Barack Obama captured the support of a White, working-class Republican in the Indiana Heartland by reaching her where it matters most.
Much has been written about Democratic Party Presidential Candidate Barack Obama's desire to win over White, working-class rural voters in battleground states. Today's article will be a short diary about how one Bush voter and lifelong Republican became a supporter of Obama's three weeks out from the 2008 Presidential Election.
Holly (last name redacted) is a White, working class wife and mother of two young children. Holly makes her home in Greenwood, Indiana. She works for one of the world's leading telecoms - and by her own admission, she is a Republican and was a supporter of current President George W. Bush.
Holly and I work at the same business. In fact, her desk is about 15 feet from mine. As you can imagine, she gets a hearty helping of politics debate, discussion, and information related to the upcoming election. Until very recently, I was not aware that she was a Republican - or that she had been listening and following the election.
About a week ago, Holly - who usually didn't interject into the sometimes-heated discussion about politics in our office - turned at least four heads on our team when she made the following statement:
I'm going to vote for Barack Obama
At first, I thought I was hearing things. Holly had spoken so fondly of President Bush - saying that although she had some issues with his politics, he was a guy that you could have a beer with. Surely, this would mean eschewing the supremely intelligent, educated Obama for a more homely type of candidate like McCain, right?
Wrong
I asked Holly what led to her decision to support Barack Obama in this election. Her response not only debunked what many have come to believe about registered voters in her demographic group, but also went a long way toward explaining why Obama has garnered such overwhelming support leading up to Election Day. It is simplicity in its finest form.
Holly explained that she wanted to make an educated decision. She said that she had always been a Republican, but that her education regarding the issues subsequent to both hearing the candidates' views and reading their public policy positions led her to conclude that Barack Obama "is the man for the job". So stalwart is her support for Obama that she now displays an Obama for America sign at her desk.
Analysts have often wondered how a Blood-Red state like Indiana could turn so quickly into a dead-even battleground state in a single election cycle. Holly's path to supporting Obama should serve to educate us all.
Indiana is a working-class state through-and-through. It is, by and large, socially conservative within the vast rural areas that blanket the state. It is a state that has been slow to embrace change throughout its history. But it is also a state with workers struggling to pay bills and keep good jobs. Its people are beginning to take notice of who is standing on their side and who pays their deep concerns lip service. The voters of this state, Democratic, Republican, and Independent alike, have made a conscious decision to forget what they knew about politics and vote based on the principles, values, and public policy solutions of each candidate.
To that end, Barack Obama has turned this previous Republican state into a microcosm of what is happening across the country. Previous Republican states line Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia, Florida, Nevada, Missouri, Iowa, and Colorado are now supporting the Democratic Party candidate for President. Indiana is moving toward Obama as well. Holly's story is compelling and speaks volumes about her intelligence, judgment, and open-mindedness. But more than that, her example is further proof that working-class voters are seeing through the smoke and mirrors and supporting candidates not based on their skin color or personal attacks, but rather based on which candidate identifies and promises to solve the public policy problems that face the working class in America.
http://democratictribune.com/
UPDATE
You asked, I delivered!
Holly has responded to the request for her specific issues of concern with the following:
I am most concerned about jobs, energy costs, the ability to pay bills, and the ability to provide health care for all children. It is not their fault that the economy is the way it is - and they should not be punished for being ill.
Folks, now you can see why I am honored and proud to call Holly my good friend...