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John Curley: How can any voter still be undecided?

BY Josh Kerns  on October 3, 2012 @ 9:26 am (Updated: 11:12 am - 10/3/12 )

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Crews work during a rehearsal at the University of Denver in Denver, where the first presidential debate between President Barack Obama and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is scheduled for Wednesday night. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)

Listener alert: Hear tonight's presidential debate on KIRO Radio and AM 770 The Truth at 6:00-7:30pm. Stay tuned for complete analysis following the debate.

While 50 million people are expected to tune in to Wednesday night's presidential debate, KIRO Radio's John Curley wonders if there's really a point.

Curley says the candidates all too often avoid answering the moderator's questions, and instead veer off into overly rehearsed talking points.

"So you never really feel like you're getting anything out of it . And of the 50 million people that will watch, it's like a boxing match," Curley says. "I like the guy in the red shorts I like the guy in the blue shorts. And for whatever reason you like the guy, you're just waiting to see your guy land a punch on the other guy."

Curley also wonders how any voter can actually still be undecided and swayed by the debates.

"This stupid process has been going on, it feels like, for seven years and people have been that disengaged that they haven't made up their mind yet?" he asks. "And if you could be so easily swayed by a couple of crappy debates, do we really want you voting in the first place?"

So who are the undecided voters? Recent Reuters/Ipsos polling data says they're about six percent of the electorate, predominately female, white, lacking a college education, and earning less than $25,000.

>>>Tom Tangney: What to watch for in presidential debate

Even though they're the scorn of many pundits and media, including Curley, they're a prime target for both candidates, especially since there is a higher concentration in the Upper Midwest, including the key swing states of Ohio and Wisconsin.

"How do you not have an opinion yet?" asks Curley.

Romney pollster Neil Newhouse says it's because many are far more concerned with things that directly impact their daily lives.

"Overwhelmingly, they are concerned with their family budgets, not the national budget," Newhouse tells Reuters. "They are concerned about putting food on the table or gas in the tank. They haven't tuned into the campaign yet because they are struggling with their daily lives. They are living one paycheck away from going off the financial cliff."

Do you fall in line with Dave Ross, Michael Medved, Luke Burbank, or Dori Monson on political issues? Find out how they're voting in the MyNorthwest.com Voter's Guide

Josh Kerns, MyNorthwest.com Reporter
Josh Kerns is co-host of KIRO Radio's Seattle Sounds (Saturday nights 7-8) and a digital content producer for MyNorthwest.com.
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Comments (24)


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  • Lonestar wrote...
    Give Obama a chance to finish what he started
    October 3, 2012 10:06 am
    America is not yet bankrupt. Another four years should do the trick. Of course it won't be Obama II's fault. He inherited a lousy economy from Obama I.
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  • cdbtx wrote...
    Ok.. Lonestar.. that was great
    October 3, 2012 10:09 am
    and made me laugh...

    Have to agree that the majority of voters have already made up their mind...

    It strikes me that this is no longer a Presidential Debate, but some new Media sponsored "Reality Show"

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  • Pete in Seattle wrote...
    People who don't evaluate options
    October 3, 2012 10:26 am
    will never change their minds. The question should not be "How can any voter still be undecided" but "Has every voter carefully examined each candidate and fully understood the issues being discussed during the campaign?". As a society we are no longer content to let a process play out. We want to know on election night who won, even though the process says otherwise. Now we want to know weeks before the election takes place, just as we want to know who the candidates will be before the conventions are held. It's really no different from saying we want to know which stock will double before the end of the year so we can buy it, and when it doesn't happen during the first week we dump it and look for another. The process of electing a president is that the states select (notice the lack of the term "vote for") electors who will then cast ballots for president and vice president. While people think technology has made this an obsolete method the founding fathers had other reasons in mind, not the least of which was to discourage charismatic charlatans from going straight to the public and then assembling too much power in office. WE elect electors who can better evaluate the merits of each candidate and look below the public cash and flash to determine the best person for the job.
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  • elky6x6 wrote...
    They are undecided because
    October 3, 2012 10:34 am
    Not many people trust the media anymore with there spin and what they choose to show all of us and what not to show. They have abused there power so much that 65% think they are trying to help Obama win. The approval rating of the media is at a all time low almost as low as the congress ratings. It is more clear now than ever. So yes some are undecided until they see for themselves as it comes out of there mouth what the candidates believe and think. Let's just see if the questions are relevant tonight I hope so.
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  • Cbrew wrote...
    There are a few undecided i'm sure, but They shouldn't be, Obama should win in a Land slide
    October 3, 2012 10:51 am
    Based on these facts, Obama should be re-elected... since he took office -the Stock Market is up 60% the S&P is up 75% and Nasdaq has doubled. -When Obama took office the economy was losing 800,000 jobs per month, we have now seen 30 consecutive months of private sector job growth- The Banking and auto industries (along with the jobs they support) were saved. -The Affordable Care Act adresses the greatest concern to our economic future (HEALTH CARE COSTS) . -Since Kennedy was inaugurated 42 million jobs have been created over 23 years of Democratic administrations vs 24 Million Jobs created under 28 years of Republican Administrations. (who's really creating jobs?) -According to the Non-Partisan Congressional budget office 78% of the increase in the federal deficit over the last decade are due to policy changes during the Bush Administration (who really cares about reducing the deficit?) - Furthermore Romney's plan to give tax breaks to the Rich and expect THAT encourage job growth is a joke, the evidence points to the opposite in fact... Our economy Boomed in the 90's following a Tax increase on the top wage earners by both President Bush Sr. and Clinton. The evidence shows that Romney is wrong on the economy... shows that Republicans have been wrong throughout history on the Economy... The facts are undeniable.
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  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    Beavis and Butthead? No!
    October 3, 2012 10:53 am
    I am voting for President Romney. Beavis and Butthead are already in and the last 4 years of them seems like a lifetime!
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  • clevesside wrote...
    The opportunity for sudden surprise......
    October 3, 2012 11:04 am
    ....is the sole reason for this tired s show. Curley is correct in that most already know who these candidates are. But a degree of unexpected actions and behavioral quirks suddenly make this worth looking at, as much value as ogling a car wreck, just because it happens. Would one of these guys push an unexpected button?? Are they really disguised aliens?! Would Nixon sweat or Bush #1 space out?? Would Carter get edgy (he didn't like questions, period)??Would Reagan NOT say "well..." for each answer? You won't know until after the fact.
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  • HLC wrote...
    cbrew you should take your comedy show on the road.
    October 3, 2012 11:12 am
    Maybe the view or letterman could take your brand of reality but the american people wouldn't. Don't believe all the media polls. They are lieing to you, just like your leader.
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  • Cbrew wrote...
    HLC - So facts are just a brand of reality?
    October 3, 2012 12:59 pm
    Those facts i posted are posted on this website. These facts are not of my creation they are legitimate, fact check me if you want. If they are lying why don't you provide the "real" numbers from a legit source? Sorry if the numbers don't say what you want them to, doesn't make them any less true.
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  • 333 wrote...
    Dow Jones
    October 3, 2012 11:25 am
    When it dropped 300+ points after Obamas first 100 days, everyone on the Right said, "see see, this is Obama! worst president ever". Even Dori said on his show that day, "How's that Obama working out now?" Well now the Dow Jones has completely recovered? So where is everyone??? Listen,it's over Republicans, your party is a mess!They're out of touch and have a terrible track record. Mitt??? really??
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  • BarnDerk wrote...
    predominately female, white, lacking a college education, and earning less than $25,000.
    October 3, 2012 12:08 pm
    It looks like Obama is really campaigning to this demographic, with appearances on the view, letterman and speaking of his relationship with Michele. This demographic eats that stuff up. Who cares what his policies are?
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