Published: October 12, 2008 01:23 am            

Swing Voters

Not much guidance in town hall debate

Presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama tried to distinguish themselves on economics and foreign policy during Tuesday’s town hall debate. But it wasn’t enough to win over many undecided voters, according to more than a dozen who tuned in but still don't know how they will vote Nov. 4.

One voter of 15 surveyed as part of CNHI News Service's "Swing Voter" project said the debate at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., pushed her into a candidate's support column. Diane Brand, a Democrat from New Sharon, Iowa, says she would vote for Obama, the Democratic senator from Illinois, if the election were held today.

The others are still making up their minds.

"I hope I am able to make the decision soon. This is way too stressful," said Donna Bray, 53, of Joplin, Mo. She said Obama was the better speaker, while his Republican counterpart seemed "rattled" at times.

She remains leery of both.

"I believe they are going to say what they think will get them elected,” she said.

Bray, Brand and the others were asked to respond to the debate as part of an effort among CNHI newsrooms in eight battleground states to track the views of undecided voters. Polls suggest those voters will be key to the outcome of the election less than four weeks away.

Several agreed McCain did best in addressing the night's top issue - the economic crisis. The Arizona senator notably discussed plans to spend $300 billion helping homeowners who face foreclosure, in addition to a $700 billion economic relief package passed in Congress last week.

Others said Obama scored points in fielding questions about the Iraq war, national security and foreign policy.

"One of my greatest concerns with Obama is on matters relating to national security. His response on Pakistan actually reassured me," said Minnesota voter Tom Barna, who gave "the slightest edge of victory" to McCain.

Barna was one of two voters who declared McCain the debate’s victor. Six said Obama performed better. Others called the debate a draw or did not pick a winner.

Their verdict did not follow lines of party and ideology: Eight of those surveyed after the debate are Republicans or describe themselves as conservative. Three are Democrats. Four describe themselves as centrists or moderates.

Voters of all backgrounds said they were just as struck by what wasn’t said.

"I really expected John McCain to be more aggressive," said Michelle Glass, an independent from Traverse City, Mich.

Another Michigan voter, Charles Nestell, said he did not hear mention of recent campaign controversies, such as Obama's association with 1960s radical William Ayers or McCain's role in a savings and loan scandal in the late 1980s.

Harold Hjelmeland, of Kokomo, Ind., said the debate's focus was misplaced on expanding government initiatives.

"They talked about entitlement programs when the country is awash in red ink," said Hjelmeland. "... I have not heard one politician for national office talk about control of the national debt. We are leaving a load on future generations to pay."

Sandy Quarles, also of Kokomo, said he didn't find much new. And he's still struggling to choose between McCain, whom he calls a "hard-headed military person, which does not qualify him for the position he wants to take on," and Obama, "the type of guy who always puts the right word in the right place ... saying things people want to hear."

"The way things are going right now," said Quarles, "it'll probably be a question of how I feel when I walk into the (voting) booth."

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.