Mark Millican
October 26, 2008 08:54 pm
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Though mainstream polling is showing Senator Barack Obama with a distinct lead over Senator John McCain in the presidential race, some national political watchers are saying the margin of error in polls is too close and undecided voters may tip the balance.
Registered voters in the area who were informally interviewed on Sunday had pretty much made up their minds about who they are going to cast their ballots for — but some weren’t happy with either choice.
“I’m a registered Republican,” said Mike Owens from Gordon County, “but I like to wait and look at a candidate to see how he stands on an issue. For president, I want to see how he stands on abortion. That’s a big thing with me, and the Democrat Party wants to do the abortion thing. So in that regard I want a firmer stance than Obama.
“But I’ve looked at and studied the other issues too. Either one who’s elected president is not going to be able to fix the economy overnight. And I think getting our people out of Iraq is a great thing, but do you want to pay $10 a gallon for gasoline? Our economy is so tied to the fuel industry, but I think McCain will ease us into withdrawing and not do something drastic. I’ve felt that way about six months now.”
Timothy Hartshorn is a registered Democrat but is undecided. He’s studying the issues before he makes a final decision.
“I’m concerned with Obama’s tax program,” the Dalton resident said. “I compare it to the Canadian tax program where much of your check goes to government to subsidize health care. And I think his lack of experience will bring a negative impact. I believe he’s not as experienced as McCain on foreign policy, so right now I’m leaning toward McCain.”
Mandy Ledford of Chatsworth calls herself an independent who would not have cast a vote for either candidate had Sarah Palin not entered the picture as McCain’s vice president pick.
“I think she makes the ticket more moral because she believes in family,” she said. “As far as president goes, I’m not that excited about either one of them. Before her, I didn’t know if I’d vote for either one of them.”
Pam Gaston lives in North Carolina but visits family in north Georgia often. She considers herself an independent but is very concerned about McCain’s reputed temper, and has decided to cast her vote for Obama.
“It was about two months ago,” she recalled of her choice. “I just began to have more of a dislike for him because he’s a hothead and a war monger. It’s way more than the economy for me — I just think he’ll pick up the ‘red phone’ (to order a nuclear strike) way too easy. I don’t want McCain at all.”
Bill Voyles of Dalton is a registered Republican who says he tries to look at both sides.
“I try to be a Christian person,” he said, “and I’m not prejudiced. But I don’t like what happened with (Obama’s former pastor) Rev. (Jeremiah) Wright. I thought (Ralph) Nader was a good candidate at one time, but his time has come and gone. Either one that gets it, I think we’re looking at a new world order. The world’s leaders are getting together to try and stop this economy thing, and that could be just a start.
“If Obama was the best choice, I’d go with him. I think McCain made a great choice with Palin as his vice president — before that he was a nothing. But I think I may do a write-in vote for Lou Dobbs.”
Gary Carter is a resident of Wood Valley apartments who says he has received a letter from Dalton State College telling him he has six months to move. He has also been cut back to four days on his job in the carpet industry. But it is the candidates’ behavior — not the economy — that is distressing him.
“I’ve been watching the news and replaying the debates on CNN since I have to get up so early to go to work,” he said. “I don’t think either one is qualified. It doesn’t have to do with race about Obama, but I’m just getting so much bad stuff about him by e-mail, like how he wasn’t born here but in Kenya. That’s not a problem with me, but if he’s planning on raising our taxes to support his programs I don’t think that’s a good idea with this economy.
“The one thing that’s turned me off about both of them is that they slide so low to blast each other on the news. They just knock each other down. I don’t feel comfortable with a man being president when he cuts down his opponent. I just turn my head when I hear it now — that’s not presidential material. What about the issues?
“I’m just hoping to have a job down the road, so I’m not going to vote for anyone I can’t trust or believe in.”
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