by Michael Martinez
LAS VEGAS—Half a dozen people interviewed outside the convention hall of Tuesday night’s Democratic debate said the recent back-and-forth over race between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama won’t have any influence on their voting.
“It’s sad. It’s 2008. You would (think) it wouldn’t matter,” said Shannon Willis, 21, a Las Vegas waitress who was among Obama supporters rallying outside the Cashman Complex. “Race shouldn’t be an issue.”
“It shouldn’t even be mentioned,” said Janet Mizban, 35, a commercial loan broker from Aliso Viejo, Calif., who traveled to Las Vegas to support Obama.
“People are going to say whatever, they’re going to find something to say about anybody,” said Sabrina Akinkuoye (ok sp), 21, a University of Nevada at Las Vegas hospitality management student. “I mean, it’s 2008. It’s time for a change.”
Obama supporter Howard Love, 65, the recently retired director of the Urban League of Arkansas, said he traveled from Little Rock this week to support the Illinois senator.
“I think this whole race thing – I don’t know what it is. For the people who did the sit-ins and got our heads cracked in, we know it was a significant event when the Civil Rights Acts was signed,” Love said, who participated in sit-in in the 1960s at lunch counters where blacks were prohibited in the 1960s. “Lyndon Johnson did sign the Civil Rights Act. It culminated a long hard struggle with a lot of bloodshed.”
Two Clinton supporters also dismissed the race discussion and said it would have no bearing on their vote. The two women said they planned to vote for Clinton in Saturday’s caucuses.
“It’s a media, trumped-up event,” said Laurel Barry, 51, a Las Vegas attorney. “So please stop it. It’s a 24-hour news thing that has nothing else to say.”
“It’s not worth worrying about,” said her friend, a 65-year-old retired airline company administrator.