McCain not guaranteed to get all local Republic votes

With running mates on board and both presidential candidates steadily campaigning for the nation’s highest office, the excitement sparking almost daily over the upcoming election has some residents digging a little deeper to get to the core of some high-profile issues.

Whether Barack Obama’s stances have gained enough headway to win a majority of votes in this traditionally Republican region is still up in air, although some voters said they’d decided on him and his running mate, Sen. Joe Biden, well before the Democratic National Convention this week and McCain’s vice presidential selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin on Friday.

“Somebody has to help us get back on the right foot. A lot of people are losing their houses, their jobs, their families. I’m voting for Obama,” William Stowers said.

Even some longtime Republican voters like Eleanor Bath said they’re leaning toward Obama as the next U.S. president.

Bath said she’s voted Republican since casting her first vote for President Richard Nixon in his contest against President Robert Kennedy.

“I don’t agree with either McCain or Obama 100 percent, but my mind was made up for Obama well before the (Democratic National) convention. I agree with McCain on abortion and gay marriage, but I disagree so violently on his views on the war and economy,” Bath said.

“To me, Obama doesn’t speak to race, he speaks to everyone that has hope in America. With that, I can accept Obama has agreed people have a right to choose but hoped for fewer abortions, and believed there should be gay rights but not gay marriage.”

Don Baker, Dale County Republican Party executive committee chairman, said he strongly believed the McCain ticket would gain a majority of votes in the county.

He said he had no comment as to why.

“McCain has absolutely a good standing here - I just know people,” Baker said.

Still, a few voters are waiting for more specifics.

“I think it’s important, and we still don’t know the answer, to know who the candidate will get to help them in advisory positions. You really need some good advisers,” said Mike Brown, a resident who still hasn’t decided on a candidate.

“I want (a president) who is going to help our economic situation, help gas prices and production and our dependency on foreign countries.

“Then, what are they going to do about the Iraqi War?” Brown said.

Registrars said new people are trickling in often to register before the November election.

“You see people in there 60s who never voted in their life. I’d estimate the total numbers have increased by about 45 percent. People are more interested this year,” Dale County registrar Diana Flentory said.