Northwest Indiana Bureau

Indiana Voters Await Their Turn At Primary Polls

Residents Differed In Reaction To Obama's Speech On Race

MERRILLVILLE, Ind. (CBS) ― There's strong sentiment about Sen. Barack Obama's speech among voters in northwest Indiana, who have a primary coming up. Some feel it settles the issue; for others it stirs up the debate about race.

Northwest Indiana Bureau Chief Pamela Jones reports while Obama was delivering his speech on national television, a lot of people in Crown Point, Ind., were working or running errands.

"I heard part of it on the news, though," said 81-year-old Russell Frahm. "And I'm satisfied."

That was an opinion also held by a group of social workers having lunch. They say they'll watch for the speech on Tuesday night's news.

After reading a few excerpts of the speech text, social worker Mary Nonas said, "I just wish we could get away from the race talk altogether. I really do. I just wish this campaign, his campaign and Clinton's campaign, could be about the issues."

"I think that people run away from their beliefs to go to the popular vote I guess," said social worker Mary Ann Reeves. "And that bothers me because I'm not sure then what is the truth? What does he believe? Where does his allegiance lie?"

Those questions stem from Obama's connection with his long-time pastor and spiritual advisor the Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

It's a topic that lingered at a cafe in Merrillville.

"I'm going to definitely watch tonight because I want to see how he reacts to what his minister said, is one thing," said Joy Lewis. "As far as racial, I don't have a problem with it. I don't care white, black, pink, purple."

Farther north in Lake Station, people want to hear the speech, too, for their own reasons.

"Well, I'd like to hear about what he can do about the Hispanics, all the problems we have with immigration and everything," said store owner Marcario Fuentes.

It's important to note that the people CBS 2 talked to Tuesday said they were Democrats. Part of the reason is that Lake County, Ind., has an overwhelming representation for that party.

Indiana voters head to the polls May 6.

(CBS 2 and the Post-Tribune are news partners covering stories in the communities of northwest Indiana. Send story tips to tips@cbs2chicago.com. (© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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