Cab Drivers in Las Vegas for Obama

[maseman]

I have been in Las Vegas since Wednesday. Never in my life I have I engaged in more conversations with cab drivers about politics than I have here this week. It is STRANGE!

Let me preface that I was NOT the one who started the political discussions in all three instances. Usually the small talk..."Where are you from"..."Are you going to watch the debate"...is how we got down the path. But three times the cabbies have moved into asking "Who do you want to see win in November" or discussing the bailout plan. All three times the drivers were coming down on the Dem/Obama side.

The first was probably a 40 year old white man with no unique accent. He asked where I was from and I told him "Ohio." He asked what happened in 2004 in Ohio and if the machines will eat the votes again for the Dems. I laughed and told him I wish I knew however I was amazed at him being knowledgeable of the situation. He said he wants Obama to win and that our country is in such a mess.

The second was more heartwarming. He also asked where I lived which started our conversation. He asked who I thought would win in November and I said Obama. He said "GOOD! I don't have to kick you out of my cab." The part of the story that I loved was when he told me he has never voted before in his life. He said he was a 52 year old (Caucasian) who just registered to vote two months ago and Obama is why. That made me feel good.

The cabbie was just 100% about the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste issue. He was diving into that before anything else. He was very angry at McCain for supporting more nuke plants and knows he'll be for them just dumping the waste into Nevada.

I must say I have been shocked by the cab political soapboxes. That makes up for the $300 that was eaten at the Blackjack tables.