Posted on 10/26/2008 1:00:10 PM PDT by Maelstorm
A small number of early voters interviewed this week outside the Washington County Courthouse preferred Democratic nominee U. S. Sen. Barack Obama to be president.
But this appears to be the minority preference in the Natural State.
While national polling results appear to give Obama an edge in the presidential race, voters in Arkansas prefer U. S. Sen. John McCain, the Republican nominee, to Obama - 49 percent to 36 percent, according to the 10 th annual Arkansas Poll, which was released earlier this week.
"Barring a really significant turn of events, I don't think there will be any surprises in Arkansas late Tuesday night," said Janine Parry, the Arkansas Poll's director and an associate professor of political science at the University of Arkansas.
Early voter Jason Kaundart of Fayetteville said he likes McCain's experience.
"I think with his experience he would be the best president coming in this next round," Kaundart said. He said he votes Republican most of the time for president. Republicans prevailed in Washington County in 2004, with most casting ballots for President George W. Bush, Parry said. In that election, 56 percent of Washington County voters cast ballots for Bush to 43 percent going for U. S. Sen. John Kerry, the Democratic nominee. "I think Washington County is one of a handful of the most populated counties in Arkansas that could break for Obama, but I don't think that's a foregone conclusion based on past performance," Parry said. Of all the top 10 most populated counties in 2004, that includes Washington, Kerry won only Pulaski and Jefferson counties. "All of the others he lost by really big margins," Parry said. In Benton County, the margin was 70 percent to 30 percent. Congressional support The Arkansas Poll looked at congressional districts'support in the state. Parry said McCain "gets his strongest support "in south Arkansas. In the 3 rd Congressional District, which includes Washington County, 49 percent are supporting McCain and 37 percent, Obama; 15 percent do not know or refused to answer, according to the poll. "How that translates in Washington County, it's hard to say," Parry said. "The last election, the Republican won by quite a large margin," she said, adding that, in 2004, conditions "were quite a lot different "and Bush was the incumbent. "There are a handful of counties in Arkansas that have higher odds of going for Obama," Parry said. "Washington County would be on that list. I guess I'm saying it's a possibility. It's not a likelihood. " Early voting impact Fayetteville resident Michael Heffernan, who said he has voted early in the past, was one of about 1, 400 voters casting ballots Monday - the first day of early voting - at the Washington County Courthouse and at a new site this year, the Rodeo Community Center in Springdale. Heffernan, who cast his ballot at the courthouse, said he voted early this year "so I can have some early impact and get on with it. I've already made up my mind. "He said he is voting for Obama "because I think he would make the best president of the United States."
Economic vote Keith Roberts, who lives in Springdale and works in Fayetteville, said he was voting for Obama as a matter of economics. "He seems to have a more coherent plan," said Roberts, who describes himself as an independent. "I'm sick of the last eight years," he said. James Quinn of Fayetteville said he voted for Obama because of the economy and that he believes the "future is brighter"with Obama as president of the United States. The majority of Arkansans ranked the economy as the most important problem facing the state, according to the Arkansas Poll. Parr y said that both McCain and Obama supporters cited the economy as the number one issue. Allen Powell of Springdale said he is supporting Obama for president "because Hillary [Clinton ] didn't get the nomination. "Pat Waldren of Fayetteville said she supports Obama. "He finally wants to do something for the middle class. I think it's long overdue. " She said she had supported Clinton prior to Obama receiving the Democratic nomination. Democratic Sen. Hillary Clinton had a strong base of support in Arkansas, with 54 percent reporting they would have voted for her for president. Of those voters, 57 percent are backing Obama, with 26 percent going for McCain, according to the Arkansas Poll. That leaves 17 percent who are still undecided or declined to specify. Powell cited Obama's charisma and said," he makes more sense than the Republicans"on health care and the economy. Powell said he also is concerned with exiting the war in Iraq. He is an Air Force veteran from the Vietnam War era and was in the military when the government began pulling troops out of Vietnam. He said he understands how McCain's military experience would be important but said he does not believe he would vote for McCain just because of that. Powell said he preferred McCain when he ran in 2000.
Generational change Anthony Aldridge, a University of Arkansas student, an African-American and an Obama supporter, said he felt a generational change was more of an issue than race, even while acknowledging the historic element if Obama is elected. "It's the direction our country needs to be taking," he said, adding that Obama's campaign has changed the culture of campaigning. "I like the way he's conducted his campaign," Aldridge said. He said he chose to vote early so he could attend an election party Nov. 4. This is Aldridge's second presidential election. He said he voted for Kerry in 2004.
Just the same, let’s remember that all votes count, and vote. We don’t want a repeat of the mess that followed the 200 elections.
Whoops! 200 = 2000.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
The GOP should work harder on turning the state permanently into their column. If they don’t the Democrats at the state level will slowly try to move the state left. The same goes with WV. Both are small states with cheap airtime. There is no excuse not to turn them blood red.
It sure *felt* like 200 elections.....:))
LOL:)
Pity *me*...at the time, *all* I had on cable was PMSNBCNN...*no* Fox.
If it hadn’t been for FR, I would have pulled all my hair out in frustration....;-D
Strange ‘cause a lot of Arkies didn’t like Hillary, either. I think Palin pulled a lot of them over to McCain. As my sister said the day Palin was announced, “I was going to vote for McCain. Now I can’t wait to vote for McCain.”
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