Thu, Nov 26 2009
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Influencing change
Meaghan Wilkins, 44, of Joplin, is a data-entry specialist who rents her home. She said she usually votes Republican more than she does Democratic. The single mom is raising a 16-year-old girl and a 9-year-old boy. Wilkins is living on about $20,000 a year. She said that whoever is elected president must bring about change. “There are millions of people in exactly my position who make the same kind of money that I make and who are going to be upset if things don’t change,” she said. The latest CNN/Time poll for Sept. 28-30 shows that 49 percent of the respondents living in Missouri said they would vote for Democrat Barack Obama, while 48 percent would vote for Republican John McCain. The poll, released on Sept. 30, had an error margin of 3.5 to 4 points. Of those who said they would vote for Obama, 57 percent made under $50,000, while 42 percent of those who said they would vote for McCain made under $50,000. Jeff Youngblood, 34, of Joplin, who makes less than $20,000, said he plans to vote in a presidential election for the first time in his life. Who will receive his vote is still to be decided. But he said he doesn’t know at this stage of the game how much policy a president can actually change. “One of the biggest issues for me is one that I haven’t heard either of the candidates talk about. That’s special interests,” he said. ‘Hate to waste a vote’ Paul Davis, 69, of Webb City, is retired from the Navy and a retired federal employee. He supported Alan Keyes in past elections and said he considered supporting Ron Paul in this election. “I think that both of the main party candidates are just too liberal for me,” he said. “Some of those who think along the same lines that I do are with the fringe parties. But they don’t stand any chance of being elected. I hate to waste a vote on them.” Davis will be tuned in to the remaining presidential debates and believes they ultimately will help him make his decision. “McCain appears to be moving to the right a little bit, but I don’t think that will have any impact on what he does in office,” he said. “A lot of people say things that they never follow through with.” Carol Stark is the editor for The Joplin Globe. Dave Woods is the new media editor for The Joplin Globe. 
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