Democrats gaining local momentum this year

Sommer reported that in two voter registration drives in the last few Saturdays at Hillsdale Mall and at the Safeway on El Camino in San Mateo, the party signed up over 500 citizens to vote and collected over $700.

Organizers plann to do a few more drives before the Oct. 7 voter registration deadline.

San Mateo's predominantly Democratic bent - at 50% of registered voters - reflects the county. Republican registered voters make up 30% of registered voters in the city of San Mateo, but are the strongest in a few other enclaves in the county, such as Atherton, Menlo Park and Hillsborough. The county and the city of San Mateo supported Clinton in the 1992 and 1996 election years.

Sommer said the high voter registration and support for the Democratic party he has seen primarily from women voters and young people is a reaction against Governor Bush.

"It's a very anti-Bush attitude. The comments I hear on the street is, 'We don't want Bush under any circumstances, and I want to put my money where my mouth is,'" said Sommer.

Sommer also said that many women are attracted to Gore because of his pro-choice and gun control platform.

The money pouring in is going to replenish supplies at the local level and to the state's Democratic National Committee headquarters in Sacramento. The state's Democratic party is putting most of its money toward more competitive party battlegrounds, like San Diego and Los Angeles.

Democratic party officials believe that San Mateo county is already on their side, according to Sommer.

Today the county Democratic Party Headquarters will have its official opening at the old Belmont Theater on El Camino. The county Republican party did not respond to the Daily Journal's calls about their progress in the county this election year.