“What is the deciding factor for you in the election?” Here are your responses: ■ “If I had a choice between Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver, I would vote for Maria simply because, over the years, I have liked her uncles. Now the voter’s choice is whether we have rich Republicans or rich Democrats running this state. A ‘no’ vote on the recall means a ‘no’ vote on Warren Buffett.” ■ “I am voting for Tom McClintock because he is against gay marriages, against pro choice, and he has political experience.” ■ “The deciding factor for me in this election is to get someone in there who doesn’t favor any single ethnicity, like (Lt. Gov. Cruz) Bustamante does. All Bustamante cares about are his Latino constituencies, and for that reason I’d vote for anyone but Bustamante. (Gov. Gray) Davis is gone.” ■ “The biggest deciding factor in the way I vote at the polls is going to be why Gray Davis is giving driver’s licenses to illegal aliens, coupled with the fact that Cruz Bustamante is for nobody but his own constituency — the Latino population. Therefore, I have to vote for anyone besides Bustamante and for the recall.” ■ “The deciding factor is going to be people who know how to do their correct jobs, and also the use of the touch-screen system.” ■ “The deciding factor for me is leadership, ethics and a willingness to make the necessary cuts in the budget.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 3, 2003. Read the original PDF.