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hereWith election season in full swing, even news outlets that don't traditionally cover politics are trying to get a piece of the action.
The Weather Channel sent out a release Friday highlighting how a rainy forecast may impact voter turnout for Saturday's primary in South Carolina.
"According to SC voters on weather.com this week, 3.7 percent of voters would NOT go to the polls if it rains, and more than 5 percent would NOT go if there is heavy rain," the channel's vice president of weather analytics Paul Walsh said in the release. "This has potential to impact the outcome of the primary. We saw how close it was in Iowa – enough to recall the results. There’s a possibility this shift could favor Newt Gingrich, and perhaps even Ron Paul."
Apparently, the Weather Channel has found Mitt Romney's voters to be the most sensitive to adverse weather conditions.
Historically, though, there is evidence that bad weather can affect voter turnout. According to a 2006 study, Republicans are more likely to vote in stormy conditions than Democrats. The study also found that if the weather had been dry in Florida on November 7, 2000, Al Gore may have gained enough votes to beat George Bush and win the notoriously close presidential election.