Residents happy, discouraged by president's re-election win
By Steve Herring, Ty Johnson, Phyllis Moore and Kenneth Fine
Published in News on November 7, 2012 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/TROY HERRING
Debra Rasberry of Goldsboro said this morning that she was pleased that Obama won re-election Tuesday.
Some were excited about the prospect of four more years with President Barack Obama in the White House.
Others were disappointed.
In many ways, the attitude in Wayne County reflected just how tight this year's election really was.
Jim Murphy, a teacher, was on the Wayne Community College campus this morning for a meeting.
"I think the nation saw where we need to go," he said. "There were a lot of negative things said during the election, but I think that most Americans sense that President Obama earned another chance. I believe that when he was elected in 2008, he had to clean up what was already there, and I think the nation gave him another chance."
And Goldsboro resident Debra Rasberry said she thinks Obama's re-election is a "good thing," and that she voted for him.
"I think Obama is going to keep the country moving forward. He had to do damage control his first four years. I think it is a good deal," she said, as she filled her SUV with gasoline. "I think there are some areas that he needs to work on, but for the most part, I think that he got his point out there. I think the people spoke because he won. I am pleased with that."
But across town at the Lantern Inn, a retired service member disagreed. Chris Coerver said he was "very disappointed in the country."
At a convenience store in eastern Goldsboro, James Stewart and Megan McCarty agreed.
"I think it was time for a change, but we didn't get a change," Stewart said. "I think that our economy went down even lower. Our jobs are still the same, low. I am ready for a different president."
And others clung to the satisfaction that came with Republican victories in local and state contests.
Andy Anderson, the patriarch of Republican membership on the Wayne County Board of Commissioners, was not on Tuesday's ballots, but as the totals came in, he said he couldn't help but feel proud and that some of the votes belonged to him.
"It is a fantastic feeling," said Anderson, who in 1992 became the first Republican elected to the board since Reconstruction. "It is kind of a proud moment. I had worked for this for years to at least see parity in numbers at least. I really feel good about it."
Anderson, who stepped down last November, said there was no question that he was surprised when his party took five seats to wrest control from the Democratic Party since the late 19th century.
"I could not believe five," he said, characterizing the result as "Herculean."