Vindicator ‘Undecideds’ pan choice of Palin

The Undecideds - Decided

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BOARDMAN — Three of “The Undecideds” who voted for President-elect Barack Obama said they could have supported Republican John McCain if he had a different vice presidential running mate.

Larry Tropepe, 49, of Austintown, said if McCain, a U.S. senator from Arizona, had selected ex-Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge or former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney rather than Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the election outcome “could have been a landslide the other way.”

Ridge or Romney “could have changed my votes,” he added.

“The Undecideds,” five voters who were unsure about whom they’d support for president, met weekly in October with The Vindicator, which brought them together, at the Youngstown Sports Grille in Boardman to discuss the campaign.

Three of the five members of “The Undecideds” met after the election to discuss who they voted for and why.

Bill Sutherin, 61, of East Palestine, said it was a “good possibility” that he would have voted for McCain if Ridge, Romney or U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine was the Republican vice presidential nominee.

“It may not have been a landslide [for the Republicans], but they could have held the states they’ve always held,” he said.

Ridge on the ticket could have changed Mary Lou Hoon’s vote. The 66-year-old Struthers resident said Ridge impresses her and having him as the Republican vice presidential nominee “could have been a landslide [victory] for McCain.”

For the complete story, read Wednesday’s Vindicator or Vindy.com