Presidentaial campaigns, at least successful ones, are massive organizations requiring a huge amount of day-to-day decision making and coordination. It is impossible to run one successfully without great management and organizational skills, including the ability to pick highly qualified and competent people to handle the required tasks, and the ability to appropriately delegate authority. The Obama campaign is possibly the largest and most impressive such organization ever assembled, and it runs very smoothly. Every successful business executive recognizes the inherent challenges an organization faces in trying to plan for and accomodate rapid growth - yet the Obama campaign, which could easily have sputtered and died after success in the smaller market of Iowa, has grown quickly and performed impressively, as even their staunchest critics would have to admit.
The modern political campaign requires a candidate display mastery of a wide range of issues, and be able to speak on any of them at a moment's notice, while the cameras are rolling nearly every minute of most days. With the gambits and tactics, it's a crazy way to select a leader, but it turns out to be a trial by fire for both candidates, and whoever emerges, victorious or otherwise, has perservered through the fires that leave the candidate with some idea of the pressures and challenges they will face upon assuming power.
Political contests at any level can be fierce and bitter, and some might argue that all politicians gain from the campaign. But the relentless national pressure and scrutiny of the modern US presidential campaign is a thing apart. After 19 long months of campaigning against both the Clinton organization and the punches thrown by the Republican candidate and his party, and after building and running a powerful political entity in his campaign machinery, there is no doubt in my mind that Barack Obama is vastly more qualified to be President of the United States than he was at the start of his journey.
I see no need to belittle the executive exprience of Sarah Pulin. Compare it objectively to that of Barack Obama OR John McCain and you will find it lacking. As things currently stand, she is not at all qualified to be President.
During the campaign season, each candidate makes only one decision that is firm and is guaranteed to have an impact on the course of his or her term in office. Only one decision is made by which we can evaluate the candidate's judgement and the method by which they will set up and run the massive federal government that, for good or ill, has a tremendous impact on the lives of every single American. That decision is who to choose as their running mate. That decision reflects the considerations and judgement that will go into filling out the Cabinet. Do not forget, an effective Vice President can also serve as the President's voice in the Senate.
Barack Obama chose Joe Biden to be one heartbeat away from the Presidency. A potent statesman, a highly respected senator, probably the most qualified Democrat to step into a position of power aside from those who have actually lived in the White House.
John McCain chose Sarah Pulin. He appears to have made the decision purely as a political gambit. This is not a risky decision based on political consequences - it is a risky decision because one in four elected Presidents have died in office leaving power to the Vice President.
That's a powerful and scary argument regardless of the age or health of the various candidates.
