They're OFF

Yes the political race for Presidrent has begun with the image of a horse race...they are off and running; many polls show a lead f0r McCain some say that they polled landlines and cell phones for their results.... the one poll I have found useful is the Washington Post poll this date...suggests 47%Obama/Biden- 46% for McCain and what's her name... Now this is a useful poll because it was conducted after the conventions annnnnnnddddd Only landline phones were called. Now this is where Obama should be far behind, if there really were a preference for McCain this is the poll technique that should show it ...and it does not show well for McCain. The post convention surge often goes away, and the votes don't matter anyway, it is the electoral votes (remember Florida... poor President Gore got Bushwhacked) and electoral votes favor Obama narrowly ... enough to win (270 is the real magic number). Now both have an opportunity, because neither has a real lead or one that can be maintained without considerable effort and effective advertising.

I thought Obama should have picked a woman to be VP, if not Hilary for a dream ticket[my personal preference was Michigan Gov. Grandholm] ...we will see how much it hurts that he did not, wheter Biden can help hold a solid Northeast.

November Rising...

Election campaigns take on the aspect of a race, where speed to a finish line determines the winner, this looks like a race between a thoroughbred and a plow horse. It is hard to remember such polarity, Reagan was an older man who took on the role of youth and hope, Humphrey and Nixon was a contrast of old smile and old frown; Gore and Bush offered a contrast but people seemed not to notice how limited and un-leaderlike was Bush, nor the patient strength of Al Gore...the fog of Clinton was the perfect cover for Bush.

Perceptions matter so much-
McCain seems blurred and ill-defined while Obama has the benefit of a sharp focus, the public has a firm idea of the man as calm in crisis- a leader. Clinton may wind up being part of the Obama success, for there has been no real suspense for months but the press was able to use the daunting Clinton reputation to sell papers and kept Obama in the role of the man who needed to show something, to answer a call...and clearly, in historic proportions, he has answered every call.

And Now...
A nation now begins the process of turning its trust and confidence to Mr. Obama, and many Republicans may stay home by November, facing reality, but also the acceptance that the fundamentally more able candidate...the swifter horse...will win the race.