TAMPA, Fla—The presidential race came to Florida on Tuesday as voters across the state cast their ballots in the state's primary election.
Voters mentioned the economy as the primary reason for choosing a candidate; some thought Republicans could manage the economy better, some Democrats, but almost every voters commented on the need for economic improvement, or new economic policies.
The war in Iraq was mentioned only infrequently. Democratic voters seemed to be opposed to it, while Republicans supported continuing it.
Voters were evenly divided between Republican and Democrat, with Obama being the more popular Democratic choice by far. Republicans were split evenly between McCain and Romney.
Along with picking a presidential candidate, voters were asked to approve or reject Florida State Amendment One, an omnibus tax bill. Here also "Yes "and "No" votes were split evenly, according to respondents.
One Epoch Times reporter stationed himself outside the polling site at the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections offices, and asked Florida residents who they choose and why.
Candice Melzer and her husband Dan support Mitt Romney because of his business background. "He has a lot more experience in running a business," Mr. Melzer explained, "and when it comes to running the nation, I think you have to have a business background in order to run that business effectively.
"Right now America's really in debt and we have a huge deficit, so we need to get out of that and start having a more prosperous economy."
Mr. and Mrs. Melzer both voted for Amendment One. "It's not exactly the solution I would have liked, but at least its something to help out. Right now our property taxes are pretty high, compared to other states in the union."
Mr. Melzer thought what was needed wasn't more tax revenue, but for the government to make better spending choices, to use its resources more wisely.
John Clark supported Barack Obama, based on Obama's experience in the Senate, and his positions on many issues, particularly the economy.
"I think we need a change in the economy after the last eight years of Republican rule and he seems to have a younger vision of things, about the way the economy should be run."
Mr. Clark did not support Hilary Clinton; "It's not that I don't think she is qualified, but I don't like the way her husband has gotten involved, the ex-president. I think he should have stayed out of it and let her fight her own battles."
Mr. Clark rejected Amendment One, because it encompassed too many issues, not all of which he could support.
"The Homestead Injunction part of Amendment One I would have been in favor of, but the part about taking away taxes from the school districts … that made me vote "No" on it."
Rob (who declined to give his last name) said he planned to vote Republican. "Right now I lean toward McCain, but I will support Romney. I will support any Republican over any Democrat."
Rob said he believed that the Democrats "would truly like to socialize everything in this country and I don't believe in that, because the government is very bad at what it does."
Rob said that he worked as a government contractor, and in his opinion the government could never survive in the commercial world. "Everything the government does is very bad," he said.
Rob said he was against Amendment One because he was against amendments in general. "Everything is fine just the way it is," he stated. Even though Amendment One would give him $240, he didn't feel the amendment addressed the real problem, that of excessively high property taxes.
Rob believes that high property taxes are driving people out of the state—which, as a thirty-year resident who is seeing his home overrun, he favors—but he doesn't feel that raising taxes is the way to do it. "People are moving out of state," he said; "Something's wrong."
Sam Genovsky voted for Hilary Clinton. He hoped that she would be a leader who wouldn't use war as a primary foreign policy. "I really thought the war in Iraq was a major mistake."
Mr. Genovsky hoped that Amendment One would help the housing market, encouraging home sales through the proposed increased Homestead Exemption and new tax structures.
"Right now people aren't moving because you lose everything" under the current system, he explained.