You're watching...
Listening to the Voters: Washington County, Pennsylvania
Details
-
Description
Rural area shifted from blue to red in 2008 presidential election
- Duration 4:20
- Date Jun 15, 2012
Advertisement
Clips
Also in this playlist...
Listening to Voters
Auto-advance: ON
Auto-advance
Transcript
This transcript is automatically generated
Talking to voters in Ohio governor Romney President Obama we were listening to voters.
Throughout the country if you followed our series here we've been to Ohio so far we've been to the suburbs of Orlando and now we take you to the state of Pennsylvania.
Which Republicans would love to put in play but it's been tricky Democrats have dominated the keystone state for a couple decades now.
That was the case in 2008 when Barack Obama G beat my John McCain in that state by eleven points.
We chose accounting right here southwest of Pittsburgh this is Washington County.
For the first time since 1972.
And Richard Nixon Washington County voted for a Republican.
John McCain won that counted by four points 52%.
To 48%.
Why would that be.
We went -- to find out why and what we found is one issue.
That dominance.
Washington Pennsylvania was built on the back of -- It's the fuel in the engine that's driven the local economy but coal has long been maligned as a dirty source of energy.
And that's something -- Harvey's been fighting for years he's the CEO of consul energy up one of the largest employers in the counting.
What do you think give the current American energy policy I think the current American energy policy.
It is political.
And -- we're not looking -- our resources we have 30% of the world's coal we found all this new natural gas.
And we do we we debating whether we're gonna use that are not.
But they -- from polluter red politically for years ago still begs the question why.
-- early -- has been a county commissioner for seventeen years unemployment she argues is better than most.
Six point 7% last month.
Well below the national average.
The recession really.
Hasn't had huge impact too -- -- Kenny -- -- third in the nation in job growth.
40% of that's -- -- my cellar shall play.
The Marcellus shell a joy information -- sad commentary rock that covers New York.
Pennsylvania.
West Virginia and Ohio and Washington County sits in the very heart of -- all.
Mining this -- for oil and natural gas has made this county -- mini boom town.
That's a natural gas platform -- -- 9000.
Feet below to the Marcellus Shale.
The government says there's enough natural gas on that -- the power all of America's needs for six years companies locally argue.
That numbers closer to 25.
And energy is the main topic at the weekly farmer's market and going to want some say they don't trust Republicans because of the environment.
That's why this woman -- President Obama because I believe he's done the best -- can with what he was given.
You know he's trying to clean -- big -- but this voter blames congress I don't care who's president.
Congress you send it better do their job.
We wouldn't be in these conditions -- and they've accomplished an -- how these are rural American voters and look what happened in 2008 John McCain beat President Obama by eight points among these.
Americans.
Are fox polling from three weeks ago among the same group now shows a head to head.
Between Obama and Romney national either tied it 4343.
But among rural areas in America.
Mitt Romney has a twenty point edge over President Obama at 53 to 33% watch this group of voters.
As we roll little closer to November and see whether or not they make the difference it's fascinating to talk to them and see what's going on with them right now.
Especially after four decades of going Democrat.
That's a democratic counting and the reason why they switched John McCain we'll tell -- as they are very cautious about the policy toward coal.
And energy and ultimately they're likely.
And as Juan Williams was just saying the Obama campaign.
Believes that is going to be a much -- election for them this time than it was last time and that may be based on you know some of those issues in the swing voters -- -- as you're gonna.
You can see it Romney's gonna try and drive up the numbers -- -- countryside where President Obama will try -- hit in the area in the -- -- thinking later tonight thank you Martha later tonight a special report listening to the voters series.
Continues a lot more from Washington County with Brett -- 6 o'clock eastern time later tonight.
