Voters focusing on Nov. 4 and beyond

LYNN – They cast their ballots Tuesday but the economic earthquake of the past two days has voters’ attention focused on the Nov. 4 presidential election.”It doesn’t seem either one has a plan,” said Georgia Panagopoulos, a North Shore Community College administrative assistant.As far as she is concerned, the fall of two major financial firms is proof that their executives were “out for themselves” and not interested in Americans who are working two jobs to make ends meet.David Simmons said economic tough times are threatening friends who work in the entertainment industry.”Hospitality and entertainment are the first things to go away in a bad economy. Some bad years are coming up but I’m looking forward to the presidential election: Anything is better than what we have,” Simmons said.North Shore student Erica Fletcher also works as a nanny to help pay her college loans. She is getting fewer calls from parents and suspects they are staying home instead of going on trips or out to eat.”If people can’t go out, I can’t get work. I feel the impact,” said the elementary education major.Heidi Pearson isn’t sure which candidate she is going to vote for on Nov. 4. She is tired of hearing negative talk about the candidates and wishes the presidential debates would focus on how to make the economy work fairly for everyone.”I need to start paying attention,” she said.