To the old folks in FL, OH, and PA he just may not look that old -- or all that cranky.

RCP has Obama ahead in PA, OH and Florida. I would think Florida would be "worth" fighting for in November (contrary to David Plouffe's recent analysis). Another surprise from the RCP polling was Ohio - not exactly tailored made for Obama's bitter and clinging notations (it must be the union vote that are securing their bets with him.). Obama is doing well in PA too but as long as he doesn't select Gov Rendel as V.P. Rendell's got some skeletons in the closet. If you listen to Bush's speaking style very closely, you'll notice his words are short, concise, and simple to digest (for those demographic voters who are less educated and claim themselves as Reagan Democrats). When Obama speaks, the words tend to be elongated and wordy but holds more substance and is less cynical about the world.

While I agree with the general proposition that McCain is a weak candidate, I think the GOP made the best choice among a set of lousy choices.

Rudy, aside from the one-note 9/11 script, was pretty much a disaster from every angle (Abortion, Kerick, scandals, temper, big city ethnic in a redneck party). Grandpa Fred looked barely alive. Huckabee was appealing, but as a fundie preacher would never have sold outside the GOP base. Mitt wasn't so bad, but his mormonism wouldn't have sold INSIDE the GOP base. Ron Paul was more Libertarian than Republican, and was repudiating the war (impossible for the deeply implicated GOP leadership to swallow).

So they ended with McCain by default. None of the others would have been any better.

This is a horrific long term problem for the GOP, by the way. It's hard to see where they are going to find credible presidential candidates in the years to come. Since the party was taken over by far-right yahoos, there won't be any gray eminences to look to, and the younger ones are all tainted from the party itself, or from the fiasco of the Dubya presidency. (No way Jeb runs after what his brother did to the family reputation.)

Dear American Voters, reporters and political professionals,

Hon. Senator McCain and Obama, besides each having many attributes and characteristics. The critical differences between the two of these presidential presumptive nominees are as under:

1. Presidential "Temperament and Composer".
2. Little Washington "insider Versus outsider" experience.
3. "Vision and mission" for our nation future rather than past.
4. American policies, " first U.S.A Centric" than any other country [ ies ] centric.

In my professional opinion Senator Obama leads in all above qualities.

The need of our next movement and generation is a change. The Change in " past Washington and its Leadership". A change we can believe in and not the seductive, deceptive, and confusing slogan of "leader we can believe in" [? Effexor ?".

Our Greatgrand Nation has to address many present and future challenges and start with new clean "Slate and Senator".

God Bless America. its diverse people, and our Greatgrand Nation.

Our Greatgrand Nation is needs the CHANGE at every level and for long time.

I am sure Senator Obama with the help of Senator Clinton and her supporters, can deliver that CHANGE.

Please stay involved, stay engaged, and stay informed. Please do not allow any seduction, deception, and or confusion by some partisan media and leaders effect your vote [ Psychological Terrorism ]..

Yours truly,

COL. [retd] A.M.Khajawall
Disabled American Veteran
Forensic psychiatrist, Las Vegas

PS: Please talk about the " Presidential Temperament And Caliber " of our presumptive presidential Nominees. Thanks.

Sorry, MJ, but I think you are contributing to an already disturbing level of overconfidence evident in left-lib/Dem circles these days. If McCain is so unappealing, how did he get to be the darling of the media? Are reporters that different from ordinary people? McCain has plenty of appeal: he's your plain-speaking gruff uncle, and a war hero to boot. And prudence requires a deduction of 5-8% from Obama poll numbers as an adjustment for covert racism. Please let's not kid ourselves: this is a tight contest.

In defense of the GOP primary voters they didn't have too many options. Romney is pure salesman with no authenticity. Huckabee had lot of charisma but had a bad tendency to have those "I can't believe what he just said" moments. Fred couldn't get out of bed. Giuliani had more skeletons than an archeologist.

I personally thought Mike H would have been the best candidate for them since he was charismatic, a great speaker and appealed to the base but the GOP powers that be have long since convinced themselves that the Governor of AR couldn't possibly make a good president.

Mike may not have been a good candidate but at least the GOP would be more excited about him than they are about McCain now.

A lot of McCain's crankiness and lack of charisma are due, I think, to the tough spot he's in. He's got a lousy product to sell, and in order to do that he has to deny many of the positions he took only eight years ago. That leads to a lot of embarrassing questions, and that leads to crankiness. Eight years ago he seemed refreshingly candid, but now, having been forced to cater to the base and try to woo independents at the same time he inevitably appears confused, irresolute and (when he's called on it) mean. When one's message is consistent and logical I think people will put up with and even enjoy a little starchiness (think of Schwarzkopf and Truman). But McCain is coming across as more of a crank.

Not to be contentious, but Wendell Wilke was considered suave and debonair and sophisticated. Truman was the hick who was in way over his head - many democrats thought this. "To err is Truman."

My sentiments exactly! O'bama's going to whip McSame like an old rented mule and I'll bet the mule's bridle on it....

On November 5th