It’s Gut-Check Time, but Still Undecided?

Within 48 hours to go before the November 4 election, undecided voters are finding themselves the center of attention of campaigns looking for a few more important votes in these key states, Ohio, Florida, and Pennsylvania – rich Electoral College votes. There are also undecided voters in other states, Virginia, Missouri, and Indiana, to name a few.

After more than year of nonstop political campaigning Senator Obama and Senator McCain, three national debates, and countless information online and in prints, these undecided voters are still mulling over their choices. Some questions come to mind, what more do these voters need to know in order to make up their minds? Do they have a preference for one or the other and didn’t want to tell me? What do they expect from their presidential candidate?

With all due respect to the recent Pew Research Center’s study about undecided voters tend to be the 65 and older and that they’re less educated, I’ve been talking with people in their 30s – 50s who told me they were still undecided over the past several weeks and up until this afternoon. This was a small and unscientific sample of undecided Ohio voters, but in Virginia, these undecided voters can tip the scale in favor of Obama or McCain on Nov. 4.

Some voters volunteered that they were registered Democrats and had voted in the primary, but they hadn’t made up their minds for the general election. A few Democrats even said that they weren’t sure if they would even vote this time. I also talked to some people who refused to vote although they didn’t volunteer their party affiliation. It was perplexing and disturbing that these people would rather not vote than to choose a candidate, even if that candidate might not have all the answers that they wanted to hear.

Several voters identified themselves, as former Senator Clinton’s supporters will vote for Senator Obama. As one woman said to me, “What other choice do I have except Barack Obama?" She continued, “I was angry and wavering, but after several weeks, I made up my mind that the Republican candidates just don’t appeal to me.”

I think these unsure voters will decide and vote, and I hope those voters who refuse to vote, will change their minds and vote.

After all, it is a privilege for all Americans to vote and especially, in this historic election.