Voters Offer Differing Opinions Regarding Candidates

Many voters have different opinions regarding the Democratic and Republican presidential candidates. Some focus on electability and divisiveness while others simply linger for positive, profound changes.

Conservative, moderate and independent voters have different views concerning front-runner John McCain. Conservatives are upset over his maverick style in trying to work with Democrats on issues like campaign finance and immigration. Moderate and independent voters believe that this type of centrist, unifying approach will serve him well in the general election battle with his Democratic opponent. On the other side of the aisle, Democrat Hillary Clinton is well respected among liberals but some feel that she is too divisive in a general election matchup with a GOP candidate. This is one of the reasons why Barack Obama is even with her or leading in some February 5 states. Peggy Hernandez, who is a 54 year-old writer from Beverly Hills, explains why she switched from Clinton to Obama: ''I love them both. But...I know now why there is an Obama phenomenon, because this guy is phenomenal. If he becomes president, we will definitely see a very positive change in our country.'' The big prize in Tuesday's voting centers on California. Whoever wins the Golden State for both parties should be on their way to the nomination. Some Republican voters worry that conservatives will sit out this election if McCain becomes the nominee. Although Debbie Mariam supports Romney, she will vote for McCain over a Democrat but she isn't sure that other conservatives will follow her lead: ''We can't let a liberal take over. Not in this time of war we can't. But I am really scared that conservatives will sit on their hands with McCain.'' Republican pollster Whit Ayres believes that political talk show hosts like Rush Limbaugh speculate too much about McCain's perceived problem with uniting the party against Clinton or Obama. Ayres doesn't believe that the average voter is that calculating and most polls show that McCain has a better chance of beating Hillary or Obama than Romney. 25 undecided Democratic voters watching Thursday night's debate between Obama and Clinton gave the Illinois senator high marks for his continuous opposition to the Iraq war. Senator Clinton received lower scores from the undecided voters when explaining her reasoning for giving President Bush the authorization for going to war. A Bush or a Clinton has been in the White House since 1989. Taneka Johnson, a 37 year-old woman who is eight months pregnant, supports Obama because of this fact. A 27 year-old small business owner from Los Angeles by the name of Rukefet Abergel rejects the celebrity status of Obama: ''We are not voting for a rock star. We are voting for the president, and I think she is absolutely the best.'' He is referring to New York Senator Hillary Clinton.