Mar 18, 2008 5:29 pm US/Eastern
Poll Divides Candidates On Race, Age
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
Is the race for the Democratic nomination turning into a racial divide?
A new Quinnipiac University poll gave Clinton the edge with likely white primary voters in Pennsylvania and Obama the lead with blacks.
If race, as the poll indicated, is what would divide voters, those CBS 3 spoke with said it is a bad way to make a critical decision.
"I think it's a bad thing because I think we need to look at their specific positions on certain issues like the war in Iraq, education," student Shashika Stanislaus said.
At Temple University there was a voter registration effort. The poll indicated Obama has more support from voters under 45. Why?
"I think Obama is a little bit cooler. He seems to be more hip and in touch with the younger folks," student Kyle Lewis said.
Villanova students weighed in too.
"For me it's more of the personality factor. I think Obama is extremely charismatic," student Megan Lierley said.
Clinton has more support from voters older than 45 and CBS 3 found more mature voters said they focus on the issues not race. The economy was number one followed by the war in Iraq.
"Whoever can bring that to a conclusion as soon as possible that's who I'll probably end up voting for," Joan Keller of Devon said.
"Gas prices are high and we're heading to a recession so I think either way we're looking for a change," Charles Thomas of Coatesville said.
The main message CBS 3 took away from reaction to this poll is that people don't put much stock in them.
"They both have come back from being down in the polls to actually winning the race," Paul Karagiannis said.
Voters said they are more concerned with the impact their own vote will have on history.
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