The Undecided: Sheepish, Proud or Set to Flip Coin

[babylonsister]

The Undecided: Sheepish, Proud or Set to Flip Coin

By MARK LEIBOVICH
Published: November 1, 2008


WASHINGTON — Senators Barack Obama and John McCain have stood (or sat) for 36 debates, endured thousands of interviews, and spent hundreds of millions of dollars on advertisements and the better part of two years trying to convince voters that they are worthy of the presidency, or at least a vote.

But with only days left until Election Day, a small cluster of holdouts — 4 percent, according to a New York Times/CBS News poll — are still wrestling with the “Who are you voting for?” question.

Which raises a follow-up: What is up with these people?

“I do not like being an ‘undecided,’ ” said a sheepish Doug Finke, a 66-year-old executive at an international relocation service in Louisville, Ky. “Last time at this point, I definitely was decided. Not this time. I find it unnerving.”

Mr. Finke, a Republican, voted twice for George W. Bush. He describes himself as an economic conservative and said he had been “very impressed” with Senator John McCain. It sure sounds as if Mr. Finke is leaning toward Mr. McCain, the Arizona Republican, right?

Not so fast.

“I’m socially more liberal,” Mr. Finke said. “I think Obama is bright and has been very steady in this campaign.” He added that it would be “very exciting for the United States to elect a black president.” Besides, he does not think Mr. McCain’s running mate, Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska, would be ready to step into the top job if something happened to Mr. McCain (who, Mr. Finke pointed out, “is pretty old”).

Where does this leave Mr. Finke? “I plan on doing a lot of reading this weekend,” he said.

more...

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/02/us/politics/02undecided.html?ref=todayspaper

[nygrl224]

1. ugh...

I think these people crave attention. They either know who they want, or they probably won't vote to begin with. I'm sick of people obsessing over them.

[Motown_Johnny]

2. I thought that about half end up not voting at all.... I would guess most others just don't want to

answer the question.


I can't imagine people still being undecided at this point and still caring enough to show up.