US poll ‘battleground’ voices

Election signs greet voters at a polling station in Manassas, Virginia.

Al Jazeera talked to voters at a polling station in Manassas in the key battleground state of Virginia to find out what issues were on their minds and how they affected their decisions.

I voted Democratic.

I really respect Obama’s stance – particuarly on education and the economy.

He wants to improve teachers’ pay and that will also help the economy rather than just helping the individual and that’s something I really support.

On foreign policy, I think we don’t need to hold Iraq’s hand any more, we need to help the Iraqis learn to stand on their own two feet.

I know 9/11 was a big thing but it was seven years ago – let’s move on and build a better economy.

I voted for John McCain.

He has the experience on national security that America needs right now.

His experience in the military is such that there is no better person to be the commander-in-chief of our military.

We need to clean up in Iraq and there are other issues brewing, like Iran.

Joe Biden [Obama’s running-mate] said that in the next six months there’s going to be some significant events that will challenge our president and McCain is the better one to handle that.

I also agree with McCain on issues of abortion and gay marriage.

On the economy, I think that raising taxes is a bad idea.

I voted for Obama.

I like his style – he has been much more straightforward in his answers to questions than John McCain.

The economy is the key issue for me.

I am 56 and am about to retire and I have seen my pension plan dwindle away – it’s ridiculous.

In Iraq as well, we have all our troops there when the the real problem is in Afghanistan.

I hope that Obama wins but at least I can say I have done my part.

I voted for John McCain and Sarah Palin.

I agree with their policies on gay marriage and abortion – McCain is a man of integrity.

He also brings experience to the role that Barack Obama does not.

He can also deal with the leaders of terrorist countries in a way that Obama could not.

McCain is also not for big government – I want to decide where I spend my money rather than giving it to the government in taxes – I am not a charity.

Sarah Palin is a person who will do what she says she will do, and she has more experience than Obama.

I voted for Obama.

I couldn’t stand the thought of a Republican administration being in power for a further four years.

As a teacher, I want to see the ‘No Child Left Behind’ act [a Bush administration law that sets educational goals for children] changed as it sets unrealistic goals for students.

In terms of foreign policy, I admit that McCain does know of a lot of world leaders.

But one of the things I like about Obama is that he has a policy that is more than just ‘Bomb the heck out of ’em’.