A montage of undecided voters from Charlotte:
“I don’t believe that Romney is the right candidate, but I don’t believe Obama has deserved the right to be re-elected,” said Anita, a 64-year-old woman who took part in a focus group conducted by political messaging expert Frank Luntz Monday in an office park south of downtown Charlotte. Anita, who voted for Obama in 2008, was laid off in the economic downturn and sent out resumes for two years without finding work. Now, she volunteers for her homeowner’s association.
Holly, 42, another woman who voted for Obama, was also laid off. She has a new job now but is filled with anxiety about losing it. “I was laid off last year and it was for four months,” she said. “Now, every time I go to work, it’s how long am I going to be able to work? It’s just awful.”
Patricia is a 48-year-old Obama voter for whom daily life has been a struggle the last few years. “The reason this election is so important is it’s about everyday living,” she said. “It’s about feeding my children day to day. If we don’t do something, I can’t handle another four years like we’ve done.”
How many voters like these — and there are millions of them — are going to show up at the booth, if they show up at all, and hang the chad for Empty Chair?
At this point, the thing maybe moving most against Mitt Romney is political exhaustion. 2006 was a midterm wave election. 2008 was another wave, this time in the biggest-ever presidential election year. 2010 was yet another wave election — the unprecedented third in a row.
Can Americans summon the energy for a fourth wave election in just six years?
I’m exhausted just thinking about it.
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