Strong Democratic signs in Shelby, Memphis early vote turnout patterns
At appearances Thursday, 9th Congressional District incumbent Steve Cohen appeared more miffed at Republican challenger George Flinn's commercials than concerned there was any reason to doubt voters would deliver another landslide victory for the Memphis Democrat.
Turnout patterns through the first seven days of early voting in Shelby County indicate Cohen has reason to be confident about the Nov. 6 election, although he promised to close his campaign with an aggressive push as if he needed to eke out a close contest.
Thursday's reports from the Shelby County Election Commission showed that 105,993 of the county's 598,244 officially registered voters had cast ballots, or 17.7 percent. Democratic turnout so far this election appears stronger than it has been since the November 2008 election in which local Democrats, especially African-Americans, turned out in force to help Barack Obama become the nation's first black president.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/oct/25/strong-democratic-signs-in-shelby-memphis-early/