TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

900 TBO.com Readers Reveal What Election Meant To Them

ADVERTISEMENT

TBO.com

Published: November 10, 2008

More than 900 people provided information about themselves and their votes in a TBO.com survey, providing a look at what's behind the election results across the Tampa Bay area.

Some of the most compelling information in the online survey comes in answers to the question, "Why was this election important?"

One respondent, a black woman who supported Barack Obama and lives in Upper Tampa Bay, said, "I tell my children that they can become whatever they wish with hard work and determination and now I can say this with all confidence."

A Hillsborough man listed experience and the vice presidential pick as main reasons for his choice of John McCain, and said simply, "Obama is a hustler."

The survey is not scientific; the online form was available for two days last week and people following Election Day coverage on TBO.com were asked to fill it out.

To explore the voter profiles and read more of their comments, visit the link on this page.

Here are more highlights:

"I, too, would like to see my son have the opportunity to become president. Not because he's Hispanic but because he is smart, is able to do so without prejudice and because he can make a difference for the better."

- A woman, age 30-49, who is a Democrat and voted by mail

"The moral makeup of this country is in jeopardy of total collapse. It isn't just the economy but all aspects of what this country was founded on that is in the balance. Obama will destroy us with his tolerance views."

- A woman who is a college graduate, supported McCain and voted in Town 'N Country

"Our nation is about to be turned upside down with a major radical turn to the left."

- An Independent McCain supporter from Hillsborough County who said he voted for John Kerry and Al Gore

"I suppose there will always be hateful people in this country but McCain should be ashamed of reaching out for their votes."

- A Pinellas County woman who voted early for Obama and against the marriage amendment

"Unless we have someone in the White House more in line with FDR than Hoover/Bush then we are likely to repeat the 1930s."

- A woman from New Tampa who is registered Independent, voted for Obama and, in 2000, supported Ralph Nader

"Unfortunately, I think most new voters will be uninformed of all of the items on the ballot and only voting for the presidential candidate with a reversed racism and picking the less qualified applicant."

- A McCain supporter and Republican who voted for Democrat Kevin Beckner in the Hillsborough County Commission race

"I want to be proud of my country again and I truly believe Obama affords us the ability to be a proud nation again."

- A woman from Kenneth City who is a Democrat, age 50-59

"We spend billions of dollars on a war and we have children and families living on the streets right here and no help for them or the middle class. It is sad that with a master's degree I live paycheck to paycheck with fear of a lay off or major medical illness."

- A woman who lives in Pasco County and makes $30,000-$49,999 a year

"I feel we have an opportunity to establish a solid relationship with other world leaders, which can help relieve us of some of the burden of taking care of all the world."

- A man who voted early for Obama in Hillsborough County

"America will fall apart if Obama wins."

- A Tampa woman, age 18 to 29, who is not affiliated with a major party

"No one on the national level has ever cut the size of government, so it really does not make much difference who is elected."

- A Hillsborough County man making less than $30,000 a year who voted for McCain

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT