Pennsylvanians may not actually determine who is the eventual Democratic presidential nominee, but it sure won't be for lack of trying.

With the April 22 primary just 19 days away, it's hard to travel anywhere in this state, let alone the South Hills, without hearing a scandal du jour, recycled sound bite -- or a bar or beauty salon argument -- about the merits or demerits of New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama.

Of course, Republicans here, or anywhere in the nation, aren't arguing, at least out loud. The party has a presumptive candidate, Arizona Sen. John McCain, for the big presidential contest in November.

The Clinton campaign continues to tout Pennsylvania as the place for a climactic showdown that tests her big state appeal essential for victory in November. The Obama camp says our state is just another chapter in a complex delegate section process -- the math of which is dizzying -- in which Mr. Obama has a formidable delegate lead.

Pundits, percentages aside, the polls here say Mrs. Clinton is the early favorite in Pennsylvania; the Obama folks say it all ain't over till it's, well you know. Of course, some in the Obama camp are also saying Mrs. Clinton can't win the nod even if she wins our home state.

Still, following the cliche "all politics is local,'' -- and basking in the Keystone state's unprecedented time in the spotlight -- we asked some undecided Democratic voters in the South Hills to help us out. This week and right through primary election day, we're following five residents through the sometimes scintillating and fairly fatiguing process of making an informed decision.

Staff writers Mary Niederberger and Maria Sciullo will track this group of undecided Democratic voters and report on them and the issues that will determine how they vote later this month. This week Ms. Niederberger introduces our panel, which includes a husband and wife. Then, in South editions on April 10 and 17, we'll follow up on how the headlines are affecting their decisions.

Remember, the road to the White House -- and the primary that appears perpetual -- goes right through the South Hills.

Age: 69; Mt. Lebanon

Owner M.J. Flaherty Plumbing

While Mr. Flaherty remains undecided on which Democrat will actually get his vote, he said this week he was ''leaning a little bit toward Obama."

"I think he really reminds you a little bit of [John] Kennedy in that he is able to lift people up," Mr. Flaherty said. "But I could be swayed ... .''

Mr. Flaherty, the father of three grown children, has operated his plumbing business for 40-some years out of Scott. Health care is a top priority for him since it's one of his highest costs of operation.

He has seven employees to whom he provides health care, a number not big enough to get the types of discounts available to large corporations. Increased health costs mean employers have to offer lower wages and fewer other benefits because they simply can't afford them, Mr. Flaherty said.

"I really think that both of these candidates could solve that problem if they would pick business people to come up with a plan and keep the insurance companies out of it," he said. He's waiting to hear final versions of what types of health care plans the candidates offer.

He is also worried about the economy and wants to hear specific plans on how to turn it around. Though he said his business is still surviving on repairs, he's not getting calls for luxury jobs, such as updating bathrooms and kitchens.

"Emergencies, they are still calling for those. But people are conscious of what they are spending. They are not seeking the extra stuff," said Mr. Flaherty, a lifelong Democrat and volunteer fireman for 30 years.

He's also concerned about conditions on Wall Street and the problems of the mortgage industry. He believes there should be more oversight of lending, but as with health care, believes Wall Street professionals should be kept from the process of creating reforms.

On the war in Iraq, Mr. Flaherty has mixed feelings. "I think you go in there to win and not fool around. I think now we are just fooling around. I'd like to see them hit it hard and then come home," he said.

He's frustrated with the news media and its coverage of the Democratic primary because he believes too much attention was given to issues like Mr. Obama's preacher and Mrs. Clinton's reported embellishments of the story of dodging sniper fire while on a trip to Bosnia.

Age: 58; Liberty

Auto production worker

This is the first time since she was able to vote that Mrs. Matyasovsky said she has no idea which candidate she will choose.

"I'm not happy with either Democratic candidate. In this whole big country there have to be others," she said.

Mrs. Matyasovsky said she is considering writing in a vote for John Edwards, whom she would like to have heard more from earlier in the campaign, but he "just got overshadowed. It was kind of decided early on that it was going to be between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama."

Now, she's waiting to be moved by one of the candidates. She was disgusted both by Mrs. Clinton's exaggeration of danger during a trip to Bosnia in 1996 and by the comments made by Mr. Obama's preacher, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. "He had to be sitting there when those things were said and he didn't back away. But now that he's campaigning he's backing away," she said.

She also questioned Mr. Obama's experience level. "I mean where did he come from all of a sudden?"

She thinks the most important issue is the economy and the current mortgage crisis and is worried about her own job at the General Motors metal stamping plant in West Mifflin, which had been slated to close at the end of 2007.

A new buyer, an investment group, is looking to take over the operation, but Mrs. Matyasovsky said workers who have continued to stay on the job and be paid under the conditions of their previous contract, aren't certain if they will keep their jobs and same wages and benefits when the new owner takes over.

In general, she said, she believes many working class jobs are disappearing from the economy, often forcing both fathers and mothers to work full time to support their families.

She believes the lifestyle that she and her husband enjoyed -- he worked full-time as an electrician at the General Motors plant while she stayed home to raise their three children -- is disappearing for many.

Mrs. Matyasovsky also wants to see the candidates find a solution to the health care crisis as she and her husband find themselves bearing more of the costs of their health care each year.

She also thinks finding a way to bring the troops home from Iraq must be a priority for the next president, but she doesn't believe that either Mrs. Clinton or Mr. Obama have a firm plan for that.

Age: 60; also Liberty

Retired electrician

This week, Mr. Matyasovsky admits to a slight preference in the race: "I'm leaning toward Obama, but I could be swayed," he said.

He said he didn't like the fact that early in the campaign Mrs. Clinton complained about the media asking tougher questions of her than it was asking other candidates. "For someone in politics as long as she has been, she is crying a lot," he said.

Mr. Obama, on the other hand, said Mr. Matyasovsky, "tried to be as honest as he could" in answering questions. "That looked stronger and better," Mr. Matyasovsky said.

He is also bothered by Mrs. Clinton's ardent support of abortion rights. "That's tough for a Catholic to deal with," said Mr. Matyasovsky, who is Catholic.

Mr. Matyasovsky disagrees with his wife on the candidates' plans for withdrawal from Iraq. He believes that both candidates have stated that they support a gradual withdraw of the troops.

"I think that sends a message over there that if either of these two is elected, we will make a change," he said.

On the economy, Mr. Matyasovsky said he is grateful that he was able to work much of his career for the same company and retire early. But he's uncertain if that will happen for his children's generation.

He worries about the ups and downs of the stock market and the fact that banks have allowed people to borrow more than their incomes can comfortably afford for mortgages and would like to see more oversight of the banking industry.

He also believes there is collusion between the White House and "Big Business" that has allowed gas prices to climb above $3 a gallon.

He believes it will take a Democratic president to stop the escalation.

He also said that the next president must find a way to provide health insurance for all and he said he admires Mrs. Clinton's longtime commitment to the issue. But, he said, he is not in favor of universal government-sponsored health insurance, such as provided in Canada.

Age: 18; Whitehall

Senior at Central Catholic

Alex is excited to be a first-time voter and to be able to experience something even his parents have never experienced: casting a vote in a Pennsylvania primary that could have an effect on who will be the Democratic nominee for president.

"This is historic. And, this could be a make-it-or-break-it state for Hillary Clinton."

He believes both of the Democratic candidates are "viable" against Mr. McCain, but he's leaning toward Mr. Obama at this point because of his ability to draw in youthful voters.

"Enthusiasm builds around Obama. He seems to capture the imagination of a new generation," he said.

Alex said he's followed the national media coverage of the candidates but now is looking forward to hearing issues pertinent to Pennsylvania discussed in the coming weeks as both candidates woo voters here.

Alex, too, is worried about the economy but says the concerns of his generation are different. Given the current crunch in the banking industry, he's anxious about the cost and availability of the student loans he knows he will need to get through college.

In his initial research on student loans, he has found interest rates higher than he expected and he is worried they will continue to rise as he goes through college.

He's hoping to attend either the University of Chicago or Villanova or American universities and to study economics and public policy.

Even more worrisome, he said, is whether he will be able to find a job after he graduates, deep in debt with student loans.

Alex said he believes that both Democrats are weak in foreign policy and either, if nominated, will have to find a running mate with a strong foreign policy background.

He also believes their platforms are similar, including calling for an eventual, but not immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq. He said he believes the Democratic candidates' stance on Iraq is more palatable to voters than Mr. McCain's.

Unlike the other undecided Democrats in this series, Alex said he favors universal health care.

Age: 35; Mt. Lebanon

Financial consultant

For Mr. Tatomir, the father of three children ages 6, 4 and 2, finding a way to end the war in Iraq is one of the top issues in the presidential race.

"The losses of American lives has to stop. I opposed the war from the beginning. The case they made for going to war was based either on bad information or outright lies," he said.

Yet, he is now torn on the best way to get American forces out of Iraq.

"While I want the troops home as soon as possible, we've created such a mess over there, I'm torn about leaving," he said.

He said he respects the fact that Mr. Obama was "against the war from the get-go" and he doesn't like the fact that Mrs. Clinton "can't come out and say she made a wrong decision" to vote for the war.

But, he said, he can't tell which of the candidates has a better plan for ending the war.

Mr. Tatomir likes Mrs. Clinton's stance on health care and the fact that she wants to provide it "for all Americans."

Like the other uncommitted voters in this series, he had concerns about the economy, but he believes some of those problems are tied to the war. The current administration, he believes, has "increased spending through the roof to fund the war."

He also wants to see the candidates come up with a way to lower gas prices. "You go to the gas pump and you have to pay $50 to fill up the van. You see food prices increasing as well. Just talking to people, they've expressed not getting cost of living increases in recent years and not being able to save what they want."

Though he didn't have to rely on student loans for his college education, Mr. Tatomir said he knows a number of others who did, and he's concerned about the cost and availability of loans for those now in college.

Mr. Tatomir said he also wants to see the candidates address the No Child Left Behind legislation so that schools are truly educating students and not just teaching to standardized tests.

He said he currently has no preference between the two Democrats, but from Mrs. Clinton he'd like to see more ''sincerity'' and from Mr. Obama, he wants "inspiration.''

"I want to know that he can back up the rhetoric with action,'' Mr. Tatomir said.

He said he believes that either Democrat can beat Mr. McCain in the general election.