It’s an election year and we, as citizens, are preparing to cast our votes for the next president of the United States.

The choice we make will have a profound impact on our economic well-being, foreign policy, healthcare, environmental issues and a host of other issues that will re-shape our country and make way for a brighter future.

The United States is in the midst of a historical election. Barack Obama is the first African-American to run for president. John McCain has chosen a woman, by the name of Sarah Palin, to be his running-mate as vice president. Who is Sarah Palin?

Who will you vote for? How will you reach your decision?

When asked if a woman nominated to run for vice president would affect McCain’s run for the presidency, John Zech, 77 years old, stated, “it was a good move, yet no one knows if she’s qualified or not because no one’s really heard of her.”

On the other hand, Vanessa Vivero, 26 years old, believes that because “she’s a woman, his motive is that all those women who voted for Hillary are now going to snag those votes in his favor. It’s all about strategy.”

A forty-year old mother of two said, “it’s refreshing for the republicans, but she’s not experienced enough to be in that position, I’d like to see a more experienced woman in that role instead.”

Nineteen year old, Victoria Sanchez, said, “that men might not like it and McCain may lose a lot of votes. Some men don’t think women are capable enough of doing what they can do.”

Will Palin’s teen-age pregnant daughter hinder the Republican Party’s ability to remain in the white house? Ron Zech, 49 years-old stated, “no it won’t hinder them at all.” “It will make the republican party look more normal. They’ll try to make it look like all families go through this.”

Sanchez stated Palin is demonstrating a good example of being able to “do it, or handle it by being strong.”

The forty-year old mother said, “no, because it will be their springboard to support their anti -choice stance or position. This pregnancy is not comparable to your average teen-age pregnancy.”

Vivero, chimed in and said, “it might have some affect because society isn’t as conservative, a lot of people have gone through this, but if it was 20 years ago it would be different.”

Should Palin’s daughter be held under such a national microscope given the fact that teen-age pregnancy is a sensitive subject? Mary C., 52 years old, said, “because they’re in the public eye we have a right to know about Palin’s family, yet on the other hand, it’s private and the family needs to keep it private. Let the family handle it and keep the public and the media out of it.”

The mother of two stated it isn’t fair to the daughter because it’s already too stressful enough as a teen-ager and now it’s even harder in such a life-changing situation as this, and then being under such a big brother makes it more difficult.

Both Zech’s agree that it’s wrong, but the fact remains that if Palin is running for vice president she’ll be in the spotlight and they’d be foolish to think otherwise.

Vivero didn’t have a comment. Sanchez was adamant about the daughter not caring about what people think because it’s her life and her decision. She didn’t make the choice to be in the public eye, her mother did.

Do you see Palin as an asset to the McCain campaign now that these private issues have become public? Out of 6 different ages all but one person agreed that Palin is definitely an asset to McCain’s campaign. They agree McCain’s campaign is trying to make the Palin’s look like a normal family, “like one of us,” said the Zechs. “It helps to make their ticket look more like middle-America,” they said.

The forty-year old mom is convinced that McCain didn’t find out enough about Palin before he decided to choose her to be his vice president.

Have their votes changed or are they still undecided? Three people out of the group haven’t changed their votes. Two are still planning to vote for the Democrats, one is definitely voting Republican, and three remain undecided until they learn more about each candidate.

People are thinking about this upcoming election very seriously and they are seeking a fresh change, and some relief from the stress of the current economic situation. Voting is the only way to express your political point-of-view. May the best team win!