South Coast voters have no illusions about today's election. They know who's going to win and aren't afraid to predict the outcome for president. Here's a look at what some of your neighbors were thinking this week.

Kevin Trachsel

39 years old of Coos Bay, Independent

Next prez? Obama. “He’s the guy who speaks for me. Between the two candidates, Obama, to me, seems the most genuine. He didn’t play the attack game. He stuck to his guns and ran a clean race. I can’t fault him for that.

“The McCain camp, when they were down in the polls, started a smear campaign.”

If the other guy wins? “I worry about our financial systems ... our banking and my personal rights, like the right to privacy, that they keep taking away. That’s the main thing. I don’t think the country can stand four more years of that kind of leadership.”

Top races? Smith vs. Merkley. “I truly believe if we clear the slate and make it all Democrats, it will be easier for Obama to get his policies pushed forward where we can actually have real change that will affect the working man.”

Tax levy chances? “I would like to think they would, but honestly, I don’t think they will. When everyone sees that they are going to pay more money for their property, it’s almost an immediate no vote.

“It’s kind of sad because it’s our education. People need to know that the children in the schools are going to be their future.”

Susan Sandperl

Langlois

Next prez? Obama

If the other guy wins? “I don’t know how it’s going to affect my life. We’ll have to see what happens. It will change things either way.”

Top races? “In regards to Measure 60, the measure that would make teachers’ pay dependent upon classroom performance, not seniority, I, for one, think teachers are underpaid. I think teachers need to get their own way for a change. They always get the short end of the stick.”

Brittany Love

19 years old, Coos Bay, Non-voter

Next prez? “From what I hear, probably Obama. He seems to have more stuff that people want to hear.”

If the other guy wins? I’m not really sure.

Top races? I’m not really too concerned about anything. I’m just one of those people who sits back and sees what happens.

Tax levy chances? I’m not sure. I don’t really keep track of that kind of stuff.

Wayne Nelson

67 years old, Coquille, Republican

Next prez? McCain

If the other guy wins? “With that Robin Hood syndrome it might help me.”

Top races? On Measure 60, “That’s ridiculous.”

Tax levy chances? “They don’t have a prayer.”

Natasha Wallace

18 years old, Coos Bay, Democrat

Next prez? “I think that Obama will win because he’s more well spoken when he speaks. He’s better at talking than McCain. He’s better with crowds. He’s to the point on what he wants and what the people want.”

If the other guy wins? “If  McCain wins, I think that I’ll feel the same way I do now about Bush. ... McCain wants to keep our men in Iraq, just like Bush does. A lot of money is being put into this war rather than us fixing our economy. McCain wants to put higher taxes on stuff.”

“Basically, it will be just like now, but hopefully Obama will win and fix it all.”

Top races? Opposed to Measure 58. “I think that schools should be able to have a wide variety of languages to teach.”

Tax levy chances? I’m not sure.

John Krone

75 years old, Coos Bay

Next prez? Obama

How will it impact you? “There isn’t a dime left in this country. Obama’s going to have a hard time living up to his promises, but he has to promise to win. I’m an old man and I’ve never seen a travesty like this. I think for the first four years (Obama) will just try to make the country well again.”

Top races? “I want to get rid of (Alan) Greenspan. He acts like he didn’t know this would happen and he’s surprised.”

Bob Johnson

57 years old, Coos Bay, Democrat

Next prez? “Initially, I thought it might be McCain. He had a lot of steam going, but I think Obama has taken the wind out of his sails.”

If the other guy wins? “I think it’s going to be a tax and spend administration. I don’t think we should be extending our own limited resources in all of these little hot spots around the world.

“It makes our country weaker. We’re the richest country in the history of the world and yet government doesn’t know how to manage money. There should not be homeless people. There should not be hungry people.”

Top races?  Education. “Our country is really sliding in the way that our schools are run. The educational programs are not doing their job.”

Tax levy chances? Fifty/fifty chance. “Even though it’s called a bond levy, it’s still taxation. There’s going to be a point where people are not going to want to support these things even though they are important, too.

“If (the school bond) passes by more than a percentage point margin, I’ll be really surprised.”

Barbara Stevenson

45 years old, North Bend, Democrat

Next prez? “I hope that Obama wins because I think we can’t take another four years of Republican leadership.”

If the other guy wins? “I don’t think there will be an America left. I’m watching the economy tanking, because of what the Republicans have been doing.

“I think those are going to get worse if McCain wins — loans, credit — it’s going to be impossible to get. I know people who are looking for houses that aren’t going to be able to buy them.”

Top races? “Basically, the ones by Sizemore. I think they’re all bad.”

Tax levy chances? “Probably not. I think everybody is feeling the pinch in this country.”

Colleen Rayburn

65 years old, Coos Bay

Next prez? Obama

How will it impact you? “We’ll have less oil money influencing our political outcome. He’ll take a real look at health care and I think support small businesses.”

Melissa Peper

29 years old, Bandon, Democrat

Next prez? Obama. “Just popularity. He’s an awesome speaker. I just think he has more of the popular vote.”

If the other guy wins? “I really don’t think it will impact it too much either way.”

Top races? “The presidency is the biggest one. That’s the only one I really vote for. There’s not hardly any real positive information coming out from any of the candidates I’ve seen.”

Tax levy chances? “I don’t think they will, no.”

Lynn Schrag

64 years old, Myrtle Point, Republican

Next prez? Obama

Top races? “Obama’s enough.”

Tax levy chances? “They don’t have a chance.”

Ed Whiting

75 years old, Bandon, Democrat

Next prez? Obama. “He’s the best man by far. He’s knowledgeable. He’s genuine. He’s open to change. He has some ideas that will work. He’s for the middle class. He’ll unite the country and his wife’s a real asset to the country and to him.

“I switched from Republican to Democrat based on the performance of George Bush at the end of four years.”

If the other guy wins? “I think it will be a disaster — not just for me, but for the whole country. I think (Palin) is terrible liability for the country. She’s an inflexible red neck fundamentalist.

“I’m going to have to pay more taxes because Bush has run up a terrible amount four us and future generations. Someone is going to have to pay for it and that’s me and the rest of the country.”

Top races? “Sizemore put forth a number of measure and I voted against all of them. I don’t trust anything Sizemore puts forth. It seems to be not for the benefit of Oregonians. It’s for outside interests.

“I hope Merkley gets in. I don’t think he will, though.”

Tax levy chances? “Yes, they should.”

Evalyn Johnson

77 years old, Coos Bay, Democrat

Next prez? “It’s a toss up right now. The other day it was more like Obama. Today McCain was creeping up. I don’t think anyone know until it’s all over.”

If the other guy wins? “I don’t think there’s a big difference. It’s just hard to know.”

Top races? “I’m a Democrat. I guess I’ll just stick with that.”

Tax levy chances? “I hope so. I feel like our educational system needs to be supported for our youth, our future.”

Joyce Chalmers

43 years old, Coos Bay, Democrat

Next prez? Obama. “He’s been pretty strong in his lead and stuff. I think Palin is more hurt to McCain than good.”

If the other guy wins? “I think he’s more for the big people — the people who have power — rather than us lower class, middle class people. I think if he puts out more taxes it’s going to effect me, because I’m middle class. 

“The big companies seem to get the breaks. We don’t.”

Top races? “I think locally. It’s the one for the schools, the bond. And then there’s the one regarding the health department and law enforcement. We need ‘em.”

Tax levy chances? “That’s a toughie. I think it’s going to be real close. I hate the idea of my daughter going to a school when she’s old enough that’s falling down.”

Gary McDaniel

67 years old, Bandon, Republican

Next prez? Obama

If Obama wins? “It’ll ruin my life.”

Tax levy chances? “No chance.”

Shirley Smith

72 years old, North Bend, Republican

Next prez? “I hope it’s going to be McCain. I think he’s better than Obama. He has more experience than Obama.”

If the other guy wins? “It won’t be good. Taxes will really go up higher than they are.”

Top races? “I just hope all our candidates win, that’s the main thing.”

Tax levy chances? “I have no idea.”

Debra L. West

54 years old, Coos Bay, Republican

Next prez? “I’m hoping that McCain will win, because he’s more knowledgeable in the subjects. I think he knows more about everything. I think he’s more caring, more sympathetic and I think he’ll work better for us.

If the other guy wins? “I think it will be pretty bad. Obama wants to tax everything. That means he’ll tax the VA and pensions.”

Top races? “I’m not sure.”

Tax levy chances? “I’m not sure. All my kids are grown ... I’m hoping (the school bond) will pass but I don’t know.”

Shirley Hair

73 years old, North Bend, Republican

Next prez? “I hope it’s John McCain. I’m praying; believe me.”

If the other guy wins? “I won’t even watch when he’s speaking. I won’t watch when he’s (sworn in). I don’t know. It’s kind of hard to say. I hope he doesn’t win.”

Top races? Measure 62 on lottery funds. “I would like to see it go to the counties for the sheriff’s department, the road department and the schools, not into the general fund.”

Tax levy chances? “People are afraid right now with their money. For one thing, people don’t want to pay heavy taxes on their property. I pay plenty.”