NEW LEBANON — The news from New Lebanon is far from comforting for the two main presidential candidates.

Most of the 25 voters interviewed for this story from the bellwether Jackson/New Lebanon-B precinct say they're not happy with their choice for president between Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama. If the blue-collar precinct's voters are still as close to the state's presidential pulse as they have been in the last four general elections, neither candidate has an easy road through battleground Ohio to victory in November.

Many of the precinct's voters describe their choice as the lesser of two evils. But many also admit they need to learn more about the candidates, especially their policies on the economy — by far the biggest issue on the minds of those interviewed.

A sign of trouble for McCain: Of the nine voters who say they will vote for or are leaning toward the Republican senator from Arizona, all but two express reservations.

Burdette Shell, for example, describes himself as a "fairly conservative person" and says he's going to vote for McCain — reluctantly.

"I don't think the Republicans got the best candidate that they could have got, but he'll have to do," said the 67-year-old retired GM factory worker who has voted Republican in the last four presidential elections.

Much of the GOP support in this working-class precinct is even cooler.

"I would really like to have a more viable candidate," said Gene Saunders, a staunch Republican who voted for former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee in the March primary and is leaning toward McCain. "I don't consider him a true conservative."

Saunders, 52, a service adviser for F&S Harley Davidson, reeled off a list of issues that he thinks the Arizona Republican is too soft on: campaign reform, the size of government, immigration and natural resources. "He just seems to be too liberal."

Larry Woolery said he's leaning toward McCain, but admitted he is lukewarm in his support.

Like several other conservative voters in the precinct, Woolery, a 42-year-old corrections officer who voted for former Sen. Fred Thompson in the primary, complained that McCain was not a "strong conservative" on some issues.

"I know his immigration stance was kind of questionable there for a while, and that kind of worries me about him," he said.

"I'm not really thrilled with McCain. We're back to the lesser of two evils, I guess."

Only one McCain supporter interviewed was strongly behind the senator. Albert Cline, 69, a retiree from the Veteran's Administration, said he's more behind McCain than ever.

Cline called Obama's experience with international affairs "very, very limited" and doesn't believe he can be trusted leading "one of the most powerful nations on Earth." McCain, Cline believes, has the experience.

Dennis Russell, a conservative Republican who said he voted for Obama in the primary because he didn't want Hillary Clinton to win, is now leaning toward McCain for the same reason. But barely.

"I don't like any of the candidates right now," said Russell, a 36-year-old mechanic services worker. "But if I had to sway with any of them I would probably go with McCain at the moment because of his experience with foreign politics and international affairs."

Still, even Russell, who has voted Republican in all the last four presidential races, hasn't completely ruled out Obama.

"It would really depend on what he actually has to say ... and who he selects as a running mate," Russell said.

The interviews, conducted during the last two weeks, indicate Obama is doing better among the Democratic party base than McCain is doing with Republicans.

Obama has solid support from half of the dozen voters interviewed who voted for Clinton on March 4. Scott Toops, a 41-year-old employee of Eyler Asbestos in Dayton, is one.

"I just believe there needs to be a change," said Toops, a member of Local Laborers Union 1410 and a solid Democratic voter. "And I just don't think McCain is going to change anything. I just think it will be the next blueprint of George Bush."

Likewise, Jennifer Kennedy, a 31-year-old research biologist for Procter & Gamble Co., said she was disappointed Clinton lost, but not enough to make her support McCain — even though she voted for him in his previous run for the White House.

"I actually really like John McCain, and if I wasn't so fed up with Bush, I probably would vote for him," said Kennedy, on maternity leave with 3-week-old daughter Kira.

Five Clinton voters interviewed, however, are much more hesitant.

Electrician Oscar Brown, 42, said he's disappointed with Clinton's loss, and not happy with Obama.

"It's going to be a toss-up, just like picking the lesser of the two evils," Brown said. "Right now, I'm on the fence."

The economy and the plight of working-class people are his big issues. With cutbacks at General Motors and Delphi, where he used to get a lot of work, Brown said he's been forced to find work on a power plant in Kentucky. He's had to rent a second place there because it's too far to drive back home.

"That's how bad the job market has been in Dayton and the state of Ohio," he said. "But it's not just Ohio. On our job site, we have guys from Michigan, Florida, Washington state. We have guys from everywhere."

Brown liked Clinton, because he thought she would be for the "labor force and the working person," and said he needs to hear more from both candidates on what they would do for folks like him.

"I just really don't know that much about Obama," he said. "And I'm not sure McCain has brought up the labor force at all. I'll have to research everything and find out what the candidates stand for."

Hillary supporter Tisha Parker said she's now undecided and voiced a general discomfort with Obama that echoed several other Clinton supporters.

"I wish they would bring out a good independent, so I could have a third choice," said Parker, 42, who works at the VFW in Brookville.

Although she's voted Democratic in the last four presidential elections, she's hesitant about the Democratic senator from Illinois.

"I have several reasons," Parker said. "I'm just not comfortable with him would be the best way to sum it up. I don't think he has enough experience."