Each election year, usually, has a hint of electricity in the air. This year doesn’t really seem to be the case. One could have reasonably expected to hear chatter about the conventions around the office, yet the only discussion I see taking place is where I would expect it – the media.
Yes, sure, Barack Obama provided the Democratic party with excitement and huge swell of support during the primaries but his political shine appears to be wearing a bit thing. There are a number of problems facing his campaign and they are beginning to hurt his chances. He has no real track record, he has started to move back on his word (FISA or Pubic Financing, anyone?), polls show that he is tied to McCain DURING HIS OWN CONVENTION, and people are starting to question if he is truly a candidate for change.
I mean, for Obama to say he will reform politics, move away from underhanded tricks, and be the voice of the next generation it is suspect to learn that this candidate won his first public election by having his opponents removed from the ballot due to technicalities, don’t you think?
Don’t get me wrong; John McCain isn’t exactly Mr. Excitement. He has been running a terrible campaign thus far. So bad, from my view, that this make Bob Dole’s 96 run look good.
Policies aside, McCain hasn’t been able to get his message to the masses, he is lacking broad base Republican Party support and, let’s face it… he’s old. Not that I believe this is a issue or a factor that prohibits McCain from being president but the sad fact is we are a youth based nation. Do the masses want what’s “flashy” or do they want their grandfather?
The vice presidential nominees aren’t helping much either (at this point).
Obama decided that Joe Biden, the Democrats answer to Dick Cheney, should be his running mate. It is true that he brings the political experience, especially on foreign policy, team Obama lacks and he can also play the role of politics pit bull, but beyond that he doesn’t bring much to the table.
Think about this for a moment: Biden is a guy who no one wanted as president. How does that help Obama?
McCain, on the other hand, hasn’t picked a VP candidate yet. Judging by the press, no one seems to care either. My guess is that camp McCain will try to steal the DNC thunder by announcing his running mate this Thursday. Currently, the three top choices appear to be Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty and Joe Lieberman.
So, what does that mean we have? Three VP choices that really don’t add any fuel to the Republican fire.
Romney dropped out of the presidential race when it became too expensive for him AND he has a problem because of his religion. Minnesota’s governor, Tim Pawlenty, could help McCain win the state during the election but the man doesn’t have name recognition. Finally, Joe Lieberman would irk the Democratic Party and alienate a large chunk of John McCain’s core supporters. As much as I respect Lieberman, making him the running mate is almost like accepting sloppy seconds from Al Gore.
I usually love this time in the political cycle but this year just isn’t doing it for me and I think a lot of people feel the same way. Maybe the gloves haven’t yet come off and the excitement will kick in, maybe the candidates are not engaging the public as they were months ago, or maybe the general public is burned out and tired of hearing about the election.
Bottom line, I want to vote for someone I believe, not vote simply because there are candidates to vote for. At this point, from what I have seen, I don’t think that will happen.
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