Area voters turned out in force
Chelsea Riordan and Andy Painter are two young Rockbridge County residents who were able to vote for the first time Tuesday.
Painter was hoping to see a Republican victory, although he was concerned that Virginia was considered a swing state going into Election Day.
“I’m hoping to see McCain and Palin, but I guess it is kind of up in the air,” Painter said.
In her first presidential election, Riordan voted for Barack Obama, an experience she described as exciting and liberating.
“I’ve heard a lot of different things, so I have no clue what’s really going to happen,” she said. “I just hope that everyone votes for Barack.”
Other voters found themselves confused about whom to vote for. County resident Catherine Lindsay was more confused when she left the polls than when she went in.
“ I didn’t vote for who I thought I was going to vote for. I think it will be okay,” Lindsay said.
Another voter, Mary Ellen Kline, said she was tense awaiting Tuesday’s results.
“I don’t know if I can divulge [who I voted for] because if I get started I will be sorry I said anything,” Kline said.
Several voters said they were glad finally to see Nov. 4.
“I think it’s time to get on to doing what needs to be done with this country,” Susan Dunlap said.
Emogene Goodbar agreed.
“I’m glad it’s over, and I hope McCain gets it because we do not need Obama in there,” Goodbar said. “I think the ones that are going to vote for Obama are the ones that need the welfare help. We need a change, a new change, and I think that this will be for the best.”
Goodbar predicted correctly that Rockbridge County would go Republican as it has in the past. The last time the county voted Democratic in a presidential election was in 1976, when Jimmy Carter was elected.
Wayne Johnston also predicted that Rockbridge County would go Republican, though he was less certain about whether Virginia as a whole would support McCain.
But Johnston was trying to do his part.
“I never vote for a Democrat,” he said.
Produced by
Washington and Lee
journalism students.
Lead Supervisors:
Prof. Brian
Richardson
Prof. Indira Somani
Editing supervisor:
Prof. Pamela Luecke
Reporting Supervisors:
Prof. Doug Cumming
Prof. Indira Somani
Technical supervisor: Michael Todd