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Voices in Lacy-Lakeview: Obama ‘new and enthusiastic’
For Jamal Akhter, a naturalized U.S. citizen voting this afternoon at the Lacy-Lakeview Civic Center, the economy is driving his vote for Barack Obama, he told reporter Monica Ortiz Uribe.
“When gas prices go up, all poor people suffer and it’s a big problem,” said Akhter, 47, who is originally from Pakistan.
The convenience store owner said that the high gas prices affect sales negatively at his business. Obama appeals to him because “he’s new and he’s enthusiastic,” he said.
His wife, however, supports Hillary Clinton because of the New York senator’s political experience, he said.
The war also is a concern, he said. “American people don’t like war,” he said. “We want our troops to come back safely.”
Because he works 18-hour days, Akhter said he won’t go to the caucus tonight.
If he would be able to talk to the next president, he would suggest a flat-tax rate, he said.
Gay Lynn Shaffer, 58, a housewife, said she voted for Hillary Clinton.
“I think that she has a lot of experience from being so many years in politics,” she said. “I think she’s very intelligent and I think she’s very well qualified for this job.”
The economy is her biggest concern.
She will not attend the caucus because she doesn’t drive at night.
If she could tell the next president something, she said she’d say: “Hillary, take care of people in this country before giving anything away to other countries.”
For ABX Air employee Tanya Little, 33, the big issues for her are abortion and gay marriage. That led her to vote for Mike Huckabee, although she said she’d support John McCain if he’s the GOP nominee.
“Sorry, I don’t agree with (gay marriage) … it ruins the family, it messes up the family relationship.”
Little said she’d tell McCain, whom she figures will be the next president: “I hope you stand for what you say you’ll stand for.”
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