NORWICH – Elections custodians attended a final training seminar earlier this month in preparation for Super Tuesday’s Democratic and Republican primaries next week.
New York will be one of 21 states holding primaries on Tuesday, Feb. 5.
The outcome after the Florida primary has helped determine which candidate Chenango’s Republican Committee will back. Chairman Thomas Morrone said he had been leaning toward backing former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, but said the contest is a new ball game after Florida’s votes were tallied.
“Being from New York, you would think he would be our party’s most viable person. But since McCain (Senator John McCain of Arizona) won in Florida, I think you’ll see most of the state’s chairs looking in McCain’s direction,” he said.
The winner in Florida gets all 57 delegates and invaluable momentum heading into Super Tuesday.
“I think McCain is going to be the horse in New York,” Morrone said.
Chenango County Democratic Committee Chairwoman Catherine Ulfik could not be reached for comment. Patrick McNeil said the committee had not yet endorsed a particular candidate for president.
McNeil said members of the Democratic Club would be making phone calls over the weekend in hopes of getting the vote out.
In the last presidential primary held in Chenango County for both parties, in the year 2000, 20 percent of eligible Democrats voted and 34 percent of eligible Republicans cast their ballot. In the Democratic-only primary held in 2004, 18 percent came to the polls.
Chenango County Board of Elections Democratic Commissioner Carol A. Franklin said the weather could play a factor in voter turnout on Super Tuesday.
There will be two custodians and one voting machine inspector present at each the county’s 29 polling sites. Some polling sites in the county have changed. For information and a sample ballot, call the Board of Elections at 337-1764 or 337-1765.