST behind the Blue Wall in 2014! What does that tell us about 2016? You guess...

How much does Ready for Hillary pay you to troll these forums? Seriously

From the looks of it he's not really a hillary supporter but probably parodying her supporters.

That's definitely a strong possibility as well.

Of course I am being paid to troll you guys. Geez, I don't even earn that much money with it. Just $100 per hour.
But seriously: I think Hillary is the best candidate the Dems have in 2016. I support her, I adore her, I will vote for her no matter who the Republican candidate is. Whether you believe me or not, I don't really care. What I know is that I grew up with her as my First Lady and my senator. She represents the American Dream like no one else does.
And by the way: YES, I support Ready For Hillary. But I do not get paid by them.

How on f.ing earth does she represent the American Dream? She was First Lady, had to move to New York to win a Senate seat and you kooks voted for her just because her name is Hillary and she is Bill's wife. And then Obama nominated her as Secretary of State. That's all! Those are "her" only "achievements". Try harder!

I'm not a huge fan of Hillary, but maybe you should read up on her life before her husband's presidency sometime. It's considerably more impressive and considerably less predicated on her social relationships with other successful people than her life during and after, I promise.

[IceSpear]

I know responding to a troll is nonsense, but the whole "muh turnout" thing is not an excuse. Democrats should know how to get their people to vote, and if they can't do that, then they're an incompetent party and that, among many other factors, matters in an election. Walker beat his vote count in 2010. Compared to other states, turnout was high in Wisconsin. Burke lost fair and square, and by more than expected.

Maybe, but it's still an extremely important point to make when people try to extrapolate presidential elections from midterm results.

[Maxwell]

I know responding to a troll is nonsense, but the whole "muh turnout" thing is not an excuse. Democrats should know how to get their people to vote, and if they can't do that, then they're an incompetent party and that, among many other factors, matters in an election. Walker beat his vote count in 2010. Compared to other states, turnout was high in Wisconsin. Burke lost fair and square, and by more than expected.

Maybe, but it's still an extremely important point to make when people try to extrapolate presidential elections from midterm results.

Sure, which is why it is stupid to extrapolate Presidential elections from polls from that time.