Sheena Gayle, Gleaner Writer

Judy Jackson from Miami, Florida. - photos by Sheena Gayle

WESTERN BUREAU:

Several residents of the United States travelled to the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, St James, yesterday, in a last-minute effort to cast votes in that nation's historic presidential election. Other visitors said they had already cast early ballots back home.

Judy Jackson, from Miami, Florida, was very upbeat about the prospects of her candidate, Senator Barack Obama, becoming the 44th president of the United States and the first black man to take residence in the White House in Washington.

"I did my early voting for Obama as this is a very important process and history in the making," Jackson told The Gleaner. "I reflected on the days when especially black women in the US were not able to vote and, today, to even have someone of colour running for president is just phenomenal."

Janet Richards-Forbes, another Miami resident and Obama supporter, said the 2008 presidential race surpasses skin colour as people are looking at the issues affecting the country and the world at large.

Someone different

Janet Richards-Forbes from Miami, Florida.

For Richards-Forbes, Obama represents a change that everyone can benefit from.

"We can't stay in the past and keep doing things the old way and expect to get different results," she said. "We need someone different. I don't expect Obama to solve all of America's problems in one term, but with our support, he can turn things around for the better."

Obama, a Democratic senator, was the favourite of the US residents who were interviewed yesterday by The Gleaner. Almost 63 per cent said Obama had their vote for president.

However, Tyler Moini, an avid Republican supporter from Dallas, Texas, said he was trying to catch the polling station in his hometown to cast his vote before it closed.

"My flight will not get in until about 6 p.m. and I will be voting for the Republican candidate, John McCain," he said.

Airline staff in Montego Bay, from both Air Jamaica and American Airlines, said there was a large turnout for flights to the United States on Monday as most people wanted to cast their votes in person.

Tyler Moini from Dallas, Texas.