Dallas Morning News, Feb. 29, 2008
This article about concerns of voters about the economy quotes Archie Ruth Declouet, a data entry operator in the department of pathology at UTMB.
Economy's holding up, but Texans think ahead
Voters fret about future as they size up hopefuls
But there is widespread concern about a housing slump, weak retail sales and the threat of layoffs in a host of sectors.
Even if things get worse, said James Galbraith, an economist at the University of Texas, "the full effects won't set in until somewhere around 2009 or 2010."
Which is not to say that Democrats Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama are ignoring economic concerns as they crisscross Texas. Both offer wide-ranging programs to help the middle class through tax cuts, tuition credits, mortgage relief and cutting costs of health care and health insurance.
John McCain, far ahead in the race for the Republican presidential nomination, has spent much less time campaigning in Texas. He said he, too, supports lower taxes for "hardworking American families" but would also cut the corporate tax rate and preserve other business tax incentives to encourage growth.
In interviews with voters around the state, apprehension about the economic future is evident.
"It's like being on a bike. Everyone's pedaling faster, but they aren't getting any faster," said Richard Bass, a 59-year-old salesman in McKinney.
Mr. Bass said he was a Republican but planned to vote for Mr. Obama in the Democratic primary, because he doesn't want Mrs. Clinton to win.
Even people doing reasonably well today wonder how well they'll be doing in six months or a year.
"I've got a steady job. I've been here 20 years. But I don't know what's going to happen in the future," said Archie Ruth Declouet, 63, a data entry operator at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. "So many jobs have closed down. We have so many little children with no health insurance. And gasoline prices are worrisome."
She said her choice will come down to Mr. Obama or Mrs. Clinton.
Whoever wins in November will inherit a gloomier situation than the one that exists today, predicted Scott Ekblad, 54, a mechanic and owner of Rallye Auto Center in Richardson.
"About the time they take the office, the economy is all going to go to pot," he said.
His customers, he said, are feeling the shock of higher gasoline prices; as a result, they have less to spend on other things. He isn't enthusiastic about any of the candidates' proposed solutions.
"Do you see any differences between the Republicans and the Democrats?" he asked rhetorically.
If he'd asked Jim Clark of Tyler, the answer would have been, "Heck, yes."
"We've had a failed administration that has not done anything to help the working class for the last eight years," said Mr. Clark, 58, who retired in July after 39 years at the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. plant in Tyler. The plant closed in December, eliminating about 1,100 jobs.
Mr. Clark said he's leaning toward supporting Mr. Obama.
For many people on fixed incomes, rising food and prescription prices are a growing concern.
"I have to budget carefully and do comparison shopping for everything," said Diana Cruz, 51, of San Antonio, who lives on a small disability pension.
She said she'd probably vote for Mrs. Clinton but doesn't put much faith in the promises of any candidate.
"Politicians will say anything if they want to get your vote," Ms. Cruz said. "But will they come through on those promises?"
Staff writers Brendan M. Case, Matthew Haag and Theodore Kim contributed to this report.
btomaso@dallasnews.com;
dmclemore@dallasnews.com
12:00 AM CST on Friday, February 29, 2008
By BRUCE TOMASO and DAVID McLEMORE Economic issues may be of less concern to Texas voters
For Texas voters, it isn't quite the economy, stupid.
With conditions still relatively healthy here - thanks to high oil prices, a still-vibrant technology industry and strong foreign trade - pocketbook issues don't seem to loom as large for Texans as for, say, voters in Ohio, which also holds its primary Tuesday.