Is she actually economic populist?

Pro-regulation and enforcement?

Or does she just parachute into NC every six years?

See: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/28/mccain-funded-work-of-pal_n_138606.html

During the 1990s, while he served as chairman of the International Republican Institute (IRI), McCain distributed several grants to the Palestinian research center co-founded by Khalidi, including one worth half a million dollars.

A 1998 tax filing for the McCain-led group shows a $448,873 grant to Khalidi's Center for Palestine Research and Studies for work in the West Bank. (See grant number 5180, "West Bank: CPRS" on page 14 of this PDF.)

The relationship extends back as far as 1993, when John McCain joined IRI as chairman in January. Foreign Affairs noted in September of that year that IRI had helped fund several extensive studies in Palestine run by Khalidi's group, including over 30 public opinion polls and a study of "sociopolitical attitudes."

1. Most African Americans routinely vote for the Democrat, but the percentage voting for Obama will be highter this year, and black turnout will be way up. Some of this is due to appalling 8 years of Bush rule, but a lot of it is due to Obama being black.

2. There is still plenty of white racism working against Obama. If he were an equally inspirational white Democrat he would be up by 20% in the polls instead of 8%. Being a Republican is toxic this year. That the race is as close as it is has much to do with Obama being black.

3. Check out Bartels and Krugman for a factual, data driven analysis on the real role of race in American electoral politics.

http://www.amazon.com/Unequal-Democracy-Political-Economy-Gilded/dp/0691136637/

http://www.amazon.com/Conscience-Liberal-Paul-Krugman/dp/0393060691/ref=pd_sim_b_4

I agree that most Jewish voters have gotten past the smears, and that a lazrge majority will vote for Obama/Biden over McInsane and Crazy church lady.

But I alas, I would not be surprised if that large % majority were on the lower side of the range we have seen in presidential races previously. The smears will have some small effect. Also the Orthodox breed faster then the rest of us.

Nevertheless, Jews will be the White group with the highest pro-Obama voting %. Higher than White Prots or White Catholics, etc.

It is historically inaccurate to use the Washington quote to actually mean "stay out of foreign affairs" etc. It is historically accurate to use it to show how words are used in speeches to mean things beyond their literal meaning.

The poll of 1,596 Jews was taken by Synovate shortly after the Republican Party convention and before all four debates and the stock market decline.

[so it polled at the nadir of Obama support, peak of McCain support, generally. So numbers even likely more in favor of Obama by now]

It found Jews favoring Obama over McCain by a 51-25 percent margin, with 24 percent undecided -- which the authors reconfigured to a 67-33 margin for Obama after throwing out the undecided voters and counting only those who had made a decision. A similar process found 37 percent of non-Jewish whites backing the Democrat.

[We Jews still are strongest White group for Dems. Repugs smears have not changed that]

The report finds that such a discrepancy could not be explained by differences in education or income, or by their stands on issues. For example, the study found that Jews are about as equally concerned with social welfare issues -- health care, education and poverty -- as non-Jewish whites and Hispanics and less concerned than blacks.

Instead, the report states support for Obama can best be explained by Jews’ “historic, passionate, and high significant commitment to the Democratic Party and the liberal camp in America" -

On the other hand, I am no fan of Powell, who is a republican suck-up and pretty much wrong on everything since his role (and big political break) in the military attempted My Lai coverup.

TNR, of all places had a good debunking of the Powell mythos a few years ago.