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Primary entices new voters
Sentiments are running strong among supporters of the three major presidential candidates.
A record-breaking turnout is expected for the April 22 Pennsylvania primary election as the state’s residents finally get to be decision makers in choosing a candidate for president.
In Mercer and Lawrence Counties, election offices have been busy handling a surge of new voter registrations.
Mercer Elections Director Jeff Greenburg said 1,107 people registered between the November election and the March 24 deadline, bringing the total voters in that county to 79,087.
In Lawrence, Elections Director Marlene Gabriel said that 693 new registrations brought the total eligible voters to 61,274.
Because the state is one the last populous states to hold its primary, the Pennsylvania primary election usually reeks of anticlimax. By this time one candidate is usually ahead of the pack even if other names remain on the ballot.
However, the vote here will be significant this time because a battle to the finish is still raging between Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, who would be the first African-American and the first woman, respectively, to gain either party’s nomination. Gabriel said she believes that the historic nature of this primary accounts for the surge in registrations. “For the first time, Pennsylvania will be a deciding factor,” said Gabriel.
On the Republican side, John McCain has virtually secured the nomination, though Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul will also be on the ballot.
An unscientific sampling of registered voters indicates feelings running strong in both parties
Walter Janiel of New Castle, a registered Republican, said he switched from the Democratic party many years ago. He said that he generally dislikes the Democratic Party because of its “tax and spend liberalism.” He said, however, that while he likes some of Obama’s thinking on issues such as tightening the rules for lobbyists, reducing big government, giving tax incentives and helping senior citizens, he is uneasy about both Democrats’ willingness to pull out of Iraq “too quick.” He said too many soldiers have been killed and wounded to simply pull out at this point. He added that those who were wounded will wonder what their sacrifices were for and wonders whether those who died will simply be forgotten. Janiel said that while he is not happy with John McCain, “I am satisfied with him.”
Dick Costello of New Castle is a registered Democrat and had a different view. He said he will “definitely” vote for Clinton. “She’s very intelligent and she’s been around politics all her life. When she gathers up her forces, she will be knowledgeable,” he said. Obama is a good orator but hasn’t been in politics long enough, he said, adding that he needs a few more years experience to be president. However, he said that if Obama is the Democratic candidate, he will vote for him. Costello said he would not vote for McCain because he feels he is weak on the economy. He also questioned McCain’s statement that he would have forces in Iraq for 100 years and said he believes too many lives have been lost there already.
Democrat Helen Salae of New Wilmington said that while she feels Obama is intelligent, she is leaning toward Clinton because she would like to see a woman as president. She said she also liked Bill Clinton when he was president.
The new registrants apparently brought out by these contest are largely Democrats. Of those registering in Mercer, 698 registered as Democrats, 277 as Republicans and 156 as “Other.” The numbers in Lawrence were 636 Democrats, 248 Republican and 115 “Other.” Democrats were already the majority in both counties.
In addition, 740 people in Mercer County who were already registered changed their registration to Democrat and 117 to Republican. In Lawrence, 287 people changed to Democrat and 83 to Republican.
Republican Matthew Steffy of Clarion, a student at Westminster College in New Wilmington, said that he was tempted to register as a Democrat for the primary only because there is no choice on the Republican ballot. However, he said he doubts he would vote for a Democrat in November.
The only other major primary race in Mercer County will be a Democratic contest between four to choose a challenger for U.S. Rep. Phil English of Erie, R-3rd. In Lawrence County, some voters will have choices in the 47th state senatorial race, which has two Democrats and two Republicans seeking the nomination. There are four Democratic contenders for the state treasurer nomination and some local political party delegates and state committee races.