Like many of his neighbors in the Orange County retirement village of Laguna Woods, Dave Blodgett, 87, might seem like a natural John McCain man. He fought on Navy PT boats in the Pacific during World War II and was moved by the Republican presidential candidate's story of survival in a Vietnamese prison camp.
Yet while Orange County on Tuesday held true to its image as a reliably Republican county, with a majority voting for McCain, Blodgett and most other Laguna Woods voters bucked the trend. The latest numbers Wednesday gave Barack Obama 52% of the ballots in Laguna Woods to McCain's 45%.
"This is a little island of sanity in Orange County," Blodgett said of the 19,000-population village, noting that Democratic presidential nominees won more votes there in the last two elections as well.
"Orange County votes one way, and Laguna Woods votes another way," said Blodgett, who has read both of Obama's books. "I actually felt love for him. I've never felt this way about any other politician my whole life."
Countywide by the latest numbers, Obama received the highest percentage of votes -- 47% -- than any Democratic presidential candidate in 44 years, exceeding even the count of Lyndon B. Johnson. McCain received about 51%.
What accounts for the Democratic tilt in Laguna Woods? Residents point to a sizable population of Jewish retirees, a population that is two-thirds female, and an influx in recent years of New York and Chicago residents who brought their politics with them.
There also is concern about healthcare costs and, as the economy staggers, about evaporating pensions and the solvency of Medicare.
Barbara Amster, 73, president of the Laguna Woods Democratic Club, which has a membership of about 300, lives on a pension from New York, where she taught college.
She said her husband recently broke a hip and required surgery, and the bills were staggering. "I can't even begin to pay them, even after Medicare and my other insurance," she said. "If you live from hand-to-mouth, and you've worked your whole life, you feel you deserve better."
Amster said many worried that a Republican president would jeopardize Medicare.
She was part of the celebration party Tuesday night, which drew some 200 people to Clubhouse 7. Attendees munched on sandwiches and, for $5, could get two margaritas. There was dancing and cheering. "It was as wild and rowdy as we can get here," Amster said.
