If these numbers are correct, then it signifies a problem for the GOP this year – lack of enthusiasm:
When you eliminate independents and Democrats from the 2008 equation, actual registered Republicans made up 61 percent of the roughly 239,000 votes cast in the GOP primary, putting the turnout among Republicans at around 145,790. But last night, actual Republicans only comprised 49 percent of the electorate, according to exits. Even if we round up the final 2012 turnout number to 250,000, which would be slightly higher than current projections, that would only leave actual Republican turnout at 122,500, which would represent a 16 percent drop.
Even more interesting is 16% happens to be what Romney won by. We’ll start getting a better idea of enthusiasm once we enter some closed primary states, the first of which is Florida on January 31.