Vero Beach, Florida – From the poolside cabanas to the old time beachy bars, Florida's seniors are more than just interested in the 2012 election: they're tanned, rested, and ready to debate whether Democrat Barack Obama or Republican Mitt Romney will better represent their interests.
We hit the ground in Florida this week a few days in advance of the GOP2012 convention kickoff. And at widely varying locations — including Earl's Hideaway, a longtime Treasure Coast biker bar hangout, and Woodfield, an upscale senior retirement community — we sought out views on the presidential candidates now blanketing the state with attack ads. Tropical storm Isaac may be bearing down on their state — and delaying the start of the GOP convention — but across the Sunshine State, voters were giving an "all clear" to being engaged at the ballot box come November.
Rodger Bolling (left), wife Carol and Richard Kissinger talk issues in Earl's Hideway and Tiki Bar
Among the voters who weighed in:
*Gail Album, 65, former office worker from Philadelphia:
"Social Security is extremely, extremely important… It's 1/3 of what I live on, and there are people around me who rely on it entirely," said Album, a loyal Democrat who lives at Woodfield "It's important to preserve it." Health care has also "put a lot of people at the edge," she said.
Nearly as important: the issue of choice, which she described as "almost a deal breaker."
Vote: Obama
John Allen, 61, retired U.S. postal worker from Connecticut: "They've tried the trickle-down theory and it didn't work. I haven't seen it help anybody," he said. Allen, a veteran, voted for John McCain in 2008 because "he was experienced" and trustworthy. This time, Obama looks "the lesser of two evils. I don't like either candidate…but I think he understands more than Romney" about the concerns of average Americans. "He didn't grow up a rich kid."
Vote: Obama
*Vinnie Verdi, 67, retired electrical union supervisor, New York, : He is not happy with how Obama "let Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid walk all over him," he said. Romney has some good qualities and is "very electable," he said, he still thinks "Democrats are more for the working people."
Vote: Undecided
*Marjorie Van Allan, 63, retired nurse from Ohio , said Romney-Ryan plan was a better because it would finally tackle the financial instability of the programs. "There's too many handouts. It's about personal accountability," she said. Many times, "once you give them a check, they don't want to work," she said.
She likes "Romney's personal qualities..he's a family man, he's a businessman," she said. "Obama said he was going to do something great….but he's never run a business."
Vote: Romney
*Jim Tornabene, 76, retired firefighter, New York:With Social Security and Medicare, "leave it alone," said the Woodfield resident. But the longtime Democrat is now a Republican. "They wanted to know why I voted for a rich person," he says of his union brothers. "I asked them, "Would you rather be rich or poor?"
Vote: Romney
*Ray Johnson, 63, retired AT&T worker from Iowa: "The economy is picking up. My friend in the pool business has had the best quarter in four years, and he's hired on new people…the homes are starting to sell now," said Johnson, relaxing at the bar of Earl's Hideaway in Sebastian. He voted for Obama last time, but he's worried that "nothing is getting done" because the president is too divisive a presence in Washington. "Republicans will fight him tooth and nail," he said.
Vote: Undecided
*Rodger Bolling, 67, former Cal State Hayward professor of tax law:"On election night 2008, I was so proud that America stood up and did the right thing..the only thing I don't like about Obama is that he's the poorest public relations salesperson. He passes Obamacare and then let's the Republicans explain it." He says in Florida, there are vestiges of racism and prejudice that will slant the vote, and adds this is the state "that elected Rick Scott as governor." The Harley rider says he'll proudly continue to wear his "Obama Got Osama" hat until the bitter end.
Vote: Obama
We'll bring you more from the Sunshine State, including the GOP National Convention starting Monday at the Tampa Bay Times Forum. Stay tuned.
