Primaries
At Polling Station, Voters Torn Between Two Candidates
Primary election voters cast their votes in Pa., April 22, 2008. (Associated Press)
By Krissah Williams
GLENSIDE, Pa. -- "So, who'd you vote for?!" Richard Keyser's kids shouted at him as he left the voting booth at old Glenside Fire Station just before 9 a.m.
"Obama," he confessed. "I thought Hillary communicated her policies more clearly and with detail but I still didn't find her forthright."
Lucy, 10, and Sam, 7, jumped up and down. They fell for the senator from Illinois months ago mostly because they think he's cool.
Their parents were a harder sell. Keyser and his wife Missy, both 47 years old, are among the 8 percent of voters in this much anticipated primary who are late deciders. There is one shared refrain among voters here this morning: "I went back and forth."
A 20-minute drive outside of Philadelphia in vote rich Montgomery County, the town of Glenside (population 8,000) is a window into the critical battleground of Philadelphia's suburbs today. The Keyser family is just one example of the folks here who will determine whether Clinton posts an overwhelming victory -- or gives Obama the win in an upset.
Local Democrats see potential for both candidates to do well here. Obama has the backing of State Rep. Chaka Fattah and Clinton the support of Gov. Ed Rendell, who is popular here.
The demographics break in both directions. The town is 89 percent white and fairly evenly split between young and old -- with 30 percent of the population from 25 to 44, and 25 percent older. The median income is $59,000, according to the latest Census figures.
Missy Keyser, who works as a personal chef, leaned toward Sen. Hillary Clinton after the debate last week. She saw Clinton's command of the issues and confidence, and thought, she says, that she would vote for her.
"I think Hillary did much better," Missy said sipping coffee from a mug after casting her ballot. "This is a very tenuous time."
Then Missy stopped to think again, and changed her mind again. She read the Sunday newspapers, went back to the candidates' websites and listened to her children and decided she'd vote for Obama.
"My kids talk about it constantly," she said. "There needs to be a fresh start, [and] I've got to go with the future for my children."
Victoria Egertow, 26, who voted just before the Keysers, said she had a tough time making up her mind, too. But after watching the debate last week she couldn't get the sliding economy off her mind. Gas is $3.52 a gallon here.
"I really feel like Hillary is a lot clearer with her plans," Egertow said. "Obama skirted some of the issues. I voted for Hillary."
The back-and-forth continued at the coffee shop up the road from the polling station. An Obama supporter came in wearing his buttons. When she left, a woman whispered to her friend.
"I voted for him but I'm sort of apologizing, but if I voted for her I'd be saying the same thing," she said. "Everybody's all over the map."
Posted at 11:33 AM ET on Apr 22, 2008
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Posted by: irmadf9 | April 22, 2008 3:01 PM
The contest is about the future or the past. America always votes for the future. The culture wars are over.
Good fight Hillary, now concede and let's get on with cleaning up the mess the Republicans have gotten us into.
Posted by: thebob.bob | April 22, 2008 1:23 PM
someone wrote ...
"The fact Sen Clinton remains competitive in the face of a 24/7 barrage of sneering contempt from every single political news source in the country makes her all the more impressive."
Frankly, that contempt was recently earned.
To believe she's "still competitive" is grasping at straws. Name me ONE single presidential primary candidate who's won while having a helluva lot less $$ than their opponent.
It's over -- the only thing "competitive" is her lust for power at any cost to the Democratic Party, and (possibly) the country if her antics pave the way for McCain a la Nader and Gore.
Posted by: | April 22, 2008 1:01 PM
"The fact Sen Clinton remains competitive in the face of a 24/7 barrage of sneering contempt from every single political news source in the country makes her all the more impressive." Thats bull, come on man, shes got you all thinkin she is the center of a vast conspiracy too?? Open your eyes...
Posted by: The Oracle in MD | April 22, 2008 1:00 PM
WHERE THE FRACK IS BILLARY's FLAG PIN???
Posted by: Mary in AZ | April 22, 2008 12:43 PM
The fact Sen Clinton remains competitive in the face of a 24/7 barrage of sneering contempt from every single political news source in the country makes her all the more impressive.
Posted by: | April 22, 2008 12:41 PM
Let's look at Hillary's response to the Bosnia question at the PA debate last week:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Jdb7gk71tGM
Statements she made??
She "said some things that weren't in-keeping" with what happened and I hope you can "look over" it. "unfortunately I was not as accurate as I have been in the past"
And Barack's response? Says let's move on! He has had so much opportunity to berate her - legitimately - because of the ridiculous things that have come out of her mouth - and he has taken the higher road every time.
And Barack's follow-up question had to do with his use of a lapel-pin. His response was, more or less, 'can we talk real issues, please?'
This is a man eager to win NOT because he made Hillary Clinton look bad. But because he fights to be voted on on legitimate merit.
Obama '08
Posted by: jencm | April 22, 2008 12:36 PM
Reports of voting machines breaking down in Obama leaning areas.
Guess Ed Rendell is following up on his support for Hillary. So much for counting every vote.
Posted by: gbooksdc | April 22, 2008 12:31 PM
This sounds positive for Obama then, much like the Google Trends Charts;
Pennsylvania Primary- Hillary vs. Barack:
http://newsusa.myfeedportal.com/viewarticle.php?articleid=57
Posted by: Dave | April 22, 2008 12:31 PM
"I voted for him but I'm sort of apologizing, but if I voted for her I'd be saying the same thing," she said. "Everybody's all over the map."
LOL! The Dimocrat Base! :-D
McRomney-SAVE US!
Posted by: RAT-The | April 22, 2008 12:26 PM
I don't know how anyone can be undecided in this primary. I listened once again to Obama's campaign speech last night. It was so moving. In my lifetime of 67 years, I've never heard who comes close. Pa./America needs to grab this man and make him president..I can't see where they'll get another chance like this, to put in a real human being, who inspires and moves people, not just a politician like the others.
Posted by: beth | April 22, 2008 12:17 PM
I love it when the undecided vote for Obama. Makes sense to me. He is the one this year. Our bright future depends on him being elected President. And he will dominate over war monger McCain.
Posted by: tomaaa | April 22, 2008 12:08 PM
Pennsylvania Primary Prediction
Who do you predict will win the Pennsylvania Democratic Presidential Primary?
http://www.youpolls.com/details.asp?pid=2127
.
Posted by: Frank, Austin TX | April 22, 2008 12:07 PM
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This latest ad of Hillary's showing the pictures of different crisis the country has gone through including the picture of Osama Bin Laden, only shows that at no time were we as a nation prepared for anything, including Pearl Harbor. Hillary should be ashamed to show pictures that only inspire fear. She is truly desperate. Viva Obama!!!