Thursday’s letter about why a couple from Port Matilda support Mitt Romney and recent polls are evidence of why President Barack Obama is opening up a commanding lead in the polls.

No one disputes that Romney is a fine family man and a nice person to his friends and family. It’s wonderful that he was caring toward the couple’s daughter during her illness.

But he just doesn’t understand the lives of most Americans — those of us who do not have connections and wealth. Nor does he have workable or even articulated plans for how to run the country.

How heartening it is that Americans are figuring that out and are realizing that while admirable as a personal trait, being nice is not the basis on which to choose a president. We need to re-elect Obama, who has shown us his plans for the economy, for international relations, for health care, for education.

Every voter needs to register to vote, have their ID ready, go to the polls Nov. 6 and choose Obama. He is a nice and caring man, too, and he is prepared to lead this country.

Marti Duffy State College