CaribWorldNews, NEW YORK, NY, Weds. Feb. 6, 2008: `I Voted For Obama.` The answer was repeated several times over yesterday by many Caribbean voters interviewed by CWN across the country.

In an exciting Super Tuesday election, that saw record voter turn out at polls in 24 states, the choice of Senator Barack Obama resonated strongly with Caribbean voters and naturalized U.S. citizens, with many arguing that he and not Senator Hillary Clinton would be more empathetic to their issues and the needs of the Caribbean region.

`I voted for Obama and I also called everyone I knew to tell them to vote,` Jamaican migrant, Shaun Walsh, of Brooklyn told CWN. `I choose Obama because he’s new, he’s electable and he’s not going to influenced easily. And against McCain he may have a better chance.`

`I’m for Obama,` added Kevin Tracey, a Caribbean-born accountant who was getting ready to cast his vote in Peekskill, NY.

New Jersey resident Allison Skeete also cast her vote for Obama, citing the Illinois senator’s message and political campaign tactic that she said has created an excitement she’s never seen before in her years of voting in the United States.

`I voted for the senator from Illinois,` said Skeete. `It has nothing to do with him being black but with what I’ve heard and see. He`s motivating everyone and he’s been straightforward in what he`s said.`

`I’m dropping off my ballot right now,` an excited Levy told CWN by phone yesterday. `I am voting Barack.`
Levy said while she respects Senator Hillary Clinton she `see this too as an advancement for black folks in America.`

`No blacks have never gotten this far so why should I not support him?` she questioned, adding that while issues are very important she is `looking at advancement of black folks … down the road.`

Issues are very important… but right now I’m looking at advancement of black folks. I’m looking at down the road how we will be

For Irwine Clare in New York, the choice was also Obama. `I selected Obama because of the freshness he brought to the table,` said Clare. `And because he is a child of immigrant background. He’s also able to motivate sectors of this country that don’t usually participate in the election process.

`Barrack Obama has done for democracy what many people couldn’t and whether he wins or not it’s a victory for democracy and America is served well.`

In both Georgia and Connecticut, states that Obama won last night, Caribbean nationals CWN spoke with predicted the win long before the polls had closed yesterday.

`It looks like a lot of people in Bridgeport, Connecticut, are leaning more to Obama, particular among the males,` said WDJZ’s Milford Edwards, also a Caribbean immigrant.

Quizzed on the possible reasons behind the change, Edwards added, `People want to move away from where we’ve been. There has to be a sense of healing given the mood of the country presently and Obama sells that message very well.`

In Atlanta, radio personality Kirk Nelson, also insisted that the word among Caribbean nationals, in restaurants and at other locations, was `Obama.`

`Caribbean people really like Obama … of course people feel proud but they are looking at issues too and its clear people want a change from the past,` said Nelson.

The message resonates with key Obama supporter, Jamaica-born, Gregory Smith. As the election results continued to pour in last night, Smith, joining at gathering of other Obama supporters in New York minutes after Clinton was announced the winner of her home state, insisted, `I feel good.`

`The longer America get to know him (Obama), the more they will like him,` Smith said. `We are really going forward… not looking in the rear view mirror on the Clintons.`