The Omaha News Blog

Caption: Grassroots campaigners

HOLIDAY INN,  72nd and Grover streets, Omaha – Ronnie Mompellier has been a part of grassroots campaigns for two years. She moved to Washington D.C. to be a part of the political scene.

Mompellier came to Nebraska to help out with Nancy Thompson’s campaign through a political group in Washington, D.C.

“We have been able to bring our campaign experience and our thoughts to Nebraska and we have been able to learn from the Nebraska political system at the same time," she said. "Being in Nebraska I have realized that every single vote does count. We went through some small towns and even the people there take this as seriously as people in Omaha and even bigger cities. The main thing I like about campaigning in Nebraska is that it is not so go go go. It’s more personal and relaxed.”

Mompellier said that Americans want a change and that Kerry is in the right place at the right time. She also said that until Kerry is in office, he won’t get a chance to truly share his views because most of the recent campaigns have dealt with slamming his opponent and vice versa.

“My experience in Nebraska has been good," Mompellier said. "This has given a few of us a chance to come to a state we most likely would have never come to otherwise. Politically it has opened my eyes to a new way of doing things. Nebraska is not what I thought it was going to be like. People here really do care about their politics beyond just Nebraska issues.” - by Adam Sammin

Caption: Wal-Mart shoppers voice views.

WAL-MART, North 99th Street - Election Day Wal-Mart shoppers had many views about the election.

“Soldiers are people too,” says ex-Marine Brandon, who declined to give his last name. ”Two things you should consider when going to war - how to get in and how to get out.”

These decisions weren’t well-thought out when the United States went to war in Iraq, Brandon said. “Every soldier has a different reason for joining the service, which reflects on who should be president.”

African-Americans were denied their right to vote until after the Civil War, so that's why some think the vote today is important. “I’m voting for my community and my ancestors,”says Johnetta, an Omaha resident who declined to give her last name. She believes it is a right and a privilege to vote.

An Omaha mother said three things need to be done in this country: get rid of debt, provide equipment for soldiers in Iraq and provide money for schools.

This mother said her son got into trouble that could have prevented him from graduating from high school, but thanks to the No Child Left Behind Act, her son was able to graduate on time. She said it is important to vote for programs like this to remain available. -  by Tania Parker

HOLIDAY INN, 72nd and Grover streets, Omaha – Robert Bunn of Georgia came to Omaha to give his support to local candidates. “Nebraska is one of the most underestimated states in the election," he said. "Even if it were a battleground, it wouldn’t really matter. It doesn’t have enough electoral votes to make a difference.”

He said the only way to effect change is to start locally. “If you want to change the way Nebraska is seen nationally, you have to change the way it is seen locally,” Bunn said.

It is important to vote, no matter which candidate wins or loses, Bunn said. - by Rolisha Davis

Caption: Wing Stop gives free side to voters

WING STOP, 90th and Fort Streets - Wing Stop marks the grand opening of
their store on 90th and Fort by giving a free side to customers who voted
today.

“We wanted to reward those who exercised their right to vote,” says owner
Kevin Parker. “Many customers enjoyed the gratuity, although people would
have voted anyway. It’s nice to know we have community supporters.” - by
Ta'Nia Parker, Reavis Dorsey and Jennifer Eldridge

CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY, Omaha -- With pressures of classes, jobs, and what to do with their lives, college students have little time to make a permanent decision on which political party they want to belong to.

“I’m too young to decide what party I want to belong to,” said one Creighton student. - by Ta'Nia Parker, Reavis Dorsey, Jennifer Eldridge

Caption: MTV’s Rock the Vote influences student voters

CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY, Omaha -- MTV’s Rock the Vote collaborated with Creighton University to inform students on steps leading up to the election.
Incentives were given to students who registered to vote. Some classes gave extra credit to students who were registered.
Creighton also held an involvement fair, which included step-by-step instruction on how to register to vote. - by Ta' Nia Parker, Reavis Dorsey, and Jennifer Eldridge

Caption: New Cassel Retirement Center is a polling place in Omaha

NEW CASSEL RETIREMENT CENTER, Omaha -- While there is major controversy surrounding the presidential election, Nebraskans are also concerned about local issues.
“The presidential election is important, but the gambling issues in Nebraska bring out personal interests in voters,” Beth Payne said.
Payne believes every vote counts. ”Nebraska is one of the few states that will split the electoral votes,” Payne said. “Whether you’re voting for Nebraska issues or presidential candidates, it is still important to vote.” - by Tania Parker, Reavis Dorsey,  Jennifer Eldridge

WAL-MART, 99th Street, Omaha - Two years ago Anthony was laid off from his job.  Being part of the unemployed population, Anthony feels finding jobs for Americans is a big issue.  “We need to stop outsourcing jobs and keep them here in the United States,” said Anthony.

Anthony has five kids and is unable to provide what he wants for his family, he said. Because of his situation he wants his children to be knowledgeable about the election.  “In my case I want my children to know why I lost my job," he said. "One day they will be a first-time voter and I want them to know what they are voting for.” – by Reavis Dorsey, Ta’Nia Parker, and Jennifer Eldridge

BUFFALO WILD WINGS, 76th and Cass - College Republicans gathered at Buffalo Wild Wings to watch the elections unfold.

Matt Diggle, UNO chapter president of College Republicans, expressed concern for the future if the Democrats win. “If Kerry were to win, we’ll do what we can to impact the local offices,” Diggle said.

All of the College Republicans seemed to be completely against gambling. “All it will do is drain the economy,” Kim Loontjen said.

 “I voted against all of the judges,” Republican Heidi Brehmer said. “They helped overturn Bush’s ban on partial-birth abortions. – by Crystal Reid and Jillian Hutchinson

Caption: Cristal Clay, a bartender at Fireside Lounge

FIRESIDE LOUNGE, Iowa -- At the fireside lounge in Atlantic, Iowa, CNN and Fox News are on the TV and the election is on everyone’s mind.
Cristal Clay, bartender, voted for Bush before coming in to work. The crowd is mixed, some for Kerry, some for Bush. Some state results are coming, but no national results yet.

Art Zander did not vote. “I’ve always been happy with the government and did not see a need to change it,” he said.

On the other side, Joyce Heart wearing a John Kerry button, voted for Kerry because of the economy. Everyone is waiting for election results to come in. - by Tammy Johnson

ATLANTIC, Iowa - Johanna Petersen of Atlantic Iowa is spending Election Day making phone calls and taking absentee ballots to the county auditor’s office.  Petersen, a registered Republican who voted for Bush, took a class to become an absentee ballot courier.

She said she feels it is important for everyone to be able to vote in the election.  Absentee ballots can be picked up by the voter calling the Democrat or Republican office and letting them know.  The courier picks up the ballot, gives the voter a receipt, and then takes the ballot to the county auditor’s office.  – by Tammy Johnson

Caption: Congressional candidate Jack Graziano discusses polls

MCFOSTER'S NATURAL KIND CAFE, Omaha - The Libertarian Party gathered in a small room in the upstairs of McFoster’s Natural Kind Café.

“I hope to achieve at least 5 percent,” congressional candidate Jack Graziano said. “Right now, we are at 2 or 3 percent.”

Graziano said that he’d prefer Kerry to win rather than have four more years of Bush and (Attorney General) John Ashcroft. He also wants the Libertarian Party to be more noticed in Nebraska.

“It’s about individual freedom, economically and socially,” said Andrew Sullivan, a Libertarian. “These are important for prosperity.” – by Crystal Reid

OINKERS LOUNGE, Iowa – Bartender Kathleen Darling, 22, voted for John Kerry. She said she believes John Kerry stands for her beliefs. “Kerry and Bush are playing good cop and bad cop” in the election, Darling said.

Bar owner A.J. Poeppe, who voted for Bush, is a former military person and was concerned about the war issue in this election. “Bush is a man of faith and puts wife and family where it ought to be,” Poeppe said.

Customers Ralph and Rosie Riggs also voted today. They have been married for 53 years and have never discussed with each other or their children who they were voting for. They are eagerly waiting to see the winner of today’s election. - by Tammy Johnson

MCFOSTER'S NATURAL KIND CAFE, Omaha - Members of the Nebraska Libertarian Party assembled at McFoster’s Natural Kind Café tonight to watch the election coverage on TV. Gene Siadek, a member of the Libertarian Party, said he voted Libertarian because he is tired of more of the same from Republicans and Democrats. “Libertarians have the same ideology that I believe in,” he said. “If you want to incorporate change, you have to vote third party.”

Fellow Libertarian J.W. Calinger agreed. He said that the Libertarian Party appealed to him because of the freedom-oriented ideals he holds dear. Calinger feels America is ready for a Libertarian government. “People would love the freedom, but they’d have to learn to deal with the responsibility (that would accompany it),” he said. – by Josh Bashara

HOLIDAY INN, South 72nd Street - “Nancy’s (Thompson) biggest weakness is that she is running against Lee Terry because he has been in office for a long time,” said Meg Mandy, 17. Mandy said it will be hard for Thompson to win because Terry hasn’t done anything to make people dislike him. She agrees with Thompson that abortion should be an option for a woman.  Mandy, like Thompson and Terry, believes in equality for all people and agrees with the fact that Thompson is open to gay marriage.

“As far as casinos, there is a better way to keep the money in Nebraska than to have a state infested with slot machines,” Mandy said.

Like many Kerry supporters, Mandy thinks President Bush is not doing a good job in Iraq. “Iraq is being punished by Bush for doing nothing wrong.  He targeted the wrong country and has not given our troops the proper equipment.  I feel that if Kerry was president, the wives of our troops wouldn’t have to go on eBay to buy bulletproof vests for their husbands,” Mandy said. - by Adam Sammin

Caption: A teacher at Atlantic High School in Atlantic, Iowa, looks over mock election ballot 

ATLANTIC, Iowa - The students at Atlantic High School participated in a mock election given by senior government students this morning.

During homeroom the students were given ballots to vote for the president and vice president, including third party candidates and state and local offices.  Absentee ballots were available for students who missed homeroom because of the bloodmobile taking place at the same time.

Approximately 530 students attend AHS in grades 9-12.  The issue most important to the students is the war in Iraq.  Students had a lot of chances to see the candidates and form opinions about them with the candidates visiting Iowa so often this fall.  However, some of the students felt that candidates were too preoccupied with their opponent. “Candidates need to focus more on the issues,” said senior Andy Ryerson. – by Tammy Johnson

DEMOCRATIC COUNTY HEADQUARTERS, Cass County, Iowa – A crowd of approximately 90 people working in Cass County were watching the incoming poll results tonight.


So far, John Kerry is up 54 to 46 percent and the crowd is very excited for Iowa to go to Kerry. “Every vote in Cass County counts as much as in Polk County,” said Tom Hipple, volunteer field coordinator.


Iowa is an important state in the Kerry campaign. It was won by less than 4,000 votes by Gore in 2000. The crowd will continue watching poll results as the night goes on. - by Tammy Johnson

Caption: Party goers watch the vote in Hastings, Neb.

HASTINGS, Neb. - The only reason that Erik Aden, 24, of Omaha will return to his Hastings College roots is a party. Yet this party isn’t the same as college parties of Aden’s past. This party consists of married couples, a few crying babies and political debate. This party is none other than an election party.

“My sophomore year at Hastings College, I voted for the first time. Like typical college students, my close friends and I stayed up all night waiting for the results, instead of doing our homework,” Aden said. Now he has returned to relive the election experience with his college friends.

“It’s always a little crazy to look around and see my college buddies with wives and children, but this is a great excuse to hang out and touch bases with some of my old friends,” Aden said.

Despite having to return to an Omaha job instead of college classes on Wednesday, Aden is again waiting with his friends to hear the election results. - by Melissa Minassian

HASTINGS, Neb. - Mick Smith of Hastings deems himself the “unofficial Wendy’s spokesperson” of the Republican Party. He said he’s really been interested in politics or elections, yet he can’t help himself this election.

“I think everyone is more interested in this election than ones in the past. The media has been saturated with politically related stories. There’s been more publicity, and the election has been in more newspapers and more magazines than ever before,” Smith said.

Smith expressed his relief that Election Day is finally here. As he put it, “It’s like going to the doctor because you think you have cancer. Despite the doctor’s results, in the end, you’re just relieved to know the outcome.” - by Melissa Minassian

HASTING, Neb. - Bucky Herman, 24, of Hastings sits focused on the blasting television despite the many people shuffling in and out of the living room.

“The one thing that really drives me politically is people who say their vote doesn’t count," Herman said. "That’s the great thing about our nation, if there’s a group of people who agree with you, you can change your city, state, or country,” says Herman.

Maybe that is why Herman is so focused on the outcome of this election. With a wife, 1-year-old son, and another baby on the way, Herman is very aware of the consequences of his decisions these days.

Herman said: “It is so important to vote. I’m not a big politics guy, but I do know every vote matters. If you say it doesn’t matter who’s elected, then you’re selling yourself and democracy short.”