Occupation: government clerk, unemployed
Personal: divorced father of four
2008 vote: Obama
With his close-cropped white hair and Eric Jerome Dickey novel tucked under his arm, Kenneth Jackson cuts the profile of an associate professor – a distinct possibility here in Tallahassee, home of Florida State University and Florida A&M University. If that snap impression included "definite Obama voter," that would be close to the truth, but not an actual fact.
A dedicated voter who came of age in the 1970s, Mr. Jackson voted for Obama in 2008 and still considers him a "charismatic," "likable," and "competent" officeholder. His snapshot of Romney? A potential "bamboozler" and corporate apologist who somehow manages to appeal to "poor white people."
Another Obama presidency would seem to fit Jackson's "Star Trek"-inspired view of a diverse, hopeful, and more egalitarian society. But he can't stop wrestling with himself over his vote. With a grimace, he confirms, "I can be persuaded."
An aspiring political scientist, Jackson journeys daily onto conservative websites – and his perusals go beyond intellectual curiosity. He says he is looking to be convinced as to how, exactly, conservative ideas would buoy his personal economy – and how inclusive those policies really are.
Jackson is going on two years of unemployment after losing his job as a state government clerk. He sees his three grown children facing a tough career market. As he tries to decide what to do with the rest of his working life, he says he is seriously considering the GOP ticket. Romney, he notes, has promised to create 12 million jobs in his first four years as president, in contrast to the net slump in total jobs and diminished average family earnings under Obama.
"If I were to vote for Mitt Romney, he'd first have to convince me that he is just as interested in seeing mom and pop business flourish as those who have already gotten to a certain level in society," Jackson says. "He has to dazzle me, and the Republicans need to put forth policies that serve people who want to just live well, not necessarily live big."
Race, he acknowledges, also weighs on his decision. "If I wasn't so melanin-enriched, it might be easier for me to look at the Republican Party and see that they [manage the economy] better than the Democrats."
– Patrik Jonsson, staff writer
