Trying to guess who someone is voting for based on demographics is turning out to be a futile pastime this election season.
African-American men are voting for Republican Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and white middle class women are switching political parties to vote for Democratic Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.).
Yet, people still try to predict political alliance based on demographics.
People tend to stereotype both the voting population and the candidates to simplify things and save mental energy, said Allen McConnell, psychology professor at Miami University and an expert on stereotyping and prejudice.
"When we know less about a situation, we tend to rely on the stereotypes more," McConnell said. "We tend to paint with broad strokes. We tend to take mental shortcuts."
Because this election is focusing so much on change, McConnell said the usual groupings are being turned upside-down and both parties struggle with their usual core constituencies.
Wearing jeans, pink flip-flops and a baseball cap with her sorority's letters, Erin Krumm confessed that she is the typical "Miami girl." An Obama button glistens from the side of her canvas tote. Krumm is a political science major and until recently, she was a Republican.
"Now I don't know what I am," Krumm said. "I feel like I can't go back to College Republicans next semester, after all this. That's what I was going to plan on doing. I'm not a Democrat so I can't be in College Democrats. What am I? I'm a political science major, I have to be in something. It's my career. But I'm neither right now."
Krumm is a part of the elusive group of people that dare to cross party lines in an increasingly divided election. Krumm said she thinks Obama is a more unifying figure, one she easily identifies with. In fact, she has already cast her vote for the Democratic presidential hopeful. But she cannot let go of her politically conservative past.
"I was active in College Republicans last year," Krumm said. "I feel like I'm betraying a lot of people in a lot of ways-family, friends, friends here."
Brendan Burke is a junior political science major at Miami University. Sporting a cup of Starbucks coffee and a polo shirt, Burke's clean-cut look makes him blend in at "J-Crew U," the common nickname for Miami University, just as well as Krumm.
He admits that his family has always been financially well-off, with his father the general manager of the Anaheim Ducks. Burke shares his father's liberal political views, even in fiscal matters.
"That's always kind of been our family's thing: 'Yeah we make more money, we should pay higher taxes,'" Burke said.
Burke, an atheist and die-hard Clinton supporter, said he disagrees with Obama on a lot of things, mostly the fact that he is not Hillary Clinton. His vote is not so much cast for Obama, but against McCain.
And then there's Doug Haynes, and many others like him. Haynes is an African-American male, an avid Republican and a big supporter of McCain. Since Obama first announced his presidential candidacy, Haynes has been questioned constantly about his political choices. Friends, students, even professors seemed to find him amazing. But, Haynes said, race does not matter to him at all.
"Right now, we just have this obsession with (race)," Haynes said. "It's one of those things I think if the country wants to come together, truly come together, it needs to be dropped. You're an American, same as I am," In fact, he said he has made it clear to friends and acquaintances that he no longer wants to discuss race and the election.
Haynes, a member of College Republicans at Miami, said he wishes he could be more politically active on campus, although he said he does enjoy a fair share of political discussion with both conservative and liberal friends. Haynes said it's important to maintain a level of respect for other people's views.
Burke echoed this opinion.
"As long as Republicans are respectful of my opinions, I'm willing to be the same," Burke said.
Although Krumm also said she tries to keep her political and personal life separate, she has lost at least one friend since switching over to support Obama and even received a negative message via Facebook.com.
"Honestly, I feel like you're attacked either way," Krumm said. "Whether you're voting for McCain or you're voting for Obama, and I can say that because I've been on both sides of it."
Krumm is not alone in changing her mind. Several key political players have also switched sides this election, including Colin Powell, former secretary of state for the first administration of President George W. Bush.
Ryan Barilleaux, chair of the political science department at Miami, said it is not uncommon for politicians to endorse members of the opposing party. He also said that, despite what the media's been saying for months, there is nothing outstanding about this election.
"There is the tendency in American politics and media to describe the latest election as the most important, the most significant, the most consequential," Barilleaux said.
Still, he admits that people can get caught up in the politics, and that's true for this election as well.
"People get emotional about a lot of things, and that's just life," he said.
