Presidential Election Wake-Up Call

I would characterize my interest in the 2008 Presidential Race, so far, as that of a casual observer.  However, yesterday I had the opportunity to hear Robert Novak and Mark Shields speak about the campaigns and the upcoming election in November.  It reminded me of the importance of this race and my civil duty to educate myself so I can make a rational choice.  I have always felt privileged to have the right to vote and elect my representation in this country, but with all the partisanship and scandals, it is sometimes easy to become disillusioned.  I believe the key is to seek credible sources that can provide balanced, well-reasoned opinions so I can make my decision on who to support.

I should say up front, in an effort to be completely transparent, that I am a registered Republican and that is usually how I vote.  However, I have always said that I will cast my vote for the best candidate and not just for the candidate of my party.  Therefore, I was reminded yesterday that it is imperative that I start now to educate myself on the candidates so I can be ready in November to help elect the next President.

The talks I heard were very interesting and informative.  Novak is a conservative.  He lead off by stating that the Republicans have an uphill battle in front of them to win the White House this year.  It seems to me that this statement can have two effects.  It can either rally Republican voters to get out and support their candidate or it can demoralize them by making them think a win is impossible.  If you haven’t been following the race, John McCain will get the Republican nomination for President.  He is essentially the last man standing in his party’s race.  Both Novak and Shields feel that McCain is the right candidate for the nomination because they think he is the only Republican that could possibly win.  Of course, McCain has some issues.  He has a lot of detractors even among his own party.  Conservative talk show hosts like Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh have been pounding McCain.  However, the very reason that Novak, Shields and others think McCain has a chance of getting elected is the same reason that he is getting hammered by the conservatives.  The country seems ready for a change and John McCain is the only Republican that is able to offer a departure from the unpopular style and policies of President Bush.

Shields lead the discussion about the Democratic candidates.  He is a self-proclaimed liberal.  There is still a heated race between Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama for their party’s nomination.  This could work to  their advantage.  Since the race is still hot, they get the most press coverage.  I think this might help them carry more media momentum into November.  Also, the Democrats represent the most change from the current administration.  The feeling I got from both Shields and Novak is that they think Obama is who the Democrats should nominate in order to win in November.  Clinton has a lot of baggage not the least of which is her husband.  Shields also stated that voters feel that Obama is more likeable and authentic than Clinton which is often two key factors that decide elections.  It will be interesting to see what happens in Texas and Ohio in the coming months.  Both of which are delegate-rich states that might decide this race.

Attending this event helped me elevate my interest in the campaigns.  I am making a commitment to become more informed and involved.  If you are interested in doing the same then you might check out VoteSmart.org and Smart Voter.  These are both excellent non-partisan sites for detailed information on the candidates and how the elections are progressing.

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