JOPLIN, Mo. —
Joplin residents turned out to the polls Tuesday to vote in the U.S. Senate race, where Claire McCaskill, the Democratic incumbent, is challenged by Todd Akin, a Republican, and Jonathan Dine, the Libertarian candidate.
Amanda Winget, an MSSU college student and mother of three, said she voted for McCaskill. She said she knew more about McCaskill than she did of Akin or Dine, and Social Security and military benefits were important issues to her in casting her vote.
“I tend to not always agree with the Democrats, but I tend to usually not agree with the Republicans,” she said moments after voting at Byers Avenue United Methodist Church. “When in doubt, that (voting for the Democratic candidate) is what I tend to go for.”
George Nunnery, a restaurant manager, cast his vote at the same polling place for Dine. He said he “hasn’t really liked McCaskill” for years, beginning with her tenure as state auditor in 1999. Nunnery, the father of a young girl, also said he could not vote for Akin because of the candidate’s comments during an interview in August in which he said the female body could prevent pregnancy in cases of “legitimate rape.”
Election 2012
Related Photos
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Creed Jones, Joplin, votes by a window at St. Paul's United Methodist Church on Tuesday afternoon.
Discussion
Joplin residents cast votes for U.S. senator
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