I come from a blue-collar, union family in Northern West Virginia. My father was active in the United Steelworkers of America and my mother was active in the National Education Association. My father retired many years ago and my mother now works in academic services at a local private university.
My parents both voted for Ross Perot in 1992 & 1996 and had to hold their noses when voting for Gore in 2000. They feel that the Democratic Party abandoned blue collar workers in the 1990s when they embraced free trade and left workers to fend for themselves.
This spring, like me, they were supporters of Hillary Clinton. And like me, they are now supporters of Senator Obama. If they are any indication of what rural, blue-collar Democrats are thinking about this race, Sarah Palin has backfired on McCain big-time.
