I was out by the pool at my condo complex on a sunny 80 degree Florida day (just to rub it in a little to all of those in the War of Northern Aggression states) and struck up a conversation with a woman sitting nearby. We talked a while about the usual things you talk about with a stranger by the pool when the subject came to politics. She asked me who I was voting for and I hesitated to reply, not wanting to turn a pleasant conversation into something ugly on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. She said it's ok and that she hasn't decided yet. I realized the opportunity to win a vote in a state where every vote counts and began a polite discourse on the reasons for voting for Obama.
More after the continental crossing...
I mentioned several of the big issues in this election that those who follow politics like we do here on Dailykos already know well, issues like preservation of Social Security and Medicare, women's issues of fair pay, reproductive rights, understanding of middle class concerns, character issues with Romney, Bain, etc.
None of these issues were really registering with her or persuading her. She expressed some disappointment with Obama on the economy to which I replied how things would be much worse with Romney's economic plan and how Congress has shut down almost all attempts at economic revival. Still there was no sign that I was making any progress, although admittedly I'm a poor salesman. She was probably in her late 30s and had two young kids, a son and daughter probably 8 to 10 years old, playing in the pool. She said, "I could really care less for myself. All I want is for them (pointing at the kids) to have a good future and I'm really worried". She could be described as a low-information voter, not because she was ignorant, but because her life revolves around her work and the kids and not the daily political ups and downs of the campaign season.
Without much forethought as to the starkness of what I was about to say, I said, "Your kids will be coming into young adulthood in the next 4 to 8 years. Which candidate, and which party, will most likely send your son or daughter off to die overseas in an unnecessary war?" She was silent for about five seconds and then replied, "You got me. I'm voting for Obama". Even though she wasn't up to speed or up to date on anything political and likely never has been, she intuitively knew which candidate would most value the life of her children. Even though her children would not be old enough to serve in the next few years, she also intuitively understood that wars last a long time and other people's kids that are old enough might have to fight unnecessary wars and empathized.
I wrote this diary in case you come across another undecided voter in the same situation. The question I asked her might be of value in winning a vote.