By Carol Stark and Dave Woods
news@joplinglobe.com
Some undecided voters say race, gender and age issues aren’t factors for them, but many believe they will figure into the presidential election that is now less than three weeks away.
Thirty-six undecided voters living in eight swing-vote states, including Missouri, were interviewed recently about issues that are important to them in making a decision on Election Day. The eight states used for this series collectively account for 101 electoral votes. They are Indiana, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Hampshire, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota and Michigan. Of those contacted, 10 said race would be a factor — but not in their own opinions.
When asked if the United States has come far enough to elect a black president, Meaghan Wilkins, 44, of Joplin, said she personally doesn’t care about race.
“He could be green for all I care,” she said. “I think either one of them could be a good president. I just need to know more about them before I make a decision.”
Missouri poll
A poll taken in Missouri by Survey USA, and released on Monday, shows Democratic Sen. Barack Obama leading Republican Sen. John McCain by a margin of 51 percent to 43 percent. The remaining potential voters said they were either undecided or were voting for another candidate. The poll surveyed 546 registered voters.
While 84 percent of the black voters who participated in the survey told pollsters that they would vote for Obama, women did not appear to be swayed by McCain’s female vice presidential selection, Sarah Palin. Women favored Obama, with 53 percent saying they would vote for the Illinois senator, and 42 percent saying they would vote for McCain. The other 5 percent were either undecided or said they would vote for another candidate.
And when it came to age, McCain’s strongest pull in Missouri came from those 65 and older, with 51 percent saying they would cast a vote for McCain. Obama received 42 percent of the voter support in that age category.
Obama’s strongest age camp in Missouri came in the 18-to-34 category, from which he drew 58 percent of those surveyed, compared with McCain’s 34 percent. The remaining voters in that age category still were making up their minds or said they were voting for another candidate.
The race card
Charles Nestell, 27, of Omena, Mich., said he knows people who say they won’t vote for Obama just because he is black, and others who say they will vote for him just because he is.
Nestell said race will not affect how he votes, and he thinks race is less of an issue for people of his generation.
“I feel like I’ve grown up in a better era,” he said. “As I look to the older ones, I do see it being an issue.”
Tyler Keck, a high-school student and a first-time voter from Kokomo, Ind., said he does not believe the United States has come far enough in race relations to elect a black to the Oval Office.
“I believe that a major percentage of the U.S. has come to the fact that a black man might become the supreme leader, but not everyone,” he said.
And Donna Bray, 53, of Joplin, said she believes Obama has the potential to overcome racism.
“But, the vote will still be influenced by it,” she said.
Gender and age
Bray said neither the age of the candidates nor the gender question posed by McCain’s vice presidential selection will influence her vote.
“No, not in any way, shape or form,” she said. “I wouldn’t vote for Sarah Palin because she’s a woman, but I wouldn’t vote against her because of that either.”
Paul Davis, 69, of Webb City, said gender would not be a factor for him, and then referred to Ronald Reagan in citing the age question.
“Ronald Reagan made a statement one time that age shouldn’t enter into it at all,” Davis said. “He said that he was not going to hold it against (his opponent, Sen. Walter Mondale) for his youth and inexperience.”
Anson Burlingame, 66, of Joplin, said he doesn’t believe Obama is too young, but he does have concerns about McCain’s age.
“He’s old,” he said. “I’m just a little concerned with that.”
Carol Stark is the editor for The Joplin Globe. Dave Woods is the new media editor for The Joplin Globe. Several reporters working for Community Newspapers Holdings Inc. contributed to this report.
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<img src="http://www.joplinglobeonline.com/images/zope/extra.gif" border=0>Undecided voters say race, gender hold no sway — for them<font color="#ff0000"> w/ undecided voter video and previous Swing Vote coverage</font>
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