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.