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."

[xpineapple]

Maybe McCain can tinte his hair and wear some stylish rugs. But we''re voting for Commander And Chief, not Celebrity-N-Chief. McCain has the experience.

[sebastian27-2009]

I am in the age group (79)that seems to be going for McCain, but though I have reservations I''ll take Obama. He has some new ideas, and God knows that this country needs new ideas. We have been mired in conservative land for many years, spending money on so many useless things that we could and should be spending on upgrading our infrastructure, changing our health-care system by seeing that all people have an opportunity to access it, improving our judicial system, and msny other things.
If this sounds populist, so be it. And by the way, I''ll take Jim Webb for vice-president, whoever wins the presidency. This is a man with vision, and if you haven''t read his new book please read it.

[tiredofthebs]

Voter turnout is what will win this election. It''s up to Obama to figure out some way to get individuals NOTORIOUS for staying at home on election day to vote, and to gain the support of us CLINTON supporters. Lotsa luck .......

Posted by d55may: The problem with Obama is that he has so many things he wants to do, that he will never finish any of them, leaving the country in ruins. He should pick out the most pressing things facing america right now, such as, energy independence, and maybe education. Picking two or three major problems and completeing them gets things done. He seems to want to do it all and we know what happens whne we do that. I will be voting for John McCain because we can not afford Obama."
---
It''s called multi-tasking and the younger generation knows how to do it and do it well. John, on the other hand, doesn''t even do e-mail or computers. He has a hard time remembering who is in charge of what country, which countries no longer exist and which groups are on our side and are not. You are right, this nation cannot afford Obama; it''s a good thing he''s willing to work for scale.

[kailumego1]

If the people of America are that backwards as to vote for a candidate based on race, then Americans deserve exactly for their getting, MCCAIN.

McCain a "good old boy" from the school of primitive ideology, on politics, the economy, and foreign relations.

I''ve read the most ridiculously inane reasoning why not to vote for Obama, a total departure from intellectual debate.

Considering Bush has been the absolute worst president in American history, and he was elected by the people for two terms, however, those same individuals manage the vomit the most absurd asinine justifications for voting McCain, who is a prototype for George Bush, while condemning Obama just boggles the mind.

So for their sake I hope McCain wins, and by all means be sure to show your unbridled support by enlisting in the military for the next 100 years of service.

[dinkydog1]

Um, your ''''''''boy'''''''' wants to cover the illegals, all 12 million of them, with health care (for free.) That''''''''s one step towards amnesty. Can you not see that of are you one of the ''''''''intellectual dishonest'''''''' I spoke of earlier???

Posted by LibH8er at 09:50 AM : Jul 27, 2008
..................

Your making stuff up again.

[eddom949]

I already cast my vote for McCain. At least he''s been consistent in addressing the issues. Unfortunately, Obama doesn''t seem to be making a stand on the issues yet with respect to his future plans. I look, and still, no platform from him, just rhetoric.

[d55may]

The problem with Obama is that he has so many things he wants to do, that he will never finish any of them, leaving the country in ruins. He should pick out the most pressing things facing america right now, such as, energy independence, and maybe education. Picking two or three major problems and completeing them gets things done. He seems to want to do it all and we know what happens whne we do that. I will be voting for John McCain because we can not afford Obama.

[glidescube]

McCain = W Bush 2.0

If you want 4 or 8 more years of the same bull then vote for him.
Nuff said

[ioweign]

Um, your ''''boy'''' wants to cover the illegals, all 12 million of them, with health care (for free.) That''''s one step towards amnesty. Can you not see that of are you one of the ''''intellectual dishonest'''' I spoke of earlier???

Posted by LibH8er at 09:50 AM : Jul 27, 2008

Who do you think is paying for the uninsured people now? The hospitals and clinics pass those costs on to us in the form of higher office visit and service fees.

[leftyintexas]

To Hitler-Obama; may you rot in hell, or at least a oven!!!!!!!!!

Posted by lugarbow at 08:36 PM : Jul 27, 2008

What a mean spirited little punk you are! Don''t forget to pick up your white sheet and hood at the trailer park on your way to your klan meeting. OBAMA IN 08!

[lugarbow]

I am an 72 year old senior, and any of my fellow seniors who vote for McCain, either have not been paying attention or just plain stupid and biggets!! I would not vote for that drunk, and gambler for a garbage collector. and yes, I am a republican but not this time around!!!!!!!!!!!

[dnsallday]

Only an abusive husband would do that to his wife and children for his own gain!

Posted by Hitler_Obama
********************************************************You must be refering to McCain (and I thought his jokes about women enjoying rape and wife beating stories were jokes) Maybe not??
I consider it abusive that while Cindy was home raising her children, when all the other Senators left D.C. to go home and spend the weekends with their families, John McCain stayed and spent the weekends chasing women at parties every weekend in Georgetown. When John was too busy with his career to come home and support Cindy through a miscarriage, it is no wonder she ended up strong out on drugs.
Once again McCain had other priorities than to notice his wife had become a drug addict.
This to me is a prime example of what wife abuse looks like.

[dnsallday]

The senior citizens who are supporting MCCain are getting most of their news from television or who McCain refers to as "my BASE".

As they learn the truth about McCain and how he has dishonored this country and all Americans with his insecure and nasty behavior, I think they will come to highly respect the intelligence and common sense of Barack Obama.
Because when it gets right down to it, we are not voting for ourselves, we are voting for our children, our grandchildren and all future generations.
Let us get it right this time.

[hitler_obama]

People will not admit to the faults of their candidate and neither will Obama. When they are faced with facts and real volitions they run scared as a dog with their tail between their legs by spinning the conversation back on you. I am not saying McCain is a saint either but he never painted himself as one as did Obama the hostage taker of his wife and children making them sit under hate messages for 20 years. Only an abusive husband would do that to his wife and children for his own gain!

[dnsallday]

To the poster who''s user name is :Hitler_Obama
******************************************************** Your comparison is weak and without merit. You should study history before you try to draw analogies that don''t work.
You have once again proven Godwin''s Law, which states, "As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches one."
It is common online conventional wisdom that once such a comparison is made the discussion is over, and whoever mentioned the Nazis has automatically lost the argument

[hitler_obama]

-I simply cannot wait until Barack Obama wins? Then all you will cry out against the changes my candidate Obama will bring? Like I did long ago at a time the world was not ready for my philosophy as it is now. Now is the time. Now is the place! Vote Barack Obama on Election Day for change for hope without truth.
Have the audacity to have hope without truth vote for Barack Obama.-
...............Your loving friend A. Hitler:):)

[hitler_obama]

I preached in my day that NOW is the time for CHANGE. NOW is the time to BELIEVE in our cause. Yes WE can through my election! Now Barack Obama is preaching the same message 70 years later! I am proud to have the audacity to have hope without truth in voting for him!
.............Your loving and kind friend A. Hitler!

[whitemale08]

So why do the Obamatoids think their "movement" will be any different than any of the other bowel movements of history? Experience indicates that it will be no different, if it is permitted to happen.

Posted by ragnar30066 at 05:55 PM : Jul 27, 2008--

In 2000 we took a bowel movement in our own pants and for some stupid reason people like you refused to change their pants.

Now we have chance those pants and put on fresh new clothes of ideas and policies.

And as far as South Africa, they didn''t go far enough.

It''s not fair to change the people in power but still leave the corrupt "white man''s" financial system in tact. They still have more "CHANGE" to make.

Soon you will feel the brunt of the "white man''s" financial system i.e. Federal Reserve System turn against you (if hasn''t already). I would love to here you praise evil corrupt white people when that happens. Look at the basket case in Russia, or the terrorists in Ireland. Look at how poor white folks are in Appalachia, our look at the Bushville in California (tent city 3rd world style).

Good luck in believing the "white man" has all the answers.

[user168-2009]

Choosing one''s presidential candidate shows a lot about one''s character. Selfishness is to choose a candidate to secure one''s own needs and benefit one''s own generation. Unselfishness is to choose a candidate for long-term-common-good and to benefit generations to come. Salute to those who think Obama is a better teacher (for generations to come).