Exit poll analysis for Silver Spring, Maryland

November 4, 3:26 PMDC Corporate Ethics ExaminerJim Cunningham

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Today in downtown Silver Spring, litterally a stones throw from DC, I conducted an Exit Poll at my polling location.

To paraphrase the responses from the participants today: "Hell, yes, I voted for the same person I originally intended to - and I'm darned excited about it too!"

I met a lot of very happy people today. Voting went quickly and smoothly in Downtown Silver Spring, and that certainly helped. But even when there was a line (I had to stand on line for about 30 minutes when I voted, but by the time I got out, there was no line) people standing on line still seemed happy to be participating in the process. They were about to have their say.

By far, the majority said their biggest issue was the economy, with the war coming n a close second, but I could see in their faces and hear in their voices that they were caught up in the excitement of what will be an historic eleciton.

My district is about 70% minority voters and about 30% white. And the vast majority of the white voters I asked to participate in the poll refused. Many of those seemed grumpy or even angry. Especially the elderly. Few of these older and white voters wore any election paraphanalia displaying the name of their candidate, so I hesitate to make any assumptions. But demographically speaking, they were outnumbered 2 to 1 in my precinct.

There wasn't a McCain/Palin button to be found.

The same could not be said of the many young and minority voters, many of whom wore Obama t-shirts, hats and buttons. They felt the power of their numbers and the excitement that came with it - giddy and smiling as they left the library, proudly displaying their "I voted" stickers.

This was a crowd who were sure why they were there, and for whom. It's no wonder McCain's ads haven't been very effective. Such certainty is a difficult thing to overcome.

You can find more Examiner exit polling results by clicking HERE.

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