War, health care, economy draw early Pa. voters

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Many Pennsylvania voters were greeted with long lines as they arrived at polling places even before polls opened today, with anger about the war in Iraq and frustration over the nation’s struggling economy bringing some out long before sunrise.

An estimated 6 million Pennsylvanians were expected to cast ballots today, or 65 percent of residents old enough to vote in this battleground state, where Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain have been actively campaigning for nearly two years.

At First Presbyterian Church in Allentown, 160 people were lined by the time polls opened at 7 a.m. — the largest early turnout that church officials could remember. First in line was Ronald Marshall, 48, of Allentown, who arrived at 5:20 a.m.

Marshall, a Democrat, voted for Obama in the primary and again in the general election. “Looking for a change,” he said. “It’s called hope.”

Democrat Helen Mondschein, 50, a paralegal, said she made up her mind for Obama “as soon as I finished grieving for Hillary. She called Bush’s presidency “the poorest job performance of a president that I have ever seen, starting with the Iraq war, the lying that got us into the war, the things that went on after Sept. 11 that challenged our constitution, like the Patriot Act.”

Republican Josh Stehly, 32, an insurance representative and former Marine, brought his 7-year-old son with him to the polls in Allentown. He voted for McCain and said the U.S. must finish what it started in Iraq.

“We need to occupy that area and secure it, rebuild it,” Stehly said. “You can’t just leave.”

Republican Suzanne Ebbert, 59, who is self-employed, wore a McCain-Palin button to vote in Allentown.

“I see this as a clear choice. You either vote for the fairy-tale socialistic policies that Obama wants, or you vote for the Constitution and go with McCain.”

At the other end of the state, about 20 people were lined up at the Dormont Presbyterian Church in suburban Pittsburgh when the polls opened.

Corey Wingard, 49, a registered Democrat and real estate agent from Dormont, said the economy is his greatest concern and that he would consider moving to Canada if Obama doesn’t win.

“At the very least, I will never vote again,” Wingard said.

At Penn State University, more than 1,000 students were waiting in line at the student union center auditorium polling place at 6:30 a.m., according to Bob Brouse, manager of information and events for the facility. The line stretched down a hallway, through a lounge and wound its way through the back of the facility.

Chris Fritzen, 21, a senior finance major from Bridgewater, N.J., said he decided in the last few days to vote for Obama. A registered independent, Fritzen liked his alternative energy plan, although he wasn’t sure if the Democrat would be able to deliver on his health care promise.

“I have this feeling that Obama is going to overpromise and underdeliver,” he said.

Keith Brown, 31, stood in a line of about 30 voters at Greater St. Matthew Baptist Church in the Gray’s Ferry section of Philadelphia, said he hoped that Obama would follow through on his promises to improve the economy and provide health insurance to more Americans.

“I don’t know if I believe him, but I want to believe him,” he said.

Jennifer Capozzi, 25, a registered Republican in Philadelphia who is employed as an administrative assistant, said she voted for Obama and regretted voting for Bush in 2004. Capozzi, who has rheumatoid arthritis, said she can’t get health insurance and worries about job security.

Four years ago, she hadn’t paid much attention to the race. But this time, Capozzi said, “I just feel like I really took the time to pay attention to what was going on.”

Some political experts said turnout could exceed the record in 1960, when 70 percent of eligible Pennsylvanians cast ballots in the election won by John F. Kennedy, more than a decade before 18-year-olds won the right to vote.

In other races, statewide contests also were on tap for attorney general, treasurer and auditor general. Competitive races were expected for at least three seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and a few dozens seats in the Pennsylvania General Assembly.

This year, Democrats added nearly 600,000 Pennsylvania voters to their rolls while the GOP lost a little ground. Democrats now outnumber Republicans by more than 1 million.

In congressional races, three longtime Pennsylvania incumbents from blue-collar districts were fighting for re-election.

Rep. Paul Kanjorski, a 12-term Democrat from northeastern Pennsylvania, faced a GOP rising star in Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta, who has made a national name in his opposition to illegal immigration.

At the other end of the state, in northwestern Pennsylvania, Rep. Phil English, a seven-term Republican, was challenged by Kathy Dahlkemper, an anti-abortion Democrat and business owner.

Also in western Pennsylvania, powerful House Democrat John Murtha, a 17-term member, was in a tougher-than-expected race after making controversial comments about his constituents.

Murtha described western Pennsylvania as racist, apologized for the remark, then told another interviewer the area had been “really redneck” in years past. He’s challenged by William Russell, a retired Army lieutenant colonel who moved to the district to run against Murtha.

In the state House of Representatives, Republicans were hoping to regain control while Democrats sought to expand the 102-101 majority they won in 2006. The Democratic caucus was so fractured after the last election that it was forced to accept a Republican as House speaker.

Control of the Senate was not in question.

Also on Tuesday’s statewide ballot was a single referendum question seeking voter approval for a $400 million bond issue to help pay for repairs to local water and sewer systems.

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Associated Press writers Michael Rubinkam in Allentown, Dan Nephin in Pittsburgh and Randy Pennell in Philadelphia contributed to this story.