By all accounts, voter turn-out in today’s Michigan Republican primary is very low, which would seem to be good news for Mitt Romney.
Why? Because Romney, who started the day with a 1 percentage point lead in the final poll, apparently has a big edge with absentee voters.
Pollster Steve Mitchell says Romney enjoys a 25-percent lead among absentee voters, and those ballots are expected to make up a quarter of the vote. That gave the former Massachusetts governor a significant advantage to start the day.
A larger turn-out might have indicated an energized relgious right was flocking to the polls, which would have benefitted former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, or indicated a big Democratic cross-over effort on behalf of Santorum. Neither seems to be materializing.
Turnout seems as light in west Michigan, where Santorum is stronger, as it is in Metro Detroit, where Romney’s strength lies.
If things stay this way through the evening, Romney should feel better about his prospects.
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