The Wall Street Journal-20080129-Politics - Economics- Age May Help McCain in Florida

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Politics & Economics: Age May Help McCain in Florida

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SUN CITY, Fla. -- Much is made of John McCain's 71 years. In Florida, his seniority could be a boon among older voters, many of whom have already cast ballots in early voting.

"We've had too many young ones the last few years. We need someone with a little experience and age," said 67-year-old Jane Turner, who runs a fishing charter boat with her 77-year-old husband, J.R., in Pine Island, Fla. Both of them voted for Mr. McCain in early balloting. Age doesn't compromise performance, she says. "Look at us. We're still spending ten hours on the water fishing every day."

In the tight Florida Republican primary, where Mr. McCain is neck and neck with Mitt Romney, the candidate who carries the older set will likely come out the victor today. Senior citizens account for 16.8% of Florida's population, compared with 12.4% nationwide, according to the Census Bureau, and are the most avid voters.

Older voters were a big part of the Arizona senator's win in South Carolina. He trounced his rivals there among voters over 60 with his talk about government frugality and veterans health benefits. According to exit polls, he won 42% of voters over age 60. (He won 33% of the vote overall.) The older voters accounted for more than a third of ballot casters.

The older demographic is "equal if not more important in Florida," said Buzz Jacobs, a McCain adviser.

A SurveyUSA poll conducted last week among likely Florida voters showed Mr. McCain winning 38% of voters older than 65 while taking 30% of votes overall. The poll has a 4.3% margin of error.

In Florida, Mr. McCain has made stops at retirement communities but says he isn't targeting older voters specially. "I hope that I can empathize and connect to seniors," Mr. McCain said Sunday. "But I also feel I can empathize and connect with young people."

His aides say it isn't his age necessarily that connects with older voters, but his status as a Navy veteran. "So many people of that generation understand war and the toll it takes on the country," Mr. Jacobs said.

To be sure, not all Floridians are comfortable voting for a candidate who would be the oldest ever elected for a first term. "At our age, health can jump up and hit you without you noticing it," said Dave Mohl, 72. The Sun City, Fla., retiree voted early for Mr. McCain in the primary because he "likes what he did with the surge," in Iraq. But Mr. Mohl said he would consider going for the youthful Democrat Barack Obama, 46 years old, in the general election. Hillary Clinton, the other leading Democratic candidate, is 60.

Voters occasionally ask Mr. McCain about his age at town-hall-style meetings, such as one at the Shell Factory and Nature Park tourist attraction Saturday in North Fort Myers, Fla. The senator's response: "Those of you who haven't met my 95-year-old mother, please do so. Last year she wanted to drive around France, so she flew to Paris and tried to rent a car. They said she was too old, so she bought one."