MYRTLE BEACH — Voters in the Myrtle Beach area want Wednesday night’s first presidential debate to be about the issues, and not about two grown men taking jabs at one another.

“I hope it’ll be a good debate,” said area Republican Mallory Morris. “It’s just such an important time right now. People are suffering.”

Heading into Wednesday’s debate, a CNN poll released Monday showed President Obama reaching the 50 percent mark among likely voters, while GOP challenger Mitt Romney got 47 percent of voters’ support.

Local Democrat Milly Vaughn has all the confidence in Obama doing well in the first debate. What she wants to see is respectful discussions between the two candidates.

More than anything, she said she wants the country to see how caring and sincere the president is.

“He’s not saying this to receive votes. He’s believing in helping the American public,” Vaughn said.

Paul Grimm doesn’t believe the president has helped the country. The Horry County Republican wants Romney to get tough and point out the “long string of subterfuges (and) dishonesty) of this administration.”

“If you are concerned about your children and your grandchildren, you need to consider a vote for Mitt Romney,” Grimm said.

Morris said she’s no better off than she was four years ago. Part of the reason, she added, is she still can’t afford health insurance.

“Nobody has money to go out and spend anymore,” Morris said.

Vaughn is satisfied with the president’s job performance, especially how he tries to help all age groups on issues ranging from Medicare to education.

“He inherited, four years ago, a government that was really upside down,” Vaughn said.

Democrat Lorraine Wachter expects both candidates to be themselves when they take the stage in Denver for the debate.

Romney, she said, will continue not understanding just what the job is, while Obama will be calm and not react too quickly.

“People who react too quickly make mistakes and when you just have somebody just looking for any advantage ... (it’s) just not the quality I like,” Wachter said.

Editor’s note: The Sun News will get reaction from these local voters during the debate Wednesday night as well as undecided voters. If you are among the undecided and would like to participate, please contact Brad Dickerson at the number below.

Contact BRAD DICKERSON at 626-0301.