John Curley


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 )

cedargrove
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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  • 333 wrote...
    xkop
    October 3, 2012 12:13 pm
    so, if i support the current American President, who was elected by the people....i should move to Europe???? and you think i need meds?? easy on the koolaid there buddy.
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  • southsoundgrl wrote...
    Not Undecided...
    October 3, 2012 12:38 pm
    Just unimpressed with both. I refuse to pick "the lesser of two evils" with my vote. I'd rather not cast one at all. I'll fill out the rest of my ballot but leave this open.
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  • Rick (4) wrote...
    @southsoundgrl
    October 3, 2012 2:55 pm
    If you leave it blank the elections office will just mark it for Obama on your behalf.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • kata wrote...
    I decided weeks ago
    October 3, 2012 1:02 pm
    Life beyond my little home just seems to be filled with people who seem to be collectively holding their breath. "After the election... after the election..." is what I hear from people weighing out business and life choices.

    I just want my ballot to show up so I can fill it out, mail it back - and be done with it.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • 333 wrote...
    circuitfr
    October 3, 2012 1:13 pm
    you're too easy. I'm not highlighting it, i'm pointing out the hypocrisy with the Republican party. Stocks go down=Obamas fault...Stocks go up=Not Obamas fault, so which is it?. As a business owner I hire the contractor based on performance. Based on the Performance at the Republican Convention, which was a complete debacle, I'll vote Democrat this time.It's called the "free market decides", sound familiar? XKOP- The theme for the RNC was "show results to the Job Creators" that's why the stock market should matter to you? right??...and the so called "job creators" are doing great! But now you say that doesn't matter. Time for you all to call Time Out one more time...right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing...what a mess
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  • GloScot wrote...
    Big questions when voting
    October 3, 2012 1:37 pm
    Does DEBT matter and that it has increased from $10 Trillion to $16 Trillion in less than four years? Does national security matter, when our ambassador is murdered in Libya and the president can't get his story straight about if the murder was a terrorist attack, like his staff says, or is just a response to a video no one saw? Does trust in the president matter when the guy can't tell the truth when those who don't get healthcare insurance would be penalized when in fact the Supreme Court says they would be TAXED? Even then, Obama countered that it was a penalty. I suppose if there are people who still are undecided, I hope they will open their eyes and see that we could at least have someone in the big chair who will shoot straight with them. I, for one, am tired of being lied to.
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  • Cbrew wrote...
    Don't let facts slow you down Gloscot
    October 3, 2012 2:15 pm
    You mention the debt, yes it matters to me, According to the Non-Partisan Congressional Budget Committee 75% of the National Debt accrued over the past 10 years is directly linked to policy changes during the Bush Administration, That's a fact look it up. Regarding the Ambassador's death, The administration's official statement said they weren't sure if it was a terrorist attack yet they were still working out what happened on the ground, it was reported that it wasn't a terrorist attack by the media since the administration hadn't said it was... You can blame Obama for that all you want if you look at the facts and hte actual statement released by the State Department, they did not say one way or another. As for the Health care, you're mincing words to try and call the man a liar, Supreme court calls it a tax, the President refered to it as a penalty, that really makes the man a liar? are you really that petty? be honest Gloscot you don't like Obama because you're a Republican and you hate to be wrong... Repubs have failed in every conceivable way and you just can't stand that.
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  • GloScot wrote...
    Boy, Cbrew,
    October 3, 2012 2:44 pm
    Are you always a jerk to anyone you debate? You can't blame Bush anymore. Obama has to stand on his record and policies and cannot. He and his Democrats are spending money hand over fist and will continue to do so. Our ambassador asked for and didn't receive the security he needed. Still, Obama conveniently blamed a YouTube video for something that was planned far in advance and was warned about by our ambassador. Obama still contradicts everyone else on what happened. Even our liberal buddies at Comedy Central are noting that. As for calling Obama a liar, yes, I will. Petty? No, sir. A penalty is one thing. A tax is another. It's important because Obama always said he wouldn't tax those who earn less than $250,000, and for him to admit that it's a tax and not a penalty would force him to admit that, sorry middle class, we're raising your taxes. And I don't like Obama. You have that right. Who said I was a Republican?
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  • JustAnotherFish wrote...
    Candidate #3
    October 3, 2012 1:40 pm
    Where's the Libertarian? I'd guess if Gary Johnson were allowed into these debates (and there's absolutely NO reason he shouldn't be there, it's disgusting...) he would wipe the floor with these two chameleonic, two-faced puppets. But we can't let any power slip from the grasp of the progress-constipating Big Two, now can we?
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  • Rick W7PSK wrote...
    I know Im undecided
    October 3, 2012 3:37 pm
    But I also know there is no way Im voting Obama

    the undecided is whether I keep my morals and vote 3rd party or Swallow hard and vote MITT just to keep my vote counting.

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