Presidential race, economy draw voters

Mike Brogden took his quarrel with Congressman Walter Jones to the voting booth Tuesday.

The Havelock resident said he voted in the Republican primary to oust Jones and win the 3rd District congressional nomination for Joe McLaughlin, who has campaigned as a more conservative Republican.

"Jones opposes drilling off the coast, and he was for impeaching the president," Brogden said. "The only thing he's for the military in is bringing retired dollars to our state, not active-duty dollars."

Voters trickled into the city's east precinct at the Havelock High School Performing Arts Center and the west precinct at Tucker Creek Middle School throughout the day. The high school had 317 voters by 1 p.m.. The middle school tallied 619 voters for the day, but the district had 237 cast ballots in early voting.

Many said they vote in every primary, but several voters said key races brought them to the polls. Jones and McLaughlin's Republican wrangle and the Democratic deadlock between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton for the presidential nomination seemed to lure the most people.

"I always come out to vote," said Virginia Powell. "I just wanted to have my say-so."

Larence Batts showed up at the Havelock West precinct ready to mark his ballot for Obama.

"I think we are spending way too much money on this war," he said. "We need to focus on America. We've got the economy, and gas prices are out of control. We need a change. We need something fresh, and I think (Obama) is that man. I love Hillary, too, but I just think he should be the next president."

Batts said he also chose Beverly Perdue for governor despite her rivals' negative advertisements.

Joseph Robinson, who voted at the high school, said the question of race versus gender in the Obama-Clinton contest is irrelevant.

"When you vote, you vote for the right person, not because they're female, not because they're male," he said. "That doesn't mean a thing."

Craven County polling places opened at 6:30 a.m., and election workers said the early morning hours were among the busiest. Tucker Creek reported a brief lunch-hour rush.

Susie Bare, chief judge for the East Havelock precinct, said 360 people had participated in one-stop early voting or filed absentee ballots.

"It's been steady," she said. "We've done pretty good. We have younger voters and more new registrations this year."

To some, voting is more than a right. It's a privilege.

A retired U.S. Marine, Theodore Jones said the freedom to choose leaders in democratic elections is one every American should exercise.

"If you have a vote and you're not going to vote, there ain't no use being here," he said.

Ken Buday contributed to this story.