February 05, 2008 12:06 pm
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Election workers at Peace Lutheran Church clapped when they got their 100th voter before 9 a.m. today.
“We try to make it fun,” said Diana Fleischaker, an election worker at Precinct No. 24, 2002 Wisconsin Ave. “We even had three first-time voters.”
Election workers said they wanted to get the word out that they will help voters however they can.
“We will curbside vote them,” said an election judge who would only give her name as Marge. With it raining Tuesday morning, election workers were concerned that some voters would not turn out, especially those with ambulatory problems.
“We will make it as easy as possible,” said Marge. Voters can pull up to the poll entrance and honk, or “holler. We’ll be happy to come out there.”
At Mary Lee’s Cafe, 712 1/2 W. 20th St., Joplin resident George Edwards and Duquesne resident Jack Eaton were having their morning meal.
Edwards was eating peanut butter on dry, white toast — “My power breakfast” — before he goes to vote.
“We have our coffee shop politics here,” said Eaton over a plate of gravy-covered chicken fried steak and hash browns. “We can get some good arguments going.”
There are more men who usually join Eaton and Edwards. “Most of our buddies must be voting because they aren’t here,” Edwards said.
They think the primary contest in Missouri is going to be pretty evenly matched.
“The people I’ve talked to, they’re not real happy,” said Edwards.
“There doesn’t seem to be a clear choice,” said Eaton.
Eaton said he’d vote in the afternoon while Edwards was heading to the Joplin Senior Center at 22nd Street and Jackson Avenue after breakfast to vote.
“I’ll cast my vote for Mr. Romney if he’s on the ballot, for his business expertise,” said Edwards. “To me, it shows a man who can make up his mind. He’s got to have some nerve and he’s doubtless intelligent.”
Election workers at the senior center said they were seeing a good turnout. There were 119 votes recorded shortly before 10 a.m.
“It’s real good,” election worker Dana Hughey said of the turnout. “We had a man waiting on us at 5:30 a.m. to open and by 6 a.m. we had a line.”
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