The financial crisis has hit American retirees particularly hard. In the past, employer guaranteed pensions used to be the norm, but today, many Americans depend on their stock portfolio for their retirement. When stock prices shrink, their old-age revenue is directly affected.

Jim Wendorff, an anaesthesiologist from Columbus, Ohio, has had a good career, with an excellent salary. He hoped until recently that he would be able to retire at 57. That hope has vanished with the current crisis, as he and his wife Donna have seen their stock portfolio shrink by 30% or more.

“I think I’m going to be working into my 60’s. That’s just the way it is”, says Jim, adding that he feels some bitterness that “there are people that took risks, and now we have to bail them out.”

This won’t stop Donna and Jim from voting for John McCain. Their state, Ohio, is a key swing state, and every vote will count.

Other retirees, however, insist that opting for the democratic ticket is just common sense for people like them. “If people vote for their pocketbook, then they should vote to reject the policies that have brought us to this level”, says Stuart Leibovitz, President of the New York City Alliance for retired American employers.

For now, the only option for many Americans reaching the end of their career is to work longer, or risk facing cash shortages.