Talking Points: Early Voting And The Presidential Race
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- With Donald Trump's poll numbers continuing to drop, some of his supporters worry he may be running out of time to turn his campaign around.
While Election Day is Nov. 8, 35 states have early voting, and Minnesota and South Dakota have the earliest start dates of all.
Here in Minnesota, you can actually cast your ballot for president and for all the races on your local ballot starting on Sept. 23.
In this unpredictable year, both parties are trying to gauge the impact that will have.
In 2012, 32 percent of all U.S. voters cast their ballots before Election Day. This year, that figure is expected to climb even higher -- to as much as 40 percent.
For candidates like Trump -- who is currently trailing in the polls -- that means the next few weeks are critical.
Republicans nationally and here in Minnesota are voicing concerns that Trump's unorthodox campaign, coupled with early voting, could hurt their candidates in local races.
All 201 members of the Minnesota Legislature are up for election in November.
With Democrats in control of the Senate and the governor's office and Republicans in control of the House, there has been nothing but gridlock at the state Capitol.
Democrats are promising a fierce fight to win control of the House. Meanwhile, Republicans say that Minnesotans don't want single-party control.
"We are what provides balance in Minnesota, and I think Minnesotans appreciate that," said Republican House Speaker Kurt Daudt, who was a guest on WCCO Sunday Morning. "The last time we had single party control in Minnesota, we ended up with the $90 million Senate Office Building and MNsure, which has doubled the cost of health coverage in the state of Minnesota and reduced people's choice, and I don't think people want to go back to that."
Republicans are publicly insisting they have a shot at winning the Senate.
But, traditionally in presidential election years, Minnesota Democrats have gotten the most benefit from heavy voter turnout.
