Voters Make Tough Decisions in GOP Primary

Despite a rainy start on election day, Easley voters were getting an early start at the polls to help decide which GOP candidate will run against President Barack Obama in November.

Easley voters were off to an early start at the First Baptist Church polling location and several other locations reported a decent morning turnout.

"Several people were waiting here before 7 o'clock," said Poll Manager Audrey Dawkins. "I feel like we're off to a pretty good start for a rainy Saturday."

After a fierce campaign season, GOP voters are left with some difficult decisions to make among the four remaining candidates: Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum, and Ron Paul.

"I haven't felt real good about the field of candidates," Paul Hunt said. "The one I voted for I thought was the strongest."

Hunt said he didn't feel Romney was truly against abortion, an issue that was very important to him. Moving down the list he felt that Ron Paul spoke to many issues in a way that he could relate, but in the end he wouldn't fit the bill either.

"Ron Paul has a lot of good things to say, but has some completely wrong ideas about foreign policy," Hunt said.

Elva Davenport said she's ready to be done with the constant campaign phone calls and mail she's been receiving, but in the end it helped her decide to vote for Ron Paul.

"I got a lot of literature from him and after reading up and watching the debates I made up my mind," Davenport said. "There was a few things I didn't like but I felt like out of the four he was my choice."

Davenport was one of approximately 1,300 active voters in the Forest Acres precinct. Poll manager Maryann Turner hopes to see a 75 percent voter turnout in the precinct.

"My precinct usually does have a good turnout, it's very active," Turner said.

Andy Young quickly cast his vote at First Baptist Church on his way to work Saturday morning but said his final decision took a long time.

"There's been a lot of mudslinging and negative campaigning and it's left a sour taste in my mouth," Young said. "I had to do a lot of praying."

Young wouldn't share his vote with Patch but said the issues that were most important to him were the deficit and uncontrolled spending in Washington.

Larry Snelson said he was also dissatisfied with how negative the campaigns became.

"I voted for the person I thought ran the cleanest campaign because I'm more issue driven than personality driven," Snelson said.

By 8:30 a.m. 63 votes had been cast at the Easley/Pickensville combined precinct at First Baptist Church in Easley, approximately 2.6 percent of the total registered voters.

"We're off to a better start than normal," Dawkins said. "We want everyone to vote and sometimes we'll go out and wave them in. It's a privilege we take very seriously."

The parking lot outside Brushy Creek Baptist Church was also busy with a steady flow of voters early Saturday morning. George Dupre said he's had a tough time making his decision amidst the negative campaigns.

"I made my mind up this morning," Dupre said. "Gingrich is an insider and he had an eight year affair. Romney is my guy."

Dupre said Romney's business experience and adherence to family values made him the strongest choice. Dupre recently celebrated his 45th wedding anniversary and has owned a local business since 1993, two important personal facts that helped him make his decision.

"Ron Paul means well but he's too radical," Dupre said. "I think I made the right decision, I just hope he wins."

Voters will continue to cast their votes at Easley's 15 polling locations until 7 p.m. Follow the story on our live blog until then.