Voters' Views: Lance Klass

The US primary season, in which the main parties select their presidential candidates, kicks off in earnest in the state of New Hampshire on 8 January.

Iowans have already stated their preferences in caucuses. Who will it be in New Hampshire? We asked six residents to tell us who they are supporting and why.

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Lance Klass
Business owner | Democrat/Republican

I am a progressive independent who tends to vote Democrat, although I voted for Reagan against Carter and for McCain in the 2000 primary.

Age: 63 Lives: Concord Occupation: Business owner and CEO of art licensing firm Last election voted: Democrat In 10 words or less: Business owner, married, two grown sons, progressive, pragmatic independent Voters' Views: New Hampshire

"Our country is at a crossroads. We've lost most of our manufacturing. Our resources are going overseas, only to come back as cheap Chinese goods for Wal-Mart.

The war in Iraq has sapped our National Guard and our national spirit as Bush and the Republicans continue to squander our country's good reputation abroad and run up gigantic deficits to support their "war on terror".

Our sons are leaving law school each with more than $150,000 in school debt as they enter a problematic job market. We will owe the same for their college loans. Add that to our $12,000 a year for health insurance (our 2007 medical costs topped $20,000). And everything is becoming more expensive. As our eldest son puts it: 'Welcome to George Bush's America.'

We are all ready for change.

I am a progressive independent who tends to vote Democrat, although I voted for Reagan against Carter and for McCain in the 2000 primary. Most New Hampshire residents tend to be pragmatic.

In our last election we threw out two rubber-stamp Republican Reps. It's likely that New Hampshire will go to the Democrats again - surely the array of Republican candidates is dispiriting, to say the least - but which Democrat?

The three top Democrats proclaim they'll give us "change" but is Edwards truly sincere? Would Hillary really change the Washington morass or just give us more of the same Hill/Bill drama and posturing? And would Hillary send our sons to war in Iran?

To my mind, only Barack Obama, our most charismatic Democrat since JFK, seems real, genuine, honest. I'll vote for him.

My wife is leaning towards Edwards. She says she won't vote in the national election if Hillary is the Democrat's candidate. And many of our friends and associates have yet to make up their minds."

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Look out for an update of Lance's views after the primary.

The readers' panel has been selected from as wide a cross-section of people as possible and may not be representative of wider US public opinion.

Your comments:

David Huntley from Regina should stick with Canadian politics instead of slamming US candidates who obviously have more international experience than either he or any Canadian politicians have. I will be voting today for Hillary although I will be happy if either Barack or Bill Richardson gets the nomination as any one of these three would be a true stateswoman or statesman compared to what we have had to contend with for the past 7 years.
Peter , Hudson, New Hampshire

think Hillary would be the best presidental candidate for the Democrats. being a woman she is likely to be motherly and effect changes that would be of great importance to the USA and the world atlarge. Hillary oyee!!!
Richard Rubongoya, kampala, Uganda

I am strongly committed to voting for John Edwards even if he does not win the democratic nomination. His plans regarding health insurance, the war in Iraq and the economy seem to be on the mark. He is the ONLY candidate who has demonstrated by his commitment through action prior to the primaries. We need a president of action who is able to "walk what he talks!"
T Collins, Minneapolis, USA

I completely agree with everything you say. As to your wife I would only suggest that if you are posed with bad eggs and bad fish and you must eat one then choose the one you think will hurt you the least.
Jim, Denver, US

Every one of the Democrats have "visions" for what they want America to become again. I strongly feel that the only one with a vision and a pragmatic sense of real-politik is Hillary Clinton. The Presiderncy is no place for dreamers alone: reality has a way of jolting you awake.
Abhi Buch, San Diego, CA USA

As this reader from Concord has shown, the malaise and frustration of the Bush years has forced us to look not simply for change and strong leadership, but also for charisma and inspiration. As much as I enjoy the prospect of having leaders of the Clintons' intelligence back in the White House, I think that only Obama truly possesses the spirit also needed to revitalize a nation verging ever further from its ideals.
Chris Featherman, Seattle, WA

Wow, I am surprised at the negative Hillary stance. I see Hillary in a much different light than Bill. She's a worker bee, whereas he is a gadfly. I am torn between Hillary, who may be able to move the levers of government better than Obama. His message is good and sincere, but can he deliver???
Mary Hulse, Center Harbor, NH USA

Mr. Klass made good sense till he said he would vote Obama... After all, if Hussein Obama goes on a 2 week vacation to Mexico he will double his foreign experience - and since so much of the world now hates the US - why pick someone who's clueless? You need a statesman, not a novel celebrity.
David Huntley, regina, canada

The American People are thoroughly fed up! Expect the unexpected as...we are going to see changes as never before in decades. It should be good for the US and the whole world.
Dave Adams, Chicago