Independents
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In jewelry industry, candidates face hard sell
By Michelle Graff
October 19, 2008
New York--Whether they lean left or right, the majority of retail jewelers appear united on one thing: The importance of the upcoming presidential election cannot be overstated.
Gas prices remain high, the deficit is staggering and the dollar is weak. Health care costs are soaring, and millions of Americans are uninsured.
The majority of retail jewelers interviewed by National Jeweler said they, like 9 percent of Americans who participated in a September Gallup poll, remain undecided about their pick for president.
Many say they are waiting to see which candidate--Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., the first African-American major party presidential candidate in U.S. history, or Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.--offers better support for small businesses.
Michael Nedler of Sonny's Diamonds and Jewelry in Denver says he is "undecided," though he waited in line three hours to see Obama's acceptance speech.
Over the last eight years, Nedler feels the government has made a series of "horrendous" mistakes, and he wants to elect the candidate most likely to right the ship.
"We can't afford any more of these types of mistakes," Nedler says. "We just can't afford it."
While Nedler hasn't made up his mind, he says he is leaning toward McCain because he feels electing Obama would mean higher taxes.
"I'm not sure taxing businesses and individuals at a higher rate is good for business," Nedler says.
Also undecided is Biff Bowen of Bowen Jewelry Co. in Lynchburg, Va.
He says on one hand, Obama's tax plan would take money from the wallets of wealthy consumers, and "that will not be good for business."
On the other hand, he is against McCain's plan for offshore drilling, a plan Bowen says won't help to lower oil prices for at least five years, meaning high gas prices will continue to chip away at consumers' luxury budgets.
Gary Bulfer of Bulfer's Fine Jewelry of La Jolla in La Jolla, Calif., is also uncommitted, and back in September said he would be watching the debates to decide.
First and foremost, he said, he wanted to hear each candidate's plan for fixing the economy. He also wanted to know how each man plans to help Americans "wean ourselves off the oil bottle."
"Energy ties into everything. If they can't give me an answer on economics, it'll probably be the one who can give me the best answer on energy," he said.
Another issue on Bulfer's mind is the sales he loses to the Internet because of the lack of online sales tax.
Neither of the candidates can win his vote on this issue, however, as both are on the record as being against implementing Internet sales tax.
"I'll vote at the time what my conscience tells me," Bulfer said. "I don't really have any love for either one of them."
Of those retailers interviewed by National Jeweler who had made up their minds, the majority support McCain.
This is in line with the findings of National Jeweler's online poll, conducted in late August and early September, asking which candidate would be better for the industry.
Of the 438 votes, 45 percent chose McCain, and 33 percent chose Obama. Three percent opted for an "other" candidate, while 17 percent said it doesn't matter.
Valerie Whitworth, who originally supported U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton for president, says she is going with McCain now because of his vision and experience.
She contends McCain is a better choice because he has more chance of rallying Congress' support to stop outsourcing and bring businesses back to the United States.
"That's going to bring the jobs home and, hopefully, the economy will be stronger," she says.
While she has made up her mind, Whitworth admits it has not been an easy decision.
"I really don't vote party," says Whitworth, who once headed the Women's Republican Party in Virginia but has voted Democrat in the George W. Bush era. "I vote with the most informed information I can get."
Where they stand
Barack Obama (Democrat)
--Wants to eliminate President Bush's tax cuts for those with salaries above $250,000 and concentrate on middle-class tax cuts.
--Proposes implementing a national health plan that would enable everyone, including the self-employed and small businesses, to buy health insurance.
--Against Internet sales tax.
John McCain (Republican)
--Wants to make permanent President Bush's tax cuts, set to expire in 2010, for those who make more than $250,000 a year.
--Proposes giving every American family $5,000 in cash toward health insurance ($2,500 for individuals) and letting them choose their provider.
--Against Internet sales tax.
Sources: Staff research, www.johnmccain.com, www.barackobama.com
Editor's note: This story first appeared in the October 2008 print edition of National Jeweler and was updated in mid October.
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