Candidates Converge in Pa.; Voters at Small Town Festival Remain Undecided

**By Erin Geiger Smith**

On Sunday, the crowds came to Media, Penn., population 5,500, for pony rides, fried Oreos, face painting and pumpkin purchasing. The presidential candidates also traveled to Delaware County recently, seeking votes instead of pumpkins.

Republican nominees Sen. John McCain and Gov. Sarah Palin, as well as Democratic vice-presidential candidate Sen. Joe Biden, all held rallies in Media last month and Sen. Barack Obama spoke in nearby Chester on Oct. 29.

Political pumpkins were on display at Linvilla Orchards'
annual Halloween festival on Sunday.

Polls show Obama with a significant lead in Pennsylvania -- the Web site Real Clear Politics shows an average of current polls with the Democratic candidate 9.5 points ahead as of Oct. 28.

All the candidates are targeting undecided voters. At Linvilla Orchard's annual Halloween festival in Media on Sunday, crowds gathered from all across Delaware County and even nearby Philadelphia; several festival visitors said they still hadn't decided which candidate will get their vote.

Rosemary Thyberg, 27, shared some of the festival's fried food with her new fiance Josh Schneider, 28, while sitting in the sunshine at an outdoor wooden bench. Schneider is a staunch Obama supporter, but Thyberg remains firmly undecided. "I don't know who I am going to vote for, but I better figure it out soon," Thyberg said.

"I am registered as a Democrat, [but] I've always voted Republican mainly because of the abortion issue -- I am very actively pro-life," Thyberg said. She voted for George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004.

"I don't know what I'm going to do this time. The abortion issue is still very important to me," she said, "but they had eight years to do something about that . . . and there [are] other issues I feel like I need to start to take notice of and not base my opinion solely on that one issue."

Thyberg, who teaches music for kindergarten through eighth grades, said she is disappointed that Bush's education bill, the No Child Left Behind Act, has had an adverse effect on school music programs, which she said have been minimized and neglected in favor of preparation for standardized tests. She also feels "a little betrayed" because of the economic crisis and the war in Iraq.

Until McCain chose Palin as his running mate, Thyberg was leaning Obama, she said. "I see a lot of myself in her because she is pro-life and she's conservative, but at the same time she has done things outside of her party," she said.

All the recent negative campaigning, both in advertisements and by candidates themselves on the stump, haven't helped her decide. "It's so hard when you are undecided and you are really trying to find out the facts to make an educated decision and there is so much negativity in the air," Thyberg said.

Thyberg does not believe the candidates' final push in Pennsylvania will sway her either way. "It's an internal struggle," she said. "I need to do some soul searching."

Siblings Desiere Corliss, 23, and David Corliss, 21, were not having trouble deciding where they stand on the issues, but said they could not decide where they stand on Obama. They stressed that they grew up in a Democratic family and that they both usually vote for Democrats. David, however, said he has, "questions about Obama's connections," to which his sister nodded affirmatively.

David's doubts appeared to track advertisements and statements made by the McCain camp regarding Obama's affiliation with William Ayers, the founder of 1960s radical group the Weathermen. Desiere, who was wearing a sweatshirt that read, "Make Love Not War," said that neither candidates' advertisements were helping her decide. "For me, seeing the negative ads makes me not believe that candidate," she said.

Both Corliss siblings intend to vote on November 4.

Ed Lampe, 45, a Philadelphia native who was spending the day at the Halloween festival with his mother and nieces is also undecided, but said he will definitely vote. Lampe cited the environment as the political issue he is most interested in, and that he is leaning toward Obama, but also said the candidates have muddied their positions in the final weeks. Specifically, he was unclear whether Obama now supports offshore drilling, which Lampe opposes. He wants "more support for solar and wind energy," he said.

Lampe said that, aside from wanting a clearer picture on each candidate's environmental policies, he wants to learn more about their tax plans. "I am self-employed," he said, "so I am concerned about taxes, because when you are self-employed, you pay a lot."

He said he tries to ignore the television advertisements, but paid attention to the negative advertisements he hears on the radio. "They have helped," he said. "They make me think, is Obama going to raise my taxes?"

However, he said, he does not accept the candidates' advertisements or attacks at face value. "I need to double-check, verify what they are saying," Lampe said.

Lampe predicted that no matter how he votes, Obama will take Pennsylvania.

By visiting the state frequently in these last days, the McCain camp is doing everything it can to prove Lampe -- and the pollsters -- wrong. Last Tuesday, McCain told a Pennsylvania crowd, "We need to win Pennsylvania on November 4, and with your help... we can."

Comments

[mgy]

I am an Obama supporter, but for goodness sakes, I don't care who you vote for, but WHAT MORE DO YOU NEED TO KNOW!!!!!!!

[dnegri]

Yo, Josh. Run, run while you have time.....and for those 21 year olds who are "swayed" by negative advertisements, why not take a quick trip down to the local Obama office and have a chat with some people....

[demjustice]

Let me tell you right now. I am from Ohio, born and raised until the age of 18. I am now 50 years old and have lived in the deep south and midwest for the past 28 years (4 years I was in the Army in Germany).

Anyone in Ohio or Pennsylvania who are still undecided and making excuses that they are just not sure of who Barrack Obama is, is fooling themselves and the media. Its prejudice. Its the years they spent growing up being taught by their parents to fear people who are different. Different in nationality, different in skin color, different in religion, fear them all. A pretty sad commentary on a nation founded by immigrants.

I was fortunate enough to go out into the great big wide world and see the truth. We are all different and yet the same. It saddens me greatly. My children were raised by a father from the south who was deeply prejudiced. I am proud to say that their mother taught them better, they are voting for Barrack Obama. This is my legacy to justice.

[jessieo]

I am so sick of these pro lifers. They have no idea about our constitution. How can people who have never even had a baby or been pregnant tell me what I can and can't do with my body. If life begins at conception then why aren't babies 9 months old when they're born???

[cyndeewi]

This is bull crap. Everyone has made a decision. After 2 years and you have not then just say that you are not voting and stay home.

[TN]

Why doesn't the MSM or Obama tell these pro-life voters that more babies were aborted under Bush than during any other period in America. Nobody takes any comfort in that failure.

Abstinence only programs don't work, just ask the governor of Alaska. End of Story.

[HerbTee]

People who claim at this time they are undecided about Obama, or need more information about him or don't know enough about him are just plain stupid, alright! They are cowards and are not going to vote for Obama, so let's move on. Why do we continue to allow these kinds of people time and time again in this country to choose the presidents for everyone else?

The delegate system for primaries and the Electoral College voting system for national elections should be thoroughly reviewed and be made more reflective of the country's racial, cultural and regional demographics. When are we going to stop letting the bigoted, the ignorant and the right-wing B i b l e thumpers continue to control this entire country...the minority holding the majority hostage...election after election?

[JayeSF]

Yeah...y'k­now...seri­ously, folks...if you're "undecided" at this point.....

y'all are dangerous people....

(i.e. there are no more undecideds...)

[XME]

I have to say I think that more "undecided" voters will go for McCain. I think this because I believe most of them have not decided on Obama out of unreasonable fears...that will probably end up influencing their vote. However, I don't think it will be enough to help McCain win.

[SMP]

What if these undecided voters are actually republicans afraid to say they will vote for Obama.......they are afraid of the NASTY backlash of their fellow republicans....I am just saying.....




"There is two sides to every coin"


btw,,,I live in PA...am an Obama supporter..and dang proud of it!!!!!


VOTE ,CUZ YOUR LIVELYHOOD DEPENDS ON IT!!!

[XME]

That would be REALLY great, and I think that may even be the case for some of them...I just hate to get my hopes up about how people still often view race.

That said, I live in SW Virginia, and I am REALLY hopeful that our 13 EVs will go to Obama...the first Dem since 1964!

[JayeSF]

While SMP's reply is valid...I think that we can pretty much all assume that about 75% of them folks saying they are still "undecided"..are really gonna vote for mccain but they just don't have the guts and fortitude to admit it to a reporter or pollster....

pretty simple....

Oh, also....that doesn't matter....mccain has to win ALL 13 tossup states, and he is behind in 11, tied in one, and not even up ouside the margin of error in the last one.....

Obama/Biden need take only one, or at most two...of those states.....

73 hours to go.....

[MJJM]

Republicans will never do anything about abortion people. Just like Obama, McCain, Biden, and Palin said, it's a personal decision. Republicans have been in the white house longer than the democrats, why haven't they done anything about abortion.

[Strywever]

FRIED OREOS? Seriously?? Fat sandwiched in fat, fried in fat. Yecch!!!

[WarriorLemming]

rofl, not that's some kind of political commentary! :D

[KimInPa]

Obviously you've never been to Pa! We deep fry everything here, including Twinkies and Pickles. The first time I saw Deep Fried Oreos advertised, I thought it had to be a joke, or a fluke. Now they are everywhere. All you have to do is go to one of our local fairs and you can hear peoples' arteries clogging from 20 feet away :)

[SMP]

YUM YUM LOL

[DCX2]

Four days left and they haven't bothered to look up the info? What are they going to do, go to the polls and flip a coin?

[BluePrideSMW]

Obama has a tsunami of legacy:

Abraham, Martin & John...very sweet, soulful version:
http://current.com/items/89450598_obama_08_abraham_martin_john

[BluePrideSMW]

I do not believe anyone is still undecided. Diurnal, nocturnal, day, night, right, left... it's not a mere sliver of a difference. There's been a uniquely intriguing campaign and no one is still undecided.
Abraham, Martin & John...very sweet, soulful version:
http://current.com/items/89450598_obama_08_abraham_martin_john

[ndolomar]

It's a good song. But, please don't scare me anymore than I already am. Aw, dang it, now I'm really stressed (but hopeful).

[joanVA]

Good article about the voters in Pennsylvania. The people you interviewed sound very intelligent and won't fall for all the negative ads and robocalls.

[lisakaz2]

I'm not so sure about their intelligence. Some say they want information. Did they not watch the debates? Can they not use google? Seems kinda intentionally ignorant. And that woman who knows Booo$hie has been bad for her school but still thinks Mcsamey might be helpful. Huh?

[ExpatEd]

I have to agree. I've been overseas for 5 years and have had no trouble getting the information I needed to make a decision.

As for those 'single-issue' voters... I just have to scratch my head at that, I mean, are people really that narrow minded?

[TheApeMan]

except for this couple:
"David, however, said he has, "questions about Obama's connections," to which his sister nodded affirmatively.

David's doubts appeared to track advertisements and statements made by the McCain camp regarding Obama's affiliation with William Ayers, the founder of 1960s radical group the Weathermen."

I always enjoy reading about the "one-issue" voter:
""I am registered as a Democrat, [but] I've always voted Republican mainly because of the abortion issue -- I am very actively pro-life," Thyberg said. She voted for George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004."

And of course the voter that identifies with Palin and so will vote for her (ugh!):
"Until McCain chose Palin as his running mate, Thyberg was leaning Obama, she said. "I see a lot of myself in her because she is pro-life and she's conservative, but at the same time she has done things outside of her party," she said."

[sadymay08]

They just don't want anyone to know who they are voting for, and that is smart. There isn't a voter out there who doesn't know by now who they will cast their vote for. They just don't want you to know.