REPORTED FROM CHICAGO — Nairobi Evans, 40, is a risk manager for a commodities brokerage firm in Chicago. Evans shared his views about the election, who he cast his early vote for and why.
BET: Who did you vote for?
Nairobi Evans: I voted for President Obama because I think he has the better plan for middle class Americans — there's more focus on us. And with the Republican candidate [Mitt Romney], I don't have much confidence in his level of honesty or his vision for middle America. He seems to be more focused on the wealthy and forgetting about the middle and lower classes.

What issues are most important to you?
Honestly, taxes because it affects my bottom line and the amount of disposable income I have. That's a concern because I do believe the middle class is the bread and butter of our economy. If we don't have the disposable income to use in the marketplace, then how can we grow?
How do you think the election will turn out?
I think Obama's going to win. It will probably be closer than we anticipated, but that's more a result of the fear campaign that's been launched by Mitt Romney more so than people are confident in his ability to do anything better. And if I'm speaking candidly, race is a large issue. If you look at the viciousness of the attacks on Obama, that's a clear indication of the divide in this country and how race still plays a large role. If you had any other candidate with the same credentials as Obama and the color of their skin was different, the race would not be as close as it is now.

What would you like to see him accomplish in a second term?
To build some cohesiveness in this country. It seems like a lot's not being done. It's all politics, positioning and gridlock, but we can't make any progress without there being compromise on both sides of the issues.
If Romney's elected?
My biggest hope is that he actually takes into consideration the overall economic health of this country and not just folks sitting on corporate boards and the wealthy. My biggest fear is that he's going to get in and do everything he can to go back to the tactics of the former Republican era that caused this country great harm.

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(Photo: Courtesy Nairobi Evans)