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Highlands Today

Who Do We Like?

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By Gary Pinnell | Highlands Today

Published: December 29, 2007

SEBRING — Love Hillary or hate her, Sen. Clinton's name was on everyone's lips.

Likely voters in the presidential primary were interviewed Friday morning at Lakeshore Mall.

Clinton has turned into a politician well known by her first name.

"I haven't really honed-in on anyone," said Francis Carson, a registered non-partisan who's from upstate New York. "But it won't be Hillary.

"I like Obama, I just don't think he's got the experience," Carson said. He winters in Lake Placid because, unlike his home state Lake Placid, the Florida lake gets no snow.

Harold Hoxit, also of Lake Placid, feels just the opposite about Clinton. "I haven't made up my mind, exactly, but I like Hillary. She's a Democrat for one thing, and I like her husband. He did a good job while he was in there, and I think she would too. I think it's time for a change."

Hoxit won't vote for Barack Obama. "He's too young."

Lawanda Coleman also hasn't chosen a candidate yet, but she says, "Probably Hillary. Because she's a woman."

Coleman is black. Why not choose Obama because he's black? "I really haven't paid much attention," she confessed.

Wilma Musselman was sitting in front of Starbucks, wishing the new Wal-Mart would open in Avon Park. She's from Goshen, Ind.

"Not Hillary. I wouldn't vote for her at all," Musselman said, pointing out why Clinton is the country's most polarizing political candidate.

She's really not sure who'll get her vote in the Indiana primary.

"Who's that name who's going to run as an independent?" she asked, without ever coming up with a name.

Carson and Hoxit hope the new president will stop the war in Iraq.

"Get that war over with," Hoxit emphasized.

Musselman is more concerned with illegal immigration. "A lady in my church was killed by an illegal," she said. A drunk driver caused an automobile crash, then left the scene. He was later arrested.

Coleman, who lives in Clewiston, isn't sure if she'll vote in the 2008 race. The others definitely will, but none of the four were excited.

"I just wish we had a better ..." Musselman started to answer, "no, not really, no." She just can't warm-up to a candidate, although she prefers Mike Huckabee over Rudy Giuliani.

Carson feels the same. "I haven't found a candidate yet."

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