Politics & Government

Obama or Romney? McLean Voters Reveal Which Candidate They Chose

Polls will close at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Stay tuned to McLean Patch for returns.

The polls in Fairfax County are open until 7 p.m. Tuesday, accommodating voters who have yet to cast their ballot in the presidential election.

Thousands turned out in McLean throughout the day. Many precinct chiefs told Patch voter turnout was very strong, but there wasn't much of a lunch rush to speak of at Longfellow Middle School.

"It's been really calm for about an hour," said Doug McGuire, the Longfellow precinct chief, at about 1 p.m. Tuesday. "We expect a rush this afternoon."

Find out what's happening in McLeanwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Van Pelham, 28, who voted at Longfellow Middle School in McLean after lunch on Tuesday, said he voted for President Barack Obama and Tim Kaine but was ambivalent about his decision.

"They're all politicians. I don't see any difference. They're all going to do the same thing," he said. "I don't want a businessman as a president. Businessmen are shady. I don't care if [Romney] made $200 million in Massachusetts - that doesn't make my pockets any richer."

Find out what's happening in McLeanwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

David Tax, 46, a Falls Church resident who also voted at Longfellow Middle School, said he voted for Obama because of Obamacare.

"My wife is a healthcare worker and she said it was a good thing," Tax said. 

Although many voters randomly interviewed on Tuesday indicated they were supporting Democratic candidates, some voters said they were supporting Republicans and others declined to disclose who they voted for.

Don Rosenthal, 59, a McLean resident, said, "The polls say Obama," but voted for Romney anyway.

Gina Manning, 43, voted at St. Dunstans Episcopal Church on Tuesday and only waited 10 minutes to cast her ballot. She said the race between Democrats and Republicans is too close to call in Virginia.

"I think every vote counts this time," Manning said.

Jamie Rennert, 45, who also voted at St. Dunstans, agreed.

"I think it's up in the air," Rennert said.

McLean Patch will be reporting the returns precinct-by-precinct as soon as they are released Tuesday night.


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