Arkansas: Red-Staters Got the Economy Blues
Polls indicate state will go McCain, but economy may nudge some voters to Obama.
HELENA, ARK.<br>Sept. 25, 2008— -- The first high school football game of the season is a welcome escape from a troubled economy here.
Helena is hurting; the town needs jobs. Arkansas has lost another 6,000 manufacturing jobs, just this year.
Darius West is Helena's biggest star -- the top high school football player in the state.
Darius just announced he's staying in town to play football for the University of Arkansas. It's a shining moment for a challenged city.
Darius's mom, Debra West, said some people in Helena have to decide, do I pay for gas today or buy food?
"People struggling to pay for simple things, like a meal for their kids!" Debra West said. "That's a struggle they go through every day."
Polling indicates the state will go to Sen. John McCain in the presidential election.
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