Undecideds breaking late in SC
Posted: Saturday, January 19, 2008 6:42 PM by Domenico Montanaro
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Republicans
From NBC’s Domenico Montanaro
COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Nearly a dozen voters First Read spoke with at one polling place here said they were split on their decision of who to vote for, and many made up their minds within the past week, day or even minutes.
“I made the decision about five minutes ago; I‘ve been thinking about it for four months,” said one man in this upper-middle-class community in the WildeWood and Polo Road precincts. “I was going to go with Romney, but decided it was McCain’s time. I just think he’s the strongest Republican candidate to beat the Democrats. His age concerns me a bit, but, in the end, I just thought he was the best one.”
“I decided in the past week,” said one woman who said she voted for Huckabee. “I have tremendous respect for him because of his Christian faith. I just feel like I know who he is.” Another woman, whose husband broke for McCain, echoed those sentiments. “He seemed the most consistent,” she said, but added, “And I am a Christian -- that was a factor to some degree.”
One couple voted for Romney, citing the economy, and another woman, who said she “made up her mind in the past week” voted for McCain. “The other candidates were too conservative. McCain needed my vote.”
Voters here in the so-called Midlands are not staunch social conservatives. They are largely more moderate and concerned about the economy and national security, said Caron Marble, president of the WildeWood precinct.
But not everyone is so concerned with moderation. “McCain’s openly for amnesty,” said one man who, with his wife, voted for Thompson. “He dances around it, but that’s what he is.”
“McCain would have been my choice if it wasn’t for the amnesty,” his wife said. They also ridiculed Huckabee, calling him a “phony” and a “strange bird, but a good politician.” They grew irritated talking about the push polls on behalf of Huckabee. “They were lying,” the man said. “And he’s supposed to be the Christian candidate.”
NOTE ON TURNOUT: Turnout has been high here despite chilly temperatures and a downpour of freezing rain. The rain was light in the morning, became a full downpour by mid afternoon and tapered off at around 5 p.m. -- two hours before the polls close. Election officials here said they anticipate about 1,500 people out of about 5,800 registered voters to turn out between these two precincts. That is 26%, which also happens to be the record for statewide turnout in a South Carolina presidential primary. As of 4 p.m., more than 1,100 had voted already.
