SC voters: We’ll tune into ’16 presidential race in fall

CAMDEN AND NEWBERRY The conversation was all about produce not politics at the Camden City Market late last month.

The market was filled with people searching the aisles for peaches, tomatoes and corn, but no one wanted to talk about the 2016 presidential campaign.

Three minutes down Broad Street, at the Kangaroo Express Dennis McCracken, was taking a smoke break.

“There are just too many candidates to review,” said McCracken, 45, the assistant manager.

In the two weeks since, the field only has grown more crowded. Five Democrats and 15 Republicans say they are running for the 2016 presidential nomination. Republican Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin was the latest, announcing Monday.

“I keep up with the news,” said Deborah Holland, owner of Emmie’s Designs, a custom clothing and gift store in Camden. But, Holland added, she is waiting until November – a year before the 2016 election – to pay attention to the candidates’ campaigns.

Sharon Delaney, 59, and Melynda Ruff, 40, teachers at Lugoff-Elgin Middle School in Lugoff, don’t expect the real campaigning to start until November, three months before the Feb. 20 S.C. GOP primary.

“There is no substance,” says Delaney, referring to the campaigns.

Clinton stirs opinions

While the candidate doubtless would object to that critique, there are some differences.

Among the 20 candidates running for president, for example, are two women: Democrat Hillary Clinton, former first lady, U.S. senator and secretary of state, and Republican Carly Fiorina, former chief executive of Hewlett-Packard Co.

The two women can evoke strong opinions.

“I don’t trust Hillary Clinton,” said Camden’s Valerie Wagoner, 59, while holding her poodle puppy.

Others say Clinton – the favorite to win the Democratic nomination – will not necessarily benefit from the support of women voters.

“I won’t vote for a woman just because she is a woman,” said Angela Tucker, a 36-year-old assistant manager of Exxon in Camden. “I want to know the issues she stands for.”

“For a woman to be president, she has to have a business background like Carly Fiorina,” said Camden’s McCracken.

Others say Clinton – who like Democratic President Barack Obama is trying to become a “first;” in her case, the first female president – could suffer at the polls because of prejudice.

“I don’t think Hillary Clinton can attract the entire female population because we live in a sexist country and, normally, people vote based off of what their family votes,” said 19-year-old Sassy Chastain, a Columbia College junior and Waffle House waitress.

‘Know your information’

While they aren’t quite ready to talk politics, residents of Newberry and Camden do have some advice for the candidates and voters.

“Know your information,” says Randy Berry, the 58-year-old owner of Books on Main in Newberry.

Conversations about politics, health care, security and education are important to S.C. residents while the nation spends its last year with President Obama.

“Health care is the most important issue on my mind right now,” said Camden’s Tucker, who worries about her future well-being.

“I care about small businesses, education and the economy,” says Camden’s Holland.

Berry wants politicians to “focus on the issues” while they are campaigning, instead of attacking one another in ads and debates.

“It’s up to the voters to know their information and know what issues politicians stand for,” says Berry.

He and others also say voters have an obligation to be informed.

“Don’t let other people think for you,” Elizabeth Hipp, the 53-year-old owner of the Elizabeth’s on Main women’s clothing store in Newberry, said of S.C. voters.

Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/news/politics-government/politics-columns-blogs/the-buzz/article27336595.html#storylink=cpy

#httpvimeocom38805205