SUNBURY — While many Valley Democrats insist they are embracing a message of unity as Pennsylvania’s primary election nears, results of a telephone survey of randomly selected registered Democrats reveal disparate opinions about the Democratic candidates.

The telephone survey, conducted by The Daily Item Tuesday through Thursday, asked registered Democrats whether they would vote for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, or Sen. Barack Obama, or whether they were still undecided.

Results from 150 registered Democrats who responded were counted. According to responses, 61 Democrats said they would vote for Clinton, 38 for Obama, and 51 were undecided.

A sampling of their comments:



Hope springs eternal:

Obama supporters

Neil M. Arnold, of Sunbury, said he’s voting for the Illinois senator because “We need change, and from what I’ve seen of Obama, I feel he is not only the man to make all the changes he’s talked about, but also to keep peace across party lines.

“I wasn’t going to vote this election,” Arnold said. “The parties have become so divisive and vicious. To me there is only one party — ‘We the People.’ But I have confidence that Obama can unite across party lines and get things done. He has a way of being persuasive. I liked how he handled the Reverend Wright situation, by saying he disagreed with a lot of his comments. What I see in Obama is a man who has done a great deal of good things, and watching him, I see that he’s shown some Christian character, which I appreciate.”

For Owen T. Anderson, of Lewisburg, choosing between the two candidates “is a relatively close call. Either of them would be better than the present office-holder. My main concern with Hillary is the inevitable complications that would be caused by having a former president, Bill Clinton, living in the same house.

“I’ve been very impressed by Obama,” he said. “He embodies all that we want and need in a leader. He has a great background, good education and great presence. It seems like voting for him would be a good idea.”

Joan M. Dillon, of Herndon, agrees. “I like Obama’s attitude,” Dillon said. “I believe he will do what’s right for the country.”

Eileen M. Keefer, of Milton, strongly believes that Obama “would take us all to a new level of service that would be a breakthrough for our country. Sadly, we have veered into a reverence for power and money that is sucking the life out of all of us,” she said.

“I don’t know if there is a solution for our problems,” Keefer said, “but I’ve read Obama’s book and I have great hope for him as a leader. Right now he’s saying what he has to say to be elected, but I believe he is the right man for the job. I’m against a double shift for the Clintons,” she said. “It reeks of royalty. As for McCain, well, he’s a Republican. And they’ve dug us so deep in a hole that I don’t know if we can ever recover. I wouldn’t vote for a Republican.”



The experience factor: Clinton supporters

Karen Mae Geiger, of Cooper Township, Montour County, said “Hillary has already been in the White House, so she knows that it’s not going to be an easy job. She knows what she’s up against. Both Hillary and Obama are well educated, but I feel she has more experience.

“I believe at some point Hillary and Bill have talked about the issues that are confronting us and what to do about them. That’s comforting. My husband is a McCain supporter. We both agree that whomever gets in, there are major problems to contend with.”

Darlis E. Varano, of Danville, is also a strong Clinton supporter.

“She’s the one,” Varano said. “I like the way she approaches all the issues. I feel she has more experience and maturity than Senator Obama.”

Randy Lee Baker, of Mifflinburg, is “fed up with George Bush. I’m voting for Hillary because if she is half of what her husband, Bill, was when he was president, we’ll start meeting the challenges we have. She’ll deal with the deficit. And jobs will come back.”

Kathy A. Benfer, of Lewisburg, said she thinks “Hillary will do the job. She has the experience and the knowledge on the issues that I’m most concerned with, the economy and gas prices.

“I would feel more confident with her in the White House than with Obama. There is still a lot I don’t know about him,” she said.

“I feel we need change and she is the person with the most experience to accommodate that change.”

Cynthia M. Kopyscianski, of Milton, said flat out, “Anybody but Obama. I don’t like many of the things I’ve heard him saying.”

She is “leaning toward voting for Hillary. My mind isn’t totally made up, but I believe she has good plans and I’ve heard a lot of positive things from her. I think Hillary is more for the American people.”

Margaret A. Young, of Sunbury, feels that “having been in the White House while her husband was president, Hillary is more experienced in dealing with the issues that confront us. When Bill Clinton was president, we were in the black, economically. Now, we’re way in the red. I believe Hillary has the experience to deal with our problems. She cares about lower-income people. And, she has a level head, which she’ll need because I expect the fall campaign to be dirty with a lot of mud-slinging.”

Gail V. Deans, of Milton, expressed several reasons why she will be voting for Clinton on Tuesday, “although if Obama wins the nomination, I will vote for him. They are both good candidates.

“Essentially, I want Hillary Clinton to win because she is a woman,” she said.

“She is very bright, highly qualified and certainly has proved she is tough enough to do the job. She puts to bed the idea that a woman isn’t strong enough to be president. We have terrible problems to deal with, the war, the economy. Because of her experience in Washington, I feel like she has the better chance to do things successfully.

“That said, I realize there is a wave of excitement among young people for Obama. They love him. And if I were younger, I might love him too. The Democrats are making history in this election, and either a black man or a woman is going to be our candidate. I’m glad I’m alive to see this happen.”



Two days left: Still undecided

Frank G. Clark, of Lewisburg, registered as a Democrat, he said, “but I’m really an independent. I don’t care for the Clintons so I wouldn’t vote for Hillary, and I don’t think Obama can be elected.”

Richard O. Benner, of Mount Pleasant Mills, isn’t happy with either Democratic candidate.

“I’m so disgusted by a campaign that has gone on for over a year,” he said. “There’s not a nickel’s worth of difference between the two of them. At this point I’m still undecided. I will vote on Tuesday. I take voting seriously. But I might not vote for either of them, just for the local candidates.”

David M. Besek, of Kreamer, also has great concerns about the candidates on the ticket.

“When I see the escalating price of gas and food, I wonder where we are headed. I see major problems ahead. Then, I look at the candidates. Hillary and Obama are for abortions. I’m not. McCain wants to do the same things as Bush, and I don’t think that would be a bargain.

“Look at the multi-million dollars spent on the campaign. Think how much better that money could have been spent to assist the needy. The homeless. At this point I’m undecided as to how I’ll vote on Tuesday.”

Sharon L. Booth, of Lewisburg, is unsure about whom she’ll vote for on Tuesday.

“One moment I lean towards Hillary, then I hear something else and I’m for Obama. I know that this country needs change and there are difficult issues that have to be faced: the war, health care, unemployment, the recession, gas prices. My question is, who is the best person to deal with those issues? I will vote on Tuesday. Guess I’ll make my decision then.”

n E-mail comments to rdandes@dailyitem.com