Troup County voters bucked the national Democratic tide, giving John McCain 59 percent of their votes in Tuesday’s general election, compared to 40 percent for Barack Obama.

Bob Barr, the Libertarian candidate who once represented Troup County in Congress, got 1 percent.

The turnout was 66.8 percent or 26,118 of the county’s 39,101 registered voters, below the 68.5 percent in Jimmy Carter’s 1976 election and the 70 percent predicted by Troup County Elections Superintendent Donald Boyd.

The lengthy early voting offered for the first time in 2008 proved so popular in Troup County that more voters cast ballots before election day than on Nov. 4. Slightly more than 53 percent of the total votes – 13,884 – were cast in early voting.

McCain received 15,374 votes, compared to 10,438 for Obama and 182 for Barr.

McCain voter Brenda Haynes, who voted at Ethel Kight Magnet School, said experience was the key factor in her choice.

“I feel like he will do a better job because of his experience. I have always been a Republican and am disappointed with Bush. But I don’t think Obama has enough experience to turn things around.”

Obama voter Tina Stiggers had a different take after casting her ballot at the former county administration building at 900 Dallis St.

“I voted for Obama be-cause we need a new pair of eyes on all of our problems instead of the same old people running things. What could McCain do that’s new? We don’t need another Republican in there. This isn’t a black or white thing for me. I just think we need someone who can bring change to our economy more than anything.”

Kelvin Melson, at the same precinct, liked Obama’s appeal to the working class and stand on the war in Iraq.

“I’m a blue-collar worker and I think a Democrat will change things for the working class. Also, the war over there (in Iraq) needs to end. So many soldiers have lost their lives over there. I was going to join the military until that all started. We need someone new who can end it and bring the change that we need.”

Republican incumbent Saxby Chambliss carried Troup County in the U.S. Senate race with 55 percent of the vote, followed by Democrat Jim Martin with 41 percent and Libertarian Allen Buckley with 3 percent.

In the race for Court of Appeals judge, county residents spread their vote fairly evenly among seven candidates. Sara Doyle came out on top with 26 percent.

In the two Public Service Commission races, Troup favored Republicans H. Doug Everett and Lauren McDonald with 72 percent and 55 percent of the vote, respectively.

Troup County voted 61 percent in favor of constitutional Amendment 1, which offers tax incentives for preservation of forest land.

County voters rejected the other two amendments by 52 percent and 56 percent, respectively.

Joel Martin can be reached at jmartin@ lagrangenews.com.

– Staff writer Kenneth Thompson contributed to this report.