Last August, when Scott Davis of Providence, R.I., heard that Hillary Clinton lost to Barack Obama for Democratic presidential nominee, he was devastated. To him, the strong-willed New York senator would be the only presidential candidate that would be worth his vote.

Now, as a “personal protest,” Davis is holding true to his promise and will not be casting his vote for president on Tuesday.

Davis, 37, is a writer and musician who has been living on disability income since 1997. The father of one was in a near-death train accident a year before, sending him into a coma for one month. Also an epileptic, doctors performed a temporal lobectomy after his head suffered severe damage that increased his episodes of seizures. It is a surgery that he says saved his life.

Despite his disabilities, Davis has been a regular voter since 1992 and believes that every citizen plays crucial role in maintaining the country’s democracy. But for the first time, instead of participating, he has decided to sit back and watch the historic race unfold.

Though there were speculated reports of bitterness after her loss, Hillary Clinton and husband Bill joined the Democratic presidential campaign to urge undecided voters to cast their ballots for Obama. But because of the obvious tension between the passionate senators throughout the primaries, some of Hillary’s supporters saw her loss as personal.

In effort to possibly seize the opportunity, John McCain’s vice presidential choice, Sarah Palin, has gained the support of women voters who initially supported the former first lady.

Davis understands their point of view, but he says that his opposition to Obama runs deeper than hard feelings or feminist values, and it would take more than an endorsement from the Clintons to get him to vote.

Davis is an outspoken Democrat who claims to be “as liberal as they come” and has “dabbled with Libertarianism.” An occasional volunteer at local homeless shelters and soup kitchens in Providence, there is no doubt that he understands the ongoing hardships of lower-to-middle class Americans.

But, although he is firm on his decision to not vote this year, he believes that McCain might be the better pick, and he assured me that it’s not because Sarah Palin is an “attractive woman.”

Why did you vote for Clinton during the primaries?

“I voted for Clinton because she and her husband ran this country once and did a spectacular job. Unemployment was almost nil, taxes were low, and there was a general good feeling about being an American. There was also no war going on [with the United States].”

Do you typically vote for Democratic candidates?

‘Yes. Thomas Jefferson said it best: ‘When you sacrifice your liberty for safety, you wind up with neither.’ I have voted Democrat in the past because “liberal” means “free.” Free to make my own choices and free to live as I believe is best. The Republicans have really done a number on the personal freedoms for individuals. To refer, the Patriot Act by G. W. Bush is more ironic than anything else.”

But after Clinton’s loss, you decided not to vote for Obama in the upcoming election. Why?

“I do not believe the country is prepared for what an Obama administration would mean right now. He’s inexperienced. Imagine someone who is not old enough to drink alcohol running rampant in a liquor store, then finding out how much money it will cost to pay for all of the damage done. He seems paranoid and does not have a definitive plan. I don’t care about the gender, color, or age of a candidate, only what I think will happen if they are elected.”

Are there any specific instances that made you come to this conclusion?

“During the debate, I watched the split screen and noticed that he [Obama] was paying much more attention to looking good than focusing at the issues at hand. He also mentioned ‘preparing for the next war.’ There was a chill that ran down my spine because it reminded me of Bush’s victory speech. If he could hear himself talk, he would recognize that his own speeches are reminiscent of George W. Bush. Education is great in its place, health care is a misnomer and the anti-everything ads are more than annoying. I got the feeling that he was only looking for the right people to pander to.”

So Clinton’s plea for the undecideds to vote for Obama did not convince you in the least?

“I think Clinton is going to vote for McCain. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if that’s what she did. I respect her and her husband but I refuse to vote for someone just because someone else recommended them.”

Had Obama chose Hillary as his running mate, would you have voted for him then?

“Yes. Because she’s a determined lady and therefore I’d know who was really running the show. Besides, she’s a lot more intelligent than Sarah Palin. The Clintons ran this country once and did a spectacular job. Unemployment was almost nil, taxes were low, and there was a general good feeling about being an American. Also, there was no war [with the United States] going on.”

Are you completely indifferent as to who becomes president?

“Personally, I would like to see John McCain win. After carefully observing the two, McCain seems more relaxed and composed. A grandfatherly approach would be the best description I can think of, whereas Obama seems restless and people-pleasing.”

What would you like to say to the people who are voting on Election Day?

“I would like everyone to know and understand that Obama is trying to play a game that he is not ready for just yet. He is a very articulate and well-spoken man, however, he’s also got a lot to learn. After he learns his lessons and pays his dues, he may make a fine president. McCain, on the other hand, has paid his dues and knows the ins and outs of Washington. Therefore, I believe that he’s ready for all of the responsibility that comes with being president.”

Tags: Barack Obama, bill clinton, election day, elections 2008, hillary clinton, hillary supporter, John McCain, non-voter, nonvoter, nonvoting, presidential elections, sarah palin