Five Towners Split on Presidential Candidates

President Barack Obama and former Gov. Mitt Romney supporters were pretty much evenly divided in the Five Towns, as evidenced by several who spoke to Patch as they exited the polls.

Many voters knew little about the local elections, but voted for whoever was running on their party's line. Most stuck with the party they have always supported, even those who were not especially inspired by their party’s candidate.

Sarah Diaz, 22: “This is the second time I’m voting, and I voted for Obama. I voted for him the first time too, because he promised change. Also, I guess I’ve always been a Democrat, because my parents are Democrats.”

Alex M., 22: "I'm voting Republican. I'm having problems getting a job out of college and it's not as promising as it should be. I don't feel enough is done with national security. We can't be too safe." She added that the federal government should stay out of social issues such as marriage rights for gay couples and abortion and focus on more important issues.

Rev. Owen Thompson: “For president, I voted for Obama. I didn’t vote for him with as much enthusiasm this time. I think there were some things he dropped the ball on, as far as doing healthcare instead of doing a jobs bill first. But I can’t rectify the Republican ideology when it comes to issues of the poor and the working class. And when you look at [Hurricane Sandy], the social Darwinism that they tend to espouse, it makes you wonder what the response would have been if FEMA were cut."

Robert Leer: "I’m not even a Republican — I’m really a conservative. Obama is so far to the left that I really can’t stomach him. At least Bill Clinton would talk to Republicans. Obama won’t even talk to the opposite side of the aisle. And even that side of the aisle is too liberal for me. I’m worried about my kid and if she has kids — the tax burden we’re putting on them is unbearable. Obama has put us so far in debt. If he wins again, I’m moving to Taiwan. As far as Roe v. Wade, no one is going to overturn that. The problem is that the Fed has too much power. This should have been a state by state thing. If you want an abortion, move to a state that has it. It’s a myth that Republicans don’t like women."

Alfred Garry, 52: "After careful consideration, I voted the Democratic ticket. I would give [Obama's first term] a B. I had higher hopes, but I feel he was the best of the available candidates. I would be aligned with Romney on social issues, not fiscal issues. Mr. Romney seems to be a Reagan trickle-down economist. It's never trickled down to me so why should I start now? The direction of the president is better than the doom and gloom of letting the poor fend for themselves."

Patrice Vardara: “I’m voting for Romney because of the economy. I’ve always been a Republican, so I would probably vote that way no matter what.”

Who did you vote for and why? Let us know in the comments section below.