The mystery of the undecided voter: who and why?

[cosmicone]

Source: yahoo/AP

CINCINNATI (Reuters) – It's not a lack of data that has made Ohio photographer Chad Moon one of those rare and coveted people on the U.S. political landscape -- an undecided voter late in the campaign. He knows plenty about presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama.

"It's not that I don't have enough information, it's that I don't particularly like either one of them," explained Moon, 32, a small business owner and father of two.

With just days to go before the November 4 election, undecided American voters are finding themselves the center of attention of campaigns looking for a few more precious votes in key states.

What is wrong with these people? After more than a year of nonstop political campaigning by Democratic Illinois Sen. Obama and Republican Arizona Sen. McCain, what more do voters possibly need to know to make up their minds?

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081029/pl_nm/us_usa_politics_undecided

[DemNoir]

1. They do not exist

In my opinion anybody that's undecided at this point is not really engaged in the election, knows very little about it and doesn't really care. I don't think these people will vote.

If you look at the internals of the PEW poll they generally come to the same conclusion.

[RaRa]

2. And then there are the racists

who would have no issue voting for Obama if he were white. These are the racists who don't know they are. They can't pinpoint why they don't want to vote for Obama. They worry about his "inexperience", but it's not that. They just haven't stopped to look at him and imagine him white. Then they would know why they're "undecided".

[saracat]

4. That is untrue. I have been walking my district and many folks are

undecided. They are not just undecided about the presidential race but local races and many propositions as well. It really isn't right to condemn all undecided as "racist".And actually many of these are busy folks who are thoughtful enough to ask questions. this is the first year EVER, after more than 30 years of camoaigning, that people have "THANKED" me for campaign lit.

[redqueen]

7. It does make one wonder where they got such information in the past, though.

One would think that the ballot issues & races have been in just about every newspaper and also on tons of websites.

Perhaps some of the hostility is due to the appearance that while these people want to participate in democracy, they don't seem to consider it worthwhile to inform themselves.

:shrug:

[saracat]

9. Many many people aren't that involved in politics but do vote.

And right now, jobs and the economy are the driving issue. Many are struggling to keep their houses and put food on the table. Two pols battling doesn't seem high on their list of attention getters. One of our friends just lost both her car and is fighting to sell her house before the bank takes it all. Much of this stuff has become "white noise to folks".Many are making the "serious " decisions just prior to election. My state has early voting and usually the GOP beats us badly on EV's. This year they are being returned much more slowly. And I expect many folks will bring them to the polls with them.

[Two Americas]

10. agreed

The basis upon which many here are loyal to the candidate reflects a narrow demographic and doesn't translate well out into the real world.

[LWolf]

17. I disagree.

I was an undecided voter until the Palin pick.

I was "engaged" when the primaries began, and I'm better informed than most.

I was never undecided between McCain and Obama. I was undecided between Obama, a write-in Democrat, or a 3rd party vote. I'm well enough informed to know that Obama is not a good match on issues for me.

If it weren't for the Palin pick, I might have remained undecided until Tuesday. If so, I would have been waiting until the last minute to gage the outcome in my state; if my state was "safe," then I could safely cast my vote for someone I preferred to the major candidate choices. If not, then I would cast the "lesser of two evils" vote.

I can't speak for all the "undecideds" out there, but I can confirm that there are plenty of people who are not exactly rocked by either choice, and who are still weighing their options.

[redqueen]

3. Jon Stewart showed a nice chart about undecided voters.

[madhawk]

5. undecided?

if your undecided still, than don't vote at all. if you can't make up you mind than don't screw it up for the rest of us. either shit or get off the pot.
hawk

[saracat]

11. See my post 9 and get off the patronizing soapbox. People are struggling and not all place a

priority.Many are having a hard time putting food on the table and a roof over their heads.Many are trying to find the time to inform themselves and they will do so at the appropraite time.

[cobalt1999]

6. There are many out there

Some who would vote Democratic but just can't get comfortable with Obama.
Some who normally would support McCain, but can't stomach Palin.

[acmavm]

8. My simple opinion from having to call so many of these idiots

is that they are either suffering from some severe mental problems OR they're just plain damn lying asses who don't want the admit that they are AGAIN voting for the party that has, is, and will continue to screw up this country.

I hate 'em. I truly do. And I call shitloads. And I AM nice, even though I want to ask when they had their lobotomy.

[saracat]

14. Your empathy for people who have struggles in their life

and do not place "politics first" is underwhelming. You can't have genuine respect for these folks and say you "hate them". I am sure your hatred and contempt bleeds through and contributes to their indecision.

[acmavm]

16. And I am sure that you're full of it. Now, we're even. And don't tell

me that I'm contributing to their ignorance. They're on their own on that one.

[zonkers]

12. It's kind of like the unknown comic.

[Doc_Technical]

13. "Undecided."

I have a feeling that some polls offer only 3 choices:
A. Democratic
B. Republican
C. Undecided

There are some people who do not vote for the two
major parties so when polled their response goes
into the undecided category.

[Two Americas]

15. not so important

There is a massive movement to the left going on with the public, and almost every district in the country is trending Democratic. There is far too much emphasis on "personal choice," the horse race aspects, and on the "undecideds."

The battle lines are moving and we are fighting in areas that are deep into the traditional Republican support now, and the people who are undecided are those who previously would have been very much decided - decided on voting Republican.

It is not that people are undecided that matters, it is who it is that is undecided. It is now mostly people who had always voted Republican. "Undecided" is good.