First And Main
Leading up to the 2012 presidential election, Morning Edition visits communities in swing states that are predictably unpredictable when it comes to voting. They're at the intersection of Republican and Democratic, rich and poor, old and young. Each journey begins at an iconic American corner: First and Main streets.
What Matters To Swing-State Voters
()In the run-up to the presidential election, Morning Edition visited communities in swing states — in fact, in swing counties — that are predictably unpredictable when it comes to voting. We wanted to hear from voters where they live — to understand what's shaping their thinking this election year.
Voters In Swing Counties Revisit Election Issues
()What do voters in three swing counties have to say now that the presidential election is over?
Presidential Candidates Set Their Sights On Colorado's Latinos
()The state has seen a tremendous amount of growth in the Latino population in the past 10 years.
Larimer County, Colo.
It's All Politics
Presidential Candidates Set Their Sights On Colorado's Latinos
October 11, 2012 Some Latino voters in Larimer County say they support President Obama because of his policies on immigration and education. But a Latino Republican says he thinks the GOP shares the values of "faith, family, freedom" with the Latino community.
It's All Politics
Colorado Students Look To Vote For 'A Better Future'
October 10, 2012 Colorado State University students say they are keenly aware that the current job market isn't a good one for newly minted college graduates, and they express worry over the size of the deficit.
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Colorado Voters Get Revved Up Over Energy Policy
October 3, 2012 Some voters in the swing state's Larimer County say too much federal regulation is keeping the U.S. overly reliant on foreign oil. Others argue the government should help businesses move toward sustainability.
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Colorado's Undecided Voters Are A Hot Election Commodity
October 2, 2012 Colorado's nine electoral votes are up for grabs and in a state that is one-third Republican, one-third Democrat and one-third unaffiliated. It's that unaffiliated vote that has the presidential candidates returning to the state again and again.
Winnebago County, Wis.
First And Main
Wis. Business Owner Relates To Romney's Resume
August 23, 2012 At her family's restaurant on Lake Winnebago, Linda Wendt oversees a staff of almost 50 people. And that, more than anything, has made her feel a connection to Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney.
First And Main
Wis. State Senator Connects Her Politics To Her Past
August 22, 2012 Jessica King's political views are rooted in her firsthand experience with social services, having grown up as a ward of the state. She was swept into office during the wave of special recall votes in Wisconsin, and says her constituents are fed up with obstructionism in Washington.
First And Main
In Wis. Swing County, Voters Criticize 'Handouts'
August 21, 2012 Many voters in Winnebago County feel that under President Obama, the government has tried to do too much. "I'm not a big fan of how big the government's gotten or how many people are living off the government now," says farmer Charlie Knigge.
First And Main
Weary Wis. Union Workers Face Another Campaign
August 20, 2012 In the lakeside city of Oshkosh, a group of union workers say they're tired but ready to keep fighting. They've been through months of bitter battles over state employees' collective-bargaining rights — including a failed attempt to recall Gov. Scott Walker.
Hillsborough County, Fla.
First And Main
An Undecided Florida Voter Faces Emotional Decision
August 10, 2012 Four years ago, Wanda Kos voted for Barack Obama. Now, she says, she's on the fence. And her decision has taken on an added layer since 2008: Her son just joined the Army, so she'll be casting a ballot for his commander in chief.
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Why Plant City, Fla., Is A Can't-Miss On The Campaign Trail
August 9, 2012 It's in a swing county in a swing state. It's easy to get to, right off Interstate 4. And did we mention it's known for its strawberries — including strawberry milkshakes? If that wasn't enough to draw politicians, it also blends the nostalgia of Florida's past with its rapidly changing future.
First And Main
Complications, Contradictions In A Fla. Swing County
August 9, 2012 The biggest single issue for Florida nurse practitioner Sofia Martinez is her support of the DREAM Act. But she plans to vote for Republican Mitt Romney, who has said he would veto the measure. Her view might seem full of contradictions, but that's common among voters in Hillsborough County, as they consider complex issues.
First And Main
Florida Market Draws Candidates Like Bees To Nectar
August 8, 2012 The Parkesdale Market, located on a key highway in the swing state of Florida, attracts more than just hungry customers. The Meeks family, which runs the farmers market, talks about their visits from presidential candidates past and what concerns them in this election year.
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On The Road In Florida: Hard Times, Politics And Smoked Bat
August 7, 2012 Hot Rod's BBQ is hard to miss in somewhat sleepy Lutz, Fla. — part of a swing county that could be key to deciding the presidential election. Along with his new hot sauce, "Hot Rod" Gaudin served up his political views. And got a vegetarian journalist to try what the menu billed as smoked bat.
First And Main
Race An Issue That Simmers In Florida Battleground
August 7, 2012 The economy is the central issue in this fall's campaign. But when you talk with people in Hillsborough County, a key swing area that includes Tampa, they link the economy to other issues, including race. In the diverse county, residents see race affecting them in different ways.
First And Main
Even In Florida Swing County, Minds Seem Made Up
August 6, 2012 In Hillsborough County, the way people voted in 2008 — for or against President Obama — signals their perception of everything that's happened since and, usually, the way they intend to vote. In this swing county hit hard by the financial crisis, the rarest voter is a person who's changed his mind.
