Debate Reaction: Undecided Remain on the Fence at Allen-Edmonds Shoe Manufacturing Plant in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Wisconsin is another one of those Midwestern battleground states in this election, and Port Washington is a town on the Lake Michigan shore, north of Milwaukee. CNN's Jeff Flock is there this morning sampling reaction to last night's presidential debate. Jeff, how's it playing in Port Washington?</s>JEFF FLOCK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, we've got our ear to the ground here in Wisconsin, this is Port Washington, north of Milwaukee, as you point out. We are inside the Allen-Edmonds shoe manufacturing plant. This is one of the few remaining U.S. shoe manufacturing plants here in this country. This morning trying to get a sense for -- from undecided voters if they made up their mind based on what they saw yesterday. Now why do we care about Wisconsin? Because you point out it is one of those key Midwest, heartland battleground states. There are about six of them: Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio, as well as Missouri, all together 90 electoral votes. Wisconsin alone with 11 of them. This is a state it has kind of a reputation for voting both Republican and Democrat. A whole host of folks we are going to talk to this morning, first of all is Ron Newman (ph). He's the COO of Allen-Edmonds. I have got to ask you, you're on the fence. Have you made up your mind as a result of what you saw last night?</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I'm still undecided. I thought the debates were really lively. I think both candidates really made a lot of punches and counterpunches and really kept things moving. So I was impressed with the points that both candidates made.</s>FLOCK: Now you tend to the Republican and vote Republican, but at this point, you are still undecided. Al Gore could get your vote.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Possibly, yes. I think that both candidates are wearing Allen Edmonds, so I'm a little bit undecided on that point, but certainly I'm going to listen to the next two debates, and I think not only are the issues important, but also the sincerity of the candidates. I think that's really important to the American people, to the co-workers at Allen-Edmonds, and just a lot of honesty needs to be brought back into the candidacy.</s>FLOCK: Ron, I appreciate your comments. Thank you. We want to move on down the production line if we can. Barb Castrudi (ph) over here with a rack of shoes next to her. This, as we said, is a state that can vote either Republican or Democrat. You are undecided. Did you change your mind last night, get off the fence?</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, I did not, I'm still in between. I just don't know who to vote for.</s>FLOCK: Both candidates laid out very different positions last night. Despite that, no one is resonating with you yet. Why?</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's a matter where it comes down to if you can trust what they say, that's the biggest issue right now. I don't know what they say is good, but what are they doing to stand behind what they say, that's the big issue.</s>FLOCK: Not so much what they say, but whether or not you can believe them.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If I can trust them.</s>FLOCK: Barb, I appreciate it. Thanks very much. Again, farther down the line. You know, you talk about people working at companies. I'm going to be joined by one guy now who has worked here in this plant for 60 years. Willie Bitner (ph), the first man you voted for for president was Franklin D. Roosevelt.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right.</s>FLOCK: Who are you going to vote for this time?</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm undecided yet.</s>FLOCK: Even after last night?</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I'm still waiting to see how the next ones are going to turn out.</s>FLOCK: The next debates you mean?</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.</s>FLOCK: What is the big issue for you?</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, they never did mention it, but what I would like to see whatever you pickup is made in China.</s>FLOCK: And that's one of your issues.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right.</s>FLOCK: I know education, Vickie Laura (ph), is one of your issues. Who speaks more to that issue for you, education?</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think both candidates had a very good answers on the issue of education.</s>FLOCK: Are you leaning one way or the other based on last night?</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, I'm undecided yet. I'm not sure.</s>FLOCK: A lot of undecided people here this morning. We came here specifically because we had a group of undecided voters, and nobody seems to have made their mind up last night. I want to ask one more guy. Bob Stephus (ph), did you make your mind the last night? Did you change your attitude?</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, I did. I was undecided before tonight, but when I heard Gore's long-term goals for the national debt and for our energy crisis, I changed my mind.</s>FLOCK: Why was that?</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I thought Gore looked long-term, where I don't think Bush thought about the long term. He thought more about the short-term and what are going to do know, what is a quick fix. I want to see long-term solutions.</s>FLOCK: At least one guy off the fence. And we're going to go to one more guy before we get away here. Obviously, this is one of the last U.S. manufacturing plants, shoe manufacturing plants, so this is a group of working people. For the candidates, Al Gore of course, says, I'm a working man's candidate. Does that resonate with you, and have you and have your mind up? You were undecided coming into the debate last night.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, I am, and I still am undecided. I agree with some of his points. I also agree with Gov. Bush on some of his topics and points that he has. Right now I'm still undecided on who I want to go for right now yet. There's some topics I'd like them to debate a little more, the overcrowding in schools, how they can go about that.</s>FLOCK: So you are still listening?</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, I am.</s>FLOCK: OK, I appreciate it. We're out of time. Thank you so much. We appreciate all the comments here from Allen-Edmonds shoe manufacturing plant in Wisconsin, as we continue to listen to the undecideds as they hold the balance of power in their hand. I'm Jeff flock, CNN, reporting live from Port Washington, Wisconsin.