http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080506/NEWS0502/80506039610:51 AM -- 'Hardcore' Republicans voting Democrat
The two precincts at Broad Ripple Family Center selected Republican Jon Elrod over Democrat Andre Carson in March's special election for U.S. Congress. But by 9 a.m., just 21 voters in one of those precincts had requested Republican ballots -- out of 168 cast.
Amid heavy turnout, Republicans appeared to be crossing over in droves today in Marion County and suburban counties, where fewer Republican voters might impact down-ticket primary races.
At the Broad Ripple center, nearly 400 voters -- of 1,800 registered in the two precincts -- had turned out in the first few hours of voting. Among them was Meghan Ward-Bopp, 24, who went against family tradition and asked for Democratic ballot so she could vote for Barack Obama; she plans to vote for Republican John McCain in November.
"I'm a hardcore Republican," she said, "but it's about who I wanted in second place in case McCain doesn't make it. ... I don't like the way this country's been run in the last 20 years. I'm sick of the dynasty (of two families) that's been running things."
Ward-Bopp voted for the Democrat she liked, but Jim Adams, 36, voted for Hillary Clinton to keep the race going beyond Indiana. He's a McCain backer and enjoys watching the Democrats fight.
"In the end, I think McCain is going to win," Adams said, and then referred to controversial statements by Bill Clinton and the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Obama's pastor. "Bill can't keep his mouth shut, and the reverend can't keep his mouth shut."
Kate Hayward left the Broad Ripple center wearing a T-shirt that said "Another Mama for Obama." Her young daughters wore "Obama Girl" T-shirts. Hayward, 37, is volunteering for his campaign the rest of the day and is hosting out-of-state volunteers overnight. Her husband, a Republican, also voted for Obama, she said.
Hayward, who sees Obama as a "bridge builder," took her oldest daughter, Maggie, 5, to an Obama rally in Plainfield.
"She has a lot of songs she's made up," Hayward said. "She gets it in a 5-year-old context."
Despite the crush of Obama yard signs that line her block of Washington Boulevard, Hayward said, she expects a close finish by the end of the day.
The Republican strongholds in the counties around Indianapolis have high demand for Democrat ballots.
"We've seen more Democrats so far in the first few hours than we'll usually see in a day," said election judge Barb Stauch at Avon United Methodist Church in Hendricks County.
"We've had a lot of questions about switching. People want to know if they can switch back and forth, if they can vote Democratic this time," said election clerk Cara Paasch at the church.
Democract Liisa Le, 45, voted at the church this morning. She said she was most interested in the presidential primary and the Avon School Board race.
"The issues facing this country are huge. The economy, the problems with gas, the problems with real estate, the problems with food prices ... must I go on?" said Le, a stay-at-home mother.
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