Voters Don't Let Hurricane Influence Decisions

It was very simple for many residents—they already knew who they wanted to vote for, and something like a hurricane was not going to change that.

"I don't know if the hurricane influenced other people, but it didn't influence me," said Bedminster resident Robbie Lert.

Bedminster residents Meg Bartell and Barbara Siegelman agreed.

"I don't think the hurricane affects most people," Bartell said. "It didn't affect how we vote."

Resident Nancy Simson said she would hope that the reaction to a crisis like the hurricane would be the same no matter who responded. She said she thought President Barack Obama responded well, as did Gov. Chris Christie.

"It didn't change my mind," she said. "I would hope the president would come and do what he did."

Bedminster resident Evelyn Sell said she had already made up her mind about who she was voting for before the hurricane, and she did not change her thoughts after.

"I had my mind made up," she said.

And residents said they believe it is important to vote and put your two cents in no matter what.

"In Ohio, one district was putting Obama over the top," Sell said. "Our district could put it over the top for someone."

Because the presidential vote especially is so close, Simson said, it is important to make your voice heard.

"It's so close that if you want your vote to count, you should put your two cents in," she said. "I will be surprised to see the winner."