Seniors Closely Watching Presidential Race

McCain Holds Advantage In Demographic Renowned For Voter Turnout

(CBS)  When you think of senior citizens, the clichés are obvious - retirees, golf, leisure and Florida.

But with almost 35 percent of the state's population projected to be over 50 years old in 2008, according to the AARP, Florida is a good place to find out what's important to senior voters, reports CBS News' Jeff Glor.

"Getting those voters on your side can really make the difference between winning and losing," said Susan MacManus, a political science professor at the University of South Florida. " And there is no place that probably shows that more than Florida."

In The Villages, a community north of Orlando that's home to 70,000 seniors age 55 and older, the leisure activities might make it look like residents have other things on their minds than campaign issues. But candidates pass through here regularly and for one reason - seniors vote.

"This group is the most dependable portion of the electorate," said MacManus. "They are very, very high turnout voters."

CBS News gathered a group of politically active residents of the Villages to find out which candidate this age group will turn out for.

There were Sen. John McCain supporters like Al Butler, who said that McCain "is a safer choice for this country and I think people are beginning to see that."

And there were Sen. Barack Obama backers like Roger Cooper, who thinks "we need an aspiring teacher as president and I think he will be much more appropriate in that role than John McCain."

A recent Wall Street Journal poll showed Obama has a clear advantage over McCain in the 18-34-year-old age group - 55 percent for Obama; 31 percent for McCain. But for voters 65 and older, it's McCain over Obama - 51 percent to 41 percent. And the gap is widening.

Seniors backing McCain may be aware of Obama's star quality.

"Mr. Obama has a wonderful charismatic look about him and a way of presenting a speech," said Mike Francis, a McCain supporter.

But Obama's supporters in the senior community have to counter concerns he's untested or that his patriotism, an issue that resonates here, is somehow in question.

"You don't have to wear a flag pin to be patriotic. You don't have to put your hand over your heart when the national anthem is sung," said Nancy Bell. "And he has said 'My story would never be possible if it weren't for this great country that I love.' "

McCain's backers say they may be choosing the familiar over the new, but experience is the key factor.

"[McCain] knows how to get things done," said Butler. "While his goals may not be as lofty or as aspirational as Sen. Obama's, they are practical and they are things that can really get done."

The issues important to this group are varied, with Obama supporters citing the economy, the war and energy while McCain backers talk about experience.

And both candidates know seniors, more than any other group, are following the campaign closely.

"The candidates know the history of this group being high turnout and very informed," said MacManus. "It's why candidates ignore this group at their own peril."

[ugot2bfree]

I am a senior and my observation is this. This country has been robbed with billions disappearing in Iraq. We again were robbed with billions disappearing in the housing market. We again were robbed with billions disappearing in overseas jobs. We again were robbed with billions disappearing into the pockets of the oil corporations. We were again robbed of billions going to health insurance corporations with lobbying clout. If you would like to continue this trend simply vote for Mcbush. I am very tired of this and I am ready for a change. He may not be perfect but at least he is a change for the better. I am voting for Obama.

[vnveteran72]

Anyone voting Republican has to be Insane.
They do NOTHING for Seniors or anyone else outside the Corporate Heirarchy. Those benefitting from Republican Rule live on Yachts and Waterfront Mansions in Exclusive Gated Communities. They drive Ferraris and travel by Limo and Private Jet.
They don''t play Shuffleboard or meet friends for the "Early Bird" Special.

[mr2258]

Only an anti-American would vote for Obama.Don''t be fooled.

[ajaxtheleast]

"Closely watching"???

When did racists ever "closely watch"

before they voted?

HeII they can see from two blocks

away looking at Obama what

they''re looking to see.

The Hillary seniors "closely watched"

and got a surprise didn''t they?

So we will see what we will see.

As long as they''re "closely watching"

maybe they''ll see which party gave us the

first war crime in American history.


"Closely Watching"!! Gimme a break!

[G H M]

mr2258 shame on you

[mr2258]

The Great Obama speaks..UM um o ah um um.Sorry he forgot which lie he was going to tell.

[mr2258]

Seniors are not racists.Voting for Obama because he has dark skin.That is racist.

[mr2258]

A vote for Obama is a vote for Rev. Wright.

[mslola58]

I''m with you (ugot2bfree) I believe that there are more senior''s out there that will support Obama and vote for him come November. McShame has a big surprise coming his way.
Senior''s have grandchildren fighting in Iraq right now, and they want them to come home. Senior''s are the greatest generation! Obama''s grandparents raised him and they did a great job by him. He makes them proud!

[G H M]

Well we seniors who do not many years left need a change for the better. I am for Obama.
We have been tormented and financially destroyed under Bush and his Rubber stamp Republicans congressmen!

You people that have war related jobs or investements are the only ones that have propered.
May you and your Republican money hungry friends now go down the drain or under a rock where you belong.
/

[randynason]

Voting for Obama because he has dark skin.That is racist.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by mr2258

This statement is racist. It''s funny how you conservative lapdogs accuse others of what you, yourself, are guilty of and that is the way you tools operate. After seven and a half years, others are on to your adolescent and hypocritical ways, now. You''ve got your stupid talking points and no adequate defense.

[cdfoxtrot1]

Great. All the old f_arts who won''t be around to clean up the mess will foist McBush on the world.

[dogtrainer08]

What seniors, like me, need to think about long and hard is The Supreme Court. If you have children and/or grand children, think of the world that more Supreme Court Justices like Scalia, Clarence Thomas, Alito and Roberts will implement with every verdict when McCain gets to appoint 2 or 3 judges who will retire in the next 4 years. McCain wants Roe v Wade overturned. My mother almost died from one of the back alley abortions of her day. I got pregnant in 67 and it destroyed my chances for college and a career, because my mother raised me by herself and we had no money and no way to even know how to find one of those illegal abortionists. My friends, of whom a few also got into trouble in high school, had rich parents and they went off on a weekend ''vacation'' I guess to the Islands or Mexico, and came back with no more problem. We are already overcrowded in this country and without Roe v. Wade and legal, safe abortions, there would have been 23 million more unwanted children on welfare and food stamps!

[dogtrainer08]

continued:
Even more frightening, besides the famous explosive temper of Mr. McCain, is what he did to his first wife. She was disabled in a terrible car wreck, spent 6 months in the hospital while he was a POW. She waited for 5 1/2 years for him, but when he returned, he took one look, no longer saw the swimsuit model he married, and established the heiress, Cindy, 18 years younger than him, as his mistress for nearly a year. His first wife, Carol, had no idea of anything even wrong in their marriage, she adored him.. but one day he packed up and moved out and married Cindy 3 weeks later. He devastated a wonderful woman because he wanted to needed to have an extremely rich ''trophy'' wife in order to be ''in the in crowd'' with his Admiral Daddy and Grandpa. He was a player, big time. Read the book ''The Real John McCain'', and his own book ''Faith of my Fathers''. Enlightening.

So.. remember when you vote for McCain you ARE voting for privatization of Social Security with profits off the top going into the fat cats'' pockets on Wall Street, lifetime conservative Justices who will side with big business every time against individuals, ever more expanding Executive Powers, and POOR (the rich will have NO problem taking care of their girls) young women dying at the hands of back alley abortionists.

[ajaxtheleast]

Maybe this will help out the
"closely watching" seniors.

Ready? Got your magnifying glass out?
Good here it is:

What McCain is has turned "stupid" into

a term of moderation that has linguists

scrambling to invent a word that will

accurately define the true level of

his mental capacity.


Did that help you out? I knew it would.

Now you can turn your "closely watching"
to determine if fun is better than grief.

[mr2258]

I guess the 20 years that Obama spent in Rev. GOD D--- America Wright''s Church makes you proud of him.

[jedi080808]

Posted by mr2258

This statement is racist. It''''s funny how you conservative lapdogs accuse others of what you, yourself, are guilty of and that is the way you tools operate. After seven and a half years, others are on to your adolescent and hypocritical ways, now. You''''ve got your stupid talking points and no adequate defense.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by RandyNason

I wont argue with most of your statement but if you want to find out where the racism started in this process look no farther then the dems old hero Bill and BIllary Cunton.

Also the Obama campaign has to be the biggest babbies ever when it comes to crying foul. If you don''t like Obama that doesn''t mean your racist.

[ugot2bfree]

Lets get down to some simple observations. This country has been robbed with billions disappearing in Iraq. We again were robbed with billions disappearing in the housing market. We again were robbed with billions disappearing in overseas jobs. We again were robbed with billions disappearing into the pockets of the oil corporations. If you would like to continue this trend simply vote for Mcbush. I am very tired of this and I am ready for a change. He may not be perfect but at least he is a change for the better. I am voting for Obama.

[jedi080808]

Lets get down to some simple observations. This country has been robbed with billions disappearing in Iraq. We again were robbed with billions disappearing in the housing market. We again were robbed with billions disappearing in overseas jobs. We again were robbed with billions disappearing into the pockets of the oil corporations. If you would like to continue this trend simply vote for Mcbush. I am very tired of this and I am ready for a change. He may not be perfect but at least he is a change for the better. I am voting for Obama.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by ugot2bfree

Good points except that you can blame Billary and Bill Clinton for Jobs going over seas. That was a Clinton thing!

[used2bdemocr]

It is evident that the number one lesson America should have learned from obama%u2019s berlin fraud show is that obama has no knowledge of (nor is his speech writer versed in) American history. That should be a very big warning sign for all Americans, particularly with obamas past and present history of associating and embracing blatantly anti-American associates, which has been documented by those same associate%u2019s anti-American rhetoric and/or actions. The only history obama understands is the 20 year history he has in learning marxist /socislist, black racist theology from his mentor jeremiah wright, the anti-American leader of his marxist socialist black racist cult. Anyone who can overlook these facts is truly, either naive, ignorant or a threat to America.

Used2bdemocrat

[irliberal]

Republicans: The party that wouldn''t even exist at all anymore except for their platform of hating gay people and anyone who doesn''t subscribe to their particular brand of religion. These days, being a "conservative" has nothing to do with being conservative fiscally, it just means you hate minorities, love war, fetuses (until they are born) and have no sense of fiscal responsibility whatsoever. The last eight years have proven that beyond a shadow of a doubt.

Over SIX years of war. Civil rights breached by our commander in chief. Internationally recognized torture sanctioned by the White House. Two invaded and currently occupied countries. Hundreds of thousands dead, including OVER 4500 American soldiers. Billions of our tax dollars spent, and yes, are still being spent to this very moment.

Iraq, which had NOTHING to do with 9/11, is now an occupied country which will implode when we get out of it, whether that happens one, two, ten or five hundred years from now. A society that CHOOSES to be ruled by religion cannot become a democracy; it can only be a theocracy with voting cards.

Bin Laden still lives. The mastermind of 9/11 still walks free.

The one, simple word for this is: failure. No amount of deception, indignation or wailing by republicons can change these facts.

Failure of Bush. Failure of Cheney. Failure of the republicans.

Time for a change.

[irliberal]

John McCain judgement and experience that only comes with age:

"There''s not a history of clashes that are violent between Sunnis and Shiahs. So I think they can probably get along." [MSNBC, 4/23/03]

" I believe that the success will be fairly easy." [CNN, 9/24/02]

"We''re not going to get into house-to-house fighting in Baghdad. " [CNN, 9/29/02]

"But the point is that, one, we will win this conflict. We will win it easily." [MSNBC, 1/22/03]

"But I believe that the Iraqi people will greet us as liberators." [NBC, 3/20/03]

"It''s clear that the end is very much in sight." [ABC, 4/9/03]

"This is a mission accomplished.." [This Week, ABC, 12/14/03]

Want to repeat the last 8 catastrophic eight years? Vote McSame!

[kissamaarse]

I am a senior, and sick of being lied to by Republicans. McCain is more of the same. This poll did not call me.

[irliberal]

Here at home we have the KKK, the neocons, the confederates and people who actually think Rush Limbaugh presents facts and news.

I think those threats here at home are more serious. Terrorists abroad hijacked planes here and knocked down two buildings. We responded by invading Afghanistan AND Iraq - and now the Bush regime wants to invade Iran. Since we invaded Iraq - hundreds of thousands of civilians - dead. Over 4200 MORE of our American citizens - dead. A puppet government based on the KORAN (of all things) installed in Iraq. Billions upon billions of our tax dollars spent, our economy in the toilet partly because of those costs, partly because of the stranglehold the republicans have had on the leadership of this country for the past eight years. Neocon judges put in power, tax free political organizations (you call them churches) given more taxpayer money to pursue their political goals, global climate change ignored (thereby accelerated), and the USA turned into a laughingstock in front of the whole world.

How much more blood republicans? How much more blood before you''re satisfied? A million? Ten million? Doesn''t matter, they''re just arabs right? Pathetic.

Who did more damage? The terrorists of 9/11 or the neocons and the Bush administration?

The question is rhetorical. Of course.

Good points except that you can blame Billary and Bill Clinton for Jobs going over seas. That was a Clinton thing!

Posted by jedi080808 at 01:03 AM : Jul 27, 2008

But what has any single Republican done to stem the tide? Nothing. Bush and McCain are both beholden to corporations who like nothing better than to send jobs overseas for the cheap labor and to get around regulatory laws that protect the American people. A vote for McCain is a vote to hurt Americans in any and every way possible.

[rjso]

Obama tours the world, McBush passes out face-first in his oatmeal. Time for a change.

[irliberal]

Obama tours the world, McBush passes out face-first in his oatmeal. Time for a change.

Posted by terrorbalony at 01:39 AM

I didn''t know he passed out in his oatmeal. I had him pegged as a grape nuts (fiber is crucial) kind of guy.

I didn''''t know he passed out in his oatmeal. I had him pegged as a grape nuts (fiber is crucial) kind of guy.

Posted by IRLiberal at 01:43 AM : Jul 27, 2008

Hey, man... don''t knock grape nuts!!! They are really good... especially when you put a whole bunch of sugar in them!!! :)

[irliberal]

Hey, man... don''''t knock grape nuts!!! They are really good... especially when you put a whole bunch of sugar in them!!! :)

Posted by AR_Teacher at 01:44 AM

Grape nuts are good. I just can''t eat them very often. It''s a little like chewing rocks, I suppose. And the sugar is out... I''m a type 1 diabetic. A pile of sugar on the grape nuts and I''d be a mess.

[trbundro1277]

"[McCain] knows how to get things done," said Butler. "While his goals may not be as lofty or as aspirational as Sen. Obama''s, they are practical and they are things that can really get done."
***** If mccain "Knows how to get things done" then why couldn''t mccain beat out Bush for the republican nomination in 2000????????

[andor3]

"Anyone who can overlook these facts is truly, either naive, ignorant or a threat to America. "

No, I overlook your "facts" because they are completely untrue. Let me know if you can find any real reason to oppose Obama for President. Or do we all know the real reason you do not like him?

[irliberal]

Or do we all know the real reason you do not like him?

Posted by andor3 at 01:50 AM

Aye, the real reason McSame has a chance is because there are a lot of people that won''t vote for Obama simply because he is part black. They won''t admit it to others, they may not even admit it to themselves, but it will affect their voting. That''s the sad part of this election.

[smirk5]

John McCain''s detailed economic plan to turn the economy around:

Call Obama out on a lack of patriotism and say he hates our soldiers.

[smirk5]

John McCain''s detailed plan to get us out of Iraq and to take the fight to Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan:

Call Obama out on a lack of patriotism and say he hates our soldiers.

[nolalou]

terrorislamv, How about trying a little honesty! Those youtube videos you refer to were of Rev. Wright, not Obama! He has already denounced those statements! This is old news, why don''t you find a real issue, or go crawl back in your hole, your choice!

[rjso]

Why no media acknowledgment of French President Sarkosys endorsement of Obama?

[l8c6]

This country will be a better place when the pre-boomers and early boomers are dead.

Think of it. Anyone born in the 1930''s especially the mid latter 30''s road the gravy train. They were too young to feel the suffering of the great depression, they were too young to fight in WWII and the Korean war and they skirted past Viet Nam due to advancing years. They road through the greatest years of a U.S. economy that supported a greater number of americans.

These old folks don''t get it. That''s the problem, they don''t understand. They don''t have a clue. The U.S. was good to them and like morons they thank the right wing when it was a strong middle class with union representation that made the U.S. a powerhouse. We don''t produce as much anymore. We''re now the IT/service based economy built on debt. It''s a whole lot of fluff that other countries can do for themselves in short order. The thing that can''t be done in short order is to build an infrastructure this nations having be allowed to rot.

[rudy654-2009]

When Bush was elected, I watched and listened to senior after senior worry and cry about what he was going to do to their social security. If McCain wins, they probably will do the same thing.

[rudy654-2009]

These old folks don''t get it. That''s the problem, they don''''t understand. They don''t have a clue.
************
Prejudices are hard for the older people to let go of.

[rudy654-2009]

Posted by IRLiberal at 01:56 AM

Exactly. Nobody likes to be called a racist, even when it is plainly obvious they are. So, they will say a lot of things to the contrary until it comes down to the wire.

[l8c6]

My husband and I are seniors and we are for McCain. Obama wants to double capital gains tax which would hurt our income, since we have our retirement income in the stock market! We can''''''''t afford Obama!

Posted by fervan at 12:09 AM : Jul 27, 2008

Gee, now that was just plain stupid of you wasn''t it to base your retirement on the stock market.

Guess it''s time to join the future that your *** generation created and become a WalMart greeter.

It''s not any capital gains tax that''s going eat you up the most. You believed in the right wing retirement plan based on 401k and now you are about to get scre*wed by the plan cause the market is coming down for a very long time.

Right winger republicans, they go ape over an 8 cent gas tax but the oil industry, traders/speculators can cause fuel to soar 2 dollars higher and they continue to defend the indefensible praising the "free market".

[l8c6]

CONVERSLY, MANY OF YOU WONT VOTE FOR MCCAIN BECAUSE HE IS WHITE!!!

but you wont ever say so, right?

Posted by fenner

It''s all I''ve ever voted for. White men like me. Obama looked like a dignitary. I felt so good to be an american watching him move about the other dignitaries. For too many years we''ve had grotesque toads, it''s been tragic.

It''s more than Obama, it''s his leadership that inspires others to get involved...something the right wing doesn''t want.

[l8c6]

is that simple enough? that leaves mcCain! a proven patriot born to military parents, himself a military man with two sons NOW serving in the war.

Posted by fenner

Yeah, that is simple enough indeed. Pretty simple, something a real simpleton could come up with.

[rudy654-2009]

Right winger republicans, they go ape over an 8 cent gas tax but the oil industry, traders/speculators can cause fuel to soar 2 dollars higher and they continue to defend the indefensible praising the "free market".


Posted by l8c6 at 02:40 AM

Well said. On the one hand, they scream for tax cuts for the rich and the rich turn around and screeew the middle class with higher prices and somehow they can''t see their own stupidity.

[l8c6]

YEAH, we had to break it down for you.... seems you were totally complexed by the simplicity of it all.

Posted by fenner


Couldn''t have said it more smarter than that. Are you fixin'' to fry some catfish tomorrow by the way Jed?

[popstom1]

blacks would vote for Idi Amin

[jonstorm-2009]

I guess the 20 years that Obama spent in Rev. GOD D--- America Wright''''s Church makes you proud of him.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by mr2258 at 12:26 AM : Jul 27, 2008

And may I ask you what church you belong too? Maybe the Catholic Faith with all their pedophile priests. Hmm or could it be the Mormon faith with their incestuous breeding grounds of intolerance and bigomy.. My God you repugs will grab onto anything and run it into the ground without looking for one minute at yourselves in the mirror. Your God Ronald Reagan didn''t even have a relationship with his children. Another divorcee.... That you guys worship and put up on a pedastal because they spew hate and bigotry for all while wrapping themselves in the American Flag.. Get over and vote for someone with brains for once. Someone who is self made...

[l8c6]

Right wingers talk about "socialism"

Here''s how the scam works, Global capital pimps hoe republican politicians who get redneck morons to vote for them by appealing to their bigotry.

Profits are privatized and labor is shorted of wages and retirement plans and benefits until the economy fa*rts then it''s socialized losses, all who labor and are tax payers are burdened with the bailouts.

Now the ones at the top of this pyramid scam, well they like republican Phil Gramm who is also a chairman of UBS bank avoid the burden of the bailout by evading taxes by shielding their assets in this Swiss bank.

Yeah, vote for McSame. Oh, and has Cindy McCain paid the property taxes on her condo which sits on the California coast that her aunt is living in yet?

[l8c6]

ANYONE WHO SNUBBED OUR TROOPS WHILE ABROAD.... OUR WOUNDED TROOPS ... DOES NOT DESERVE TO EVER SIT IN THE OVAL OFFICE.......EVER!!!!

Posted by fenner

I''m convinced you are a penniless moron.

[l8c6]

But they do so in their official capacity, and not as a candidate. He can come in and bring senate staffers as well, if he likes, but campaign staffers and press are not permitted to accompany him. That would be a violation of DoD directives.%u201D

Posted by fenner

So they didn''t accommodate him in the manner of his mission. I get it you dumbf*u*ck.