Seniors are key in swing states
Obama is gaining ground with those over 65, polls show

By The Associated Press

Published: October 6, 2008

GLEN MILLS, Pa. — Like any good political operative, 80-year-old Frank Elwood checked a "street list” that broke down the party registration for members of his retirement complex, and found that Republicans outnumbered Democrats and independents 2-to-1.

Undaunted, the volunteer for Barack Obama started a support club.

McCain’s partisans are quietly working the ranks of the gated brick complex, too. Joseph Costa, 78, leads the McCain supporters club at Maris Grove, and points to the Republican nominee’s experience.

There’s been a lot of talk about young voters rockin’ the vote for Obama.

But because of older voters’ higher turnout for elections, they could be a more decisive voting bloc in the Nov. 4 election. And, overall, polling has shown them backing 72-year-old McCain, a Vietnam POW.

But Obama appears to be gaining some ground among those 65 and older, recent polls show.

His campaign in recent weeks has organized phone banks with seniors calling other seniors

Recognizing elderly voters’ fears about economic future in the wake of the financial meltdown on Wall Street, Obama has turned to the issue of Social Security in television ads running in Michigan, Florida and elsewhere that say McCain wants to privatize the program.

Former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, 63, a McCain campaign co-chairman, said Obama’s campaign is using scare tactics, and knows no changes will be made that jeopardize Social Security.

Ridge thinks McCain appeals to older voters because "It’s not what you say, it’s what you do.”

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