ANDERSON — Much of Anderson’s west side again voted for a Democrat candidate for President.

But this time, the votes weren’t so much along a party line as expected. Many of the districts had split votes.

The Fourth Ward’s Precinct 8 split where voting took place at New Life Nazarene Church, 3615 Raible Ave.

Of 449 votes cast, 144 were straight party tickets. Further indication of a split ticket were the 274 votes for Sen. Barack Obama and 166 for Sen. John McCain.

In 2004, the precinct went for President George W. Bush over John Kerry, 227 to 200.

“Color had nothing to do with it,” said Amos Cooley, Democrat Precinct Committeeman. “What he (Obama) wanted to do for the working man is to give him a break and get him on his feet and get the economy moving.”

Even in heavily Democratic Precinct 1, Obama received 318 votes — but 202 Democrats stayed with the party ticket indicating 116 voters didn’t stick to party lines.

Precinct committeeman Fred Reese said, “They voted for many issues and for a variety of different reasons.”

Younger adults may have been worried about job issues, rising gas prices or losing the manufacturing base that once served their parents.

“This mood’s different,” Reese said. “The hip-hop generation had something to do with that. The black and white culture started accepting one another.”

Other indicators of split ticket voting in the Fourth Ward.

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Precinct 1, 630 Nichol Ave.: straight Democrat, 202; straight Republican, 20; votes for Obama, 318; votes for Sen. John McCain, 58.

Precinct 2, 2830 W. Eighth St.: straight Democrat, 191; straight Republican, 29; votes for Obama, 382; votes for McCain, 82.

Precinct 3, 2220 W. 22nd St.: straight Democrat, 331; straight Republican, 13; votes for Obama, 445; votes for McCain, 52.