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SPEEDWAY, Ind. –– Indiana’s crucial Democratic presidential primary is too close to call –– at least if there’s any trend to be gleaned from random chats with the voters of this relatively conservative town, the home of the famous auto-racing track, inside the city limits of Indianapolis.
A sampling of Democratic voters at St. Christopher’s Roman Catholic Church was split down the middle early this morning. That leaves much suspense as to whether Sen. Barack Obama can effectively wrap up his party’s presidential nomination with big victories in Indiana and North Carolina –– or alternatively, whether Sen. Hillary Clinton will score another in her string of wins in big, industrial states in the nation’s heartland.
Click below to read what two voters have to say on primary day –– a sunny spring day of blooming lilacs and red buds with high temperatures expected in the low 80s and high turnouts expected.
-- John E. Mulligan, Journal Washington bureau
Vicki Jarrett, 54, who is white and a junior high school science teacher: “I voted for Hillary because I’m a teacher and I’m for doing away with No Child Left Behind” – or at least for retooling the federal program of mandatory testing in public schools.
Jarrett allowed that she thinks Obama’s position on the education issue is similar to Clinton’s, “but he hasn’t said a whole lot about it.” From that specific issue, Jarrett drew the general observation that “Hillary is being down to earth on the issues and she’s being professional,” whereas “Obama has done a lot for the theatrics.”
“It’s like he’s the second headliner for a rock concert when he’s got all these people here to see Stevie Wonder,” as the presidential front runner did last night at a mass rally that drew thousands to downtown Indianapolis. But Jarrett questioned whether Obama’s star power can translate into practical, political action.
Wayne Bosman, 45, who is black and a fast food restaurant worker: “I was for Clinton but I just changed my mind and went to Obama because he is really going to get the troops home from Iraq.”
Bosman said he believes that Clinton takes a similar position on the war, “but she didn’t really talk too much about it. I think he wants to do something and I’m not sure about her.” Bosman said he agrees with an Obama argument that the nation’s anti-terrorism focus should have stayed on the threat of al-Qaeda and Afghanistan and never should have strayed into Iraq.
