John Curley: How can any voter still be undecided?

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)

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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.

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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