World News 31-10-2000 Low Turnout Could Mean Failure for Bush who: George W Bush what: Could lose election due to poor turnout when: Next Tuesday snippet: Republican strategists are concerned that George W Bush could lose the US presidential election next Tuesday because of a low turnout at the polls, says The Telegraph`s Toby Harnden. Despite Mr Bush`s presumptuous air of victory, he recognises that many floating voters are likely to stay at home on election day. "In 1996, voter turnout dipped below 50 per cent for the first time in more than 50 years," says Harnden. "While this election is much closer, relatively few voters feel the future of the country is at stake and some analysts are predicting a similarly low turnout." "The latest polls suggest Mr Bush retains a slender lead in the campaign," says The Financial Times, "but his advantage remains well within the statistical margin of error. Most polls conducted over the weekend gave the Republican a lead of between 1 and 3 percentage points." The Guardian`s Martin Kettle reports that the internet is being used to trade tactical votes between supporters of Al Gore in safe Democrat states and supporters of The Green Party in marginal Democrat states. Green Party supporters will agree to vote Democrat if their opposite numbers pledge the reverse. The aim is to help Green candidate Ralph Nader to win "more than 5% of the vote on Tuesday - thus qualifying the Green party for federal funding in the 2004 contest - while giving Mr Gore the best chance of victory". [... more]

What The Papers Say is delivered to thousands of readers every morning by web, WAP and email. Sign up today!