Here we are... The Eve Before Election 2012
A flash forward, from the (trust me) not too distant future...
11-5-2012
Well TPM readers, here we are again! The final night of another long and bitter, knock-down drag out election cycle. Incumbent President Obama is set to vote in Chicago this morning before taking Air Force One on a final tour of the neighboring states of Indiana and Ohio, crucial battleground states where he narrowly edged Sen. John McCain in 2008. Of course, the traditional basketball shoot-around is expected later this afternoon at a gym on Chicago's South Side before gathering with friends and family to watch the results.
On the Republican side, having already voted via absentee ballot in Alaska, Republican nominee Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska will tomorrow be making her own last-ditch campaign stops in Virginia and North Carolina in an attempt to shore up crucial states barely lost by the McCain-Palin ticket in '08. Afterwards Palin will be joining her Vice President running mate, Tom Ridge at their campaign headquarters in the always important battleground state of Pennsylvania.
Having waged a campaign aimed squarely at those voters disenfranchised by the overwhelming majority Democrats have enjoyed in Washington the past four years, the Palin-Ridge ticket has spent the last 12 months sounding the battle cry for social conservatives. Taking a page from the Obama playbook, this election cycle has seen Palin start a movement from the ground up, reaching out to the religious right and college students via the internet, raising money at levels unseen in recent years for Republicans, allowing her to campaign competitively in all 50 states. (Coincidentally, Tina Fey's stock has never been higher with the public at large.)
Though still leading the Palin ticket 51-46% in the final Times/Gallup Polls, many Democrat voters have been somewhat disappointed in President Obama's first term: with the conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan heating up, the continued growing pains of this new economy, and the surprising appointment of former Sen. John McCain to Secretary of State.
For President Obama, the expectations have always been extraordinarily high, and tomorrow will show just how much goodwill is left for President Obama and Vice President Biden in these United States of America.
As always in modern times, we are expecting a tight race with many surprises along the way. Remember to get out and vote early, as reports of long lines and voting irregularities will undoubtedly dominate the news cycle tomorrow, this election day, November 6, 2012.
