June 2, 2006

StreetTalk by Carol Rosen

Is negative campaigning affecting how you will vote in the June 6 primary?
(Asked at Starbucks at Tully and Capitol Expressway)


“I haven’t really thought about it. Those ads don’t really change my opinion because I don’t watch much television. My family and I will discuss the choices and read the sample ballot.”

Kristen Pearson, 20
Evergreen
Evergreen Valley College student and marketing manager for Glitchbuster’s Mailing Service


“It actually makes me take a closer look at the person who is doing the criticizing. If one candidate spends lots of time critiquing his adversary, then his credentials must be pretty weak.”

Sharon Cobb, 18
Evergreen
Home-schooled senior


“Not necessary, but if I find a candidate I like and he spends all his time bad-mouthing his opponent, then my support for him weakens because he has weak character.”

Carrie Cobb, 20
Evergreen
Office manager in Morgan Hill and Evergreen Valley College student


“No it doesn’t affect me because I don’t consider anything on the news to be newsworthy, lots of it is biased. I look at a person’s personal beliefs, issue by issue and I vote for the candidate with the most positive traits.”

Shaun Middlebusher, 25
Evergreen
Part time Web designer and
student at San Jose State University


“Absolutely. Especially the mud-slinging between the two democratic candidates for governor - it makes me not want to vote for either one of them. I want to see what they plan to do for the state and not what the other guy did that was wrong.”

Kristie Dykes, 21
San Jose
Store security


“Of course, I’ve seen one commercial and it does affect how I vote because they say something negative and I see them in a different light. It makes me question whether I should vote for them.”

Malachi Banderas, 24
Evergreen
PG&E


“It doesn’t really have an affect on my decision. I like to look deeper than what’s on radio and television.”

Glenn Sweet, 55
Evergreen
Photographer


“Not really because I can’t vote, I’m not yet a citizen but I’m working on it. Even if I could vote I don’t think it would affect me because I try to build my opinions based on a variety of issues, not ads.”

Sabine Spring, 40
Evergreen
Personal trainer