5 ms·
Why are all these donations happening so late? It's four days until the election. Half the electorate has already voted, and the rest are tuning everything out
by hfinney 16y ago
Why are all these donations happening so late? It's four days until the election. Half the electorate has already voted, and the rest are tuning everything out by now. Prop 19 is failing and it's too late for advertising to make a difference. Where were all these deep pockets a month ago?
- mcknz 16y agoI don't think it's too late. There are always voters who base their decision on the last information they receive. Last-minute ads can influence those people.
- derwiki 16y agoA lot of the potential supporters for Prop 19 might need a last minute reminder ;-)
- paul 16y agoBetter late than never :) Apparently a very large fraction of voters actually make their decision while in the voting booth!
- deleted 16y ago[deleted]
- dotBen 16y agoI agree with your point (I also agree on YES on 19, although I'm not allowed to vote here in CA). I'm guessing the late run of donations is because latest polls show there is a 50/50 chance of this passing, whereas a few months ago it looked like it was unlikely. You either put up $100k earlier on to make a wider political statement regardless of the chances of outcome or you put up $100k to help create tip the balance when it looks like things could go either way...
- wnoise 16y ago> although I'm not allowed to vote here in CA You are allowed to man phone banks for get out the vote efforts, and are allowed to drive people to the polls, however. These multiplicative effects are likely to do more than just voting.
- dotBen 16y agoSo, I hold a non-immigrant visa and I've made a personal decision not to actively electioneer or participate in anything electoral in the US or California. Most people agree it was disgusting and inappropriate for people based in other states to phone-bank Californian voters over Prop 8, and the same logic kind of applies to me given that I'm non-immigrant (but living here for 4.5 years). I also don't like it when non-citizens get involved with politics and elections in my home of UK and so I have to abide by that when the boot is on the other foot.
- wnoise 16y agoThe laws of the state you're in affect you directly. I personally think it's entirely fair game. The logic for people out of the state doing so appears different enough for me to distinguish. > I also don't like it when non-citizens get involved with politics and elections in my home of UK and so I have to abide by that when the boot is on the other foot. Then why are you even commenting here? There is no bright line between discussing likely consequences here and more general advocacy.
- WildUtah 16y agoYour position is up to you but it is strongly against the ethic of the society you have chosen to join. In America, everyone in the community has a voice and right to participate. We even tolerate rallies by illegal immigrants. Democracy is too important to be limited to just citizens. If you live here and you have ideas worth listening to, you have a responsibility to participate. We'd like to have you at the phone bank, or driving old people to the polls on election day, or writing letters to the editor.
- anigbrowl 16y ago
- tlrobinson 16y agoAd buys. If you start the ads too soon you give the opposition a chance to raise money to produce and run ads. It's also possible the donations just weren't announced until now.