Voting Fraud is a Major Concern for Election Day

New Polls Show Palin is Hurting Republican Ticket

An increasing amount of voters deemed Republican Vice Presidential Nominee Sarah Palin unfit to be Vice President. According to polls conducted by the New York Times, 59 percent of voters said Palin was not ready for the White House. This number increased 9 percentage points from just one month ago. However, three quarters of voters saw her opponent, Democratic Vice Presidential Nominee Joe Biden, as qualified.

Voting-Rights Watchdogs Are Wary of Election Day

With record voter registration numbers, voting-rights groups said that this election could be much like the 2000 election. According to the Los Angeles Times, many states are seeing identity discrepancies in voter registration forms. In some states like Colorado, voters have been taken off of the state registry because their information did not match existing records. Rick Hasen, a professor of election law from Loyola Law School, said, “I think we are still going to see a lot of problems, in part because some voters aren’t going to find out until election day that they’ve been dropped from the rolls (Los Angeles Times).”

The Washington Post focused on the situation in the battleground state of Ohio, where elections have not run smoothly in the past. Republicans criticized Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner for not fighting voting fraud. In fact, a case between Brunner and the Republican Party, over 200,000 mismatched registration forms, went to the U.S. Supreme Court recently. The court ruled against the Republicans. However, Brunner called for more voting machines to be distributed across Ohio as well as extra ballots, in hopes that all eligible voters will be able to vote on November 4th.

Photo Credit: Ethan Miller / Getty Images

In the Final Stages...

Voters go to the Polls Early

The New York Times reported that record numbers of voters are turning out early to vote in the presidential election. A quarter of all registered voters cast their ballots before November 4th. In 2004, 22 percent of registered voters voted early, but this number is expected to climb to 30 to 35 percent in this election, according to the New York Times. This method also attracted more democrats that republicans.

Obama’s Airs 30-Minute Campaign Ad

Sen. Barack Obama aired a 30-minute campaign commercial on Wednesday according to the Los Angeles Times. The commercial aired on seven network and cable stations and cost the Obama campaign $3 million. Overall, Obama tried to remain very positive and did not mention his opponent, John McCain or his running mate, Sarah Palin. Obama has aired twice as many advertisements as McCain, mostly due to enormous amount of money Barack Obama managed to raise. The advertisement ended with a 2-minute clip of live footage of Obama with 20,000 supporters in South Florida.
In addition to the 30-miunte long campaign commercial, Obama ran an advertisement directly attacking Sarah Palin and her ability to lead the nation, according to the Washington Post. An Obama aide said that they want voters to ask “whether they’re comfortable with Sarah Palin in that role (Washington Post).”

Photo Credit: Obama Campaign/Associated Press

Candidates Can All Agree On One Thing...

Both Candidates Call for Stevens to Resign

Today the Los Angeles Times reported, Republican Presidential Nominee John McCain called for Alaskan Senator Ted Stevens to resign Tuesday, after Stevens was convicted Monday of concealing improper gifts. In the past, McCain and Stevens disagreed on issues like Stevens’ pork-barrel spending in Alaska and oil drilling in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge. Fellow Alaskan Sarah Palin said that Stevens should do the “statesmanlike thing” and resign from his position in the Senate. Three other Republican senators in tight races across the country called for Stevens to step aside.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Democratic Presidential Nominee Barack Obama not only called for Stevens to step down but also said the jury’s decision “wasn’t just a verdict on Sen. Stevens – but on the broken politics that has infected Washington for decades.”


Economy Takes Center Stage in Pennsylvania

Both campaigns were in Pennsylvania on Tuesday. Sen. Barack Obama greeted supporters in Chester with the promise of a renewed focus on the middle class. In an article by the New York Times, he doubted Sen. John McCain’s economic credibility when he said, “John McCain has ridden shotgun as George Bush has driven our economy toward a cliff, and now he wants to take the wheel and step on the gas.”
Sen. John McCain and Gov. Sarah Palin were together in Hershey, as McCain attacked Sen. Barack Obama’s tax plan to tax families who make over $250,000 annually. According to the Washington Post, McCain even called Obama the “Redistributionist in Chief” because of Obama’s comments to Ohio plumber Joe Wurzelbacher that led Republicans to accuse Obama of being a socialist.
According to the Washington Post, McCain has had to shift his campaign from a focus on foreign policy to the economy as a result of the global economic meltdown. His original intention was to lead a campaign focused on national security. He told reporters for the Washington Post in January, “Even if the economy is the, quote, number one issue, the real issue will remain America’s security.” McCain’s campaign has shifted to talking about taxes in the closing days of the election, a strategy that even Obama strategists think may have an effect on undecided voters.

Photo credit: Damon Winter/The New York Times

And The Race Continues...

Keith Bedford / Bloomberg News

If He Wins, Can He Survive?

Investigators were able to stop a white supremacist group from an "improbable plan to assassinate Senator Barack Obama and kill 102 African Americans," an act fueled by the racist ideology (The Washington Post). The two men involved in the plot had met online upon similar interests, and began formulating their scheme. The scheme read as follows:

"Using a .308-caliber rifle and a high-powered weapon they planned to steal from a gun store, the men plotted to 'drive their vehicle as fast as they could toward Obama shooting at him from the windows,' the affidavit said. 'Both individuals stated they would dress in all white tuxedos and wear top hats during the assassination attempt (The Washington Post).'"

This halted assassination plan brings fear and unrest among voters who want a strong President- a public figure who can bring about change and hope. But the questions remains- is there hope for his own life?

Continuing with the campaign both presidential candidates, especially Barack Obama, have stated to move away from ideological norms of their past campaigning as the final week comes to a close, but continue to do so as Senator Barack Obama targets the McCain- Bush philosophy, and Senator John McCain charges on with Obama's "spread the wealth" talk (NY Times).

Also in the news, Obama and McCain have spent crucial time in the swing state of Ohio, pitching their last minute speeches in hopes of securing firm voters. Both rallies consisted of the usual attacks on the other, but much of the time was spent promising a better economy for the future (LA Times).

Fight

Fight

Fight!


As the election drives into its final week of campaining both presidential candidates, John McCain (R) and Barack Obama (D) are heading to the crucial states that guaranteed George Bush's win eight years ago. Barack Obama and his team have planned a "summing up speech for his campaign (NY Times)" and a push to take advantage of early voting, all geared towards sealing the vote from his supporters.

"Mr. Obama's aides said, attacks on Mr. McCain will be joined by an emphasis on broader and less partisan themes, like the need to unify the country after a difficult election (NY Times)."

McCain on the other hand plans to stick with the messages he's used throughout his campaigning- "Mr. Obama is an advocate of big government and raising taxes (NY Times)."

Overall, Barack Obama feels pretty solid with his pending win on Nov. 4 by using the final days of campaigning as a tool to solidify his message for change, while McCain stays strong by defining his own personal message- "I fought for you most of my life where defeat meant more than returning to the Senate (LA Times)."

Opinion: I much preffered the NY Times article on this story because it was able to give both sides of the final campaigning plans. The LA Times mainly focused on McCain's definate loss, and his dire need to practically beg for support and votes. Can we say another cheer for the Obama Times?

And the economy goes to...... OBAMA!

The Washington Post reported today that Obama's increased support is due to the primal issue on every citizen's agenda today- the economy. The paper's news tracking poll stated that Obama had an 11 point lead over his competitor, but a slim one at that. With all the polls showing close margins, we better get our "O" faces ready for election day...

Top photo: Amy Sancetta/ Associated Press

McCain and Obama: The never ending campaign

Damon Winter/ NY Times: Senator Barack Obama campaigning in Reno on Saturday

Senator John McCain and his wife at a rally Saturday morning in Albuquergue

McCain and Obama Head West

With the campaign in its final ten days, the LA Times and New York Times reported that both warring candidates fled to the key western states of New Mexico and Nevada to garner the crucial support of the undecided voters. Of course, the LA Times, or should I say the "Obama Times," was quick to state that McCain had fewer than 1,000 voters at the State Fair Grounds in Albuquerque, while Obama spoke to more than 11, 000 supporters at the University of Nevada. The rallies consisted of Obama's usual comparison of McCain's apparent twin- President Bush and McCain's attempt to gain an emotional and neighboring connection with his supporters.

"John McCain is so opposed to George Bush's policies that he voted with him 90% of the time for the first eight years. That's right, he decided to really stick it to George Bush--- 10% of the time (LA Times)."

"'My friends, Sen. Obama has never been south of our border,' McCain said. 'he doesn't know these issues. I know them... I'm proud to be a senator from the West (LA Times).'"

Obama Gains Lead Over McCain

Both the LA Times and Washington Post reported Obama in the lead Saturday. "In the Washington Post- ABC News daily tracking poll on Saturday, Obama has an overall lead of 53 percent to 44 percent among likely voters." With absentee ballots piling in before Nov. 4, the LA Times reported that election officials were able to report a high proportion of Democrats and African Americans voting early, indicating Obama's possible lead in the key battle ground states (of which these votes have shown a high proportion for).

Economic Strife Drives Latino Vote

With the economy at a steady downfall, the LA Times have reported that many Latinos having been looking to Obama's plan for help. So many immigrants and their families are currently struggling to pay mortgage, are losing their homes, or finding themselves without work leaving them to fear McCain's Bush resembling plans.

"' I'm for Obama,' Gustavo Mora, 64, told a Republican campaign worker on his doorstep last week. 'I'm losing my house. That one next door is gone. Across the street, Chinese people bought that house... The economy is so bad, and I'm afraid [John] McCain has the same ideas as President Bush, since he's a Republican too.'"

Obama Steps Away From the Campaign Trail

With only days left, Obama is taking time off the campaign trail

With just over a week left before the elections, Sen. Obama should be blazing the campaign trail, but as hard as it may be to believe, some things are more important. The New York Times followed the democratic presidential nominee as he spent one of the last days leading up to the election in Honolulu, visiting his dying grandmother, Madelyn Dunham. Dunham, turning 86 this sunday, as has been spotlighted in the media more than once leading up to today, was and is, a major part of Obama's life. Raised by her as a child, the Senator has been keeping close tabs on her progress, checking up with doctors daily and doing his best to keep in touch. Released from the hospital last week after hip surgery, doctors expressed their medical opinion to Obama, letting him know that it may not be best to wait until after the elections to make what may be his last visit to Dunham. Whether or not it was the best idea at this point in the race for the whitehouse, Obama didn't care, the trip was nonnegotiable. “One of the things I wanted to make sure of is that I had a chance to sit down with her and talk to her,” Mr. Obama said Friday on the ABC News television program “Good Morning America.” Something, sadly, Obama did not have the chance to do before his mothers death in 1995 and did not want to make the same mistake again.

McCain Visits Colorado

Visiting Denver today, Sen. McCain did his best to woo voters in the battleground state that currently has his opponent Obama at the top of the polls. The Senator from Arizona made it a point to express that only a republican in the White House can serve as a check on Democrats in Congress. The LA Times quoted McCain as saying, "The answer to a slowing economy is not higher taxes, but that is exactly what is going to happen when the Democrats have total control of Washington."

Opinion

The news following the campaign trail seemed a bit thin today and other than Obama's visit to Hawaii, nothing made it across the spectrum of papers. I would think, so close to the election day, that the papers would be covering the campaigns more than ever. At the same time, it seems that, at this point in both campaigns, it is a bunch more of the same. The only thing that did standout, was Obama's break from campaigning. Otherwise, it was McCain still behind in the polls and struggling to get "back in it," and more talk about taxes. The papers worked with what they had and the coverage shows that. The Washington Post really didn't have much more to offer.

Photo Credit:Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

McCain finds himself in an uphill battle

Down But Not Out
Despite the loss in poll numbers in the last few weeks of the presidential race and the obvious hole that Sen. John McCain and the republican party have found themselves in, the campaign must go on. The latest New York Times/CBS news poll, as well as many others, continue to show Barack Obama on top and further consolidating his lead over Mr. McCain among many groups of voters. However grim it may look, McCain is not giving in just yet, the republican campaign has dug itself in and doesn't plan to lose anymore ground with the remaining time left before election day. Karl Rove, former chief strategist for President George Bush, and many others have been quoted as describing the days ahead as an "uphill battle," but adding that it is indeed conceivable for McCain to still win. Advisers of the McCain campaign have said that their major focus is now set on winning back republican states where the democratic party has them on the run, namely: Florida (where McCain visited Thursday), Indiana, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, and Virginia. If they can do that, then a McCain win could happen. Even with polling numbers showing it as a practical impossibility, the republicans don't seem worried, siting talk of how polling has been more problematic this year than ever. With Obama and Biden slipping up over the weekend, the republican campaign has found some footing and is looking forward to the days ahead.

Palin speaks out on fashion misinformation
Republican vice presidential nominee, Gov. Sarah Palin, spoke out today in an interview with the Chicago Tribune today about the $150,000 wardrobe which has been the focus of the media attention this week on the campaign trail. In an article picked up by the Los Angeles Times, Palin said "[The] whole thing is just, bad! Oh, if people only knew how frugal we are." She goes on to deny that the clothes are worth the reported $150,000 and that they will be given back, auctioned off, or given to charity, making sure to add that most of the clothes have yet to leave the hold of her plane.

Virginia could effect more than the White House
The Washington Post reported today on an interesting statistic in the history of the battleground state of Virginia. It seems that since 1976, the party that wins the White House loses the governor's race the following year. This being the case, the four competing candidates for the position of governor next year, are certainly keeping their eyes on the polls. It appears that over the years, the Virginia voters have picked up a habit for shunning the party that controls the white house when it comes to voting for governor. However, some say, that with all the work the Obama campaign has put into the state over the past year, things could change in the event of an Obama victory in November and alter Virginia's reputation. That democratic parties foothold in the state is greater than its ever been and both the pundits and the polls have Obama out in front. Even though the possibility of a McCain victory is still possible, the outlook is still promising.

Photo Credit: Stephen Crowley/The New York Times

Rhetorical Flourishes

Obama clears up Biden's remarks
The media took notice today as Sen. Obama did his best to clear up comments made by his running mate, Sen. Joe Biden, this past Sunday at a fund-raising event in Seattle. Biden, the Democratic vice presidential candidate, was quoted by The Washington Post as saying, "Mark my words. It will not be six months before the world tests Barack Obama like they did John Kennedy. The world is looking." The comments have been used by the McCain campaign to try and imply that Obama is not prepared to lead in this dangerous world, going back to their original attacks on his experience and how it would affect his leadership. Along with the post, The New York Times followed the story, reporting on how Obama took time during his campaigning today to defend the comments and ward off any misconceptions about what Biden was trying to say. “I think Joe, sometimes, engages in rhetorical flourishes," Obama said. He went on to explain that he is no more likely to be tested under those circumstances than his opponent Sen. McCain would be, doing his best to make it clear that Biden's core point was that the next administration is going to be tested, inheriting a handful of really big problems, no matter who it is.

McCain looks towards upset

In other news, the Los Angeles Times covered McCain as he spoke in New Hampshire, the state that launched his bid for the presidency eight years ago, and once again this year. While there, McCain used his upset primary victories in the state in both 2000 and 2008 to urge voters to ignore his sagging pole numbers and help put him into the white house. Over the years, McCain has spent a lot of time in the state and mentioned how "[he couldn't] think of any place [he'd] rather be than running an underdog campaign in the state of New Hampshire."

Tax Cuts and Al Queda
On the other side of the race, Obama was in Virginia, clearing up comments made by Biden, but also making a point to defend his tax policies. One of the major topics since the "Joe the plumer" debate, both campaigns have been criticizing one another's policies in this area. However, Obama made it clear once again that the Senator from Arizona had already voted against tax cuts for the wealthiest of americans once in the past, and was now calling out Obama as a socialist for wanting to make sure they did not get tax cuts under his policy. The McCain campaign had some clearing up of their own to do today, as reported by the Los Angeles Times, R. James Woolsey, a former CIA director who supports the Arizona Republican, made it clear that any endorsement by Al Queda of McCain was an obvious ploy to destroy the Senator's campaign, a "kiss of death," and in reality showed their support for Obama and a quicker removal of troops from Iraq.

Opinion

Out of all three newspapers, I would have to say that the Los Angeles Times did the best job with their coverage today. Although the Washington Post and the New York Times covered the clearing up of Biden's comments by Obama, I felt that they focused too much on the "he said, she said" aspect of the comments. As the media does all too often, especially in this political campaign, they focused on the bickering, and misinterpretation of the parties over one of the candidates words rather than on the more important issues. Although the LA Times did cover the Biden slip up, they also took the time to follow McCain and cover some important issues surrounding both campaigns rather than just one topic.

Photo Credit: AP Photo/John Froschauer

In it, to Win it!

More Campaignin'

Sen. John McCain's campaign is in Pennsylvania right now, trying to gain the votes of citizens from a state that was blue in 2004. The New York Times reported that McCain has even taken money out of commercial campaigns in other borderline states in order to put it in Pennsylvania. Sen. Barack Obama's campaign, now in Florida, does not seem shaken by McCain's play for a state seemingly loyal to the Democratic Party. They are not even scheduled to visit Pennsylvania again before the election.

The Los Angeles Times reported that McCain has been down playing Obama's ability to stand up to an attack if elected. Obama is concentrating on economic issues and how they affect those of us on "Main Street" saying that he felt the current administration and McCain don't understand the issues facing regular Americans.

Not Just Joe Funding Obama's Campaign

The Washington Post reported today that Obama's internet donations that amounted to his record breaking campaign fundraising were only a quarter raised by small donations. While this is still impressive, it is slightly less than President Bush's campaign raised in 2004 by voters with small donations (under $200). Obama still managed to get more donors than Bush's campaign, they just amounted to less as a whole financially. Some Republicans have even come away impressed by Obama's record-breaking campaign. Over 3 million people donated to his campaign according to Jan Baran, a Republican, in the Post.

Impressive

Obama has run a financially impressive campaign. While I think it would be in his best interest to visit Pennsylvania before election day, I think it gives him an image of confidence to say that he is not scheduling another visit. It would seem safe to say right now that Obama is one day closer to the White House, but such statements are too premature in a nation where anything is possible.

Photo Credit: Ricky Carioti / The Washington Post

Good Day for Obama

More Colin Powell Talk
More talk today of Colin Powell's endorsement of Senator Barack Obama. The New York Times noted more reasons for Powell's endorsement because he feels our next president has a duty to refinish the name of America that the current administration has tarnished. The article also noted that Powell himself considered running to be the first black president in 1996, but decided not to. Friends of Powell in the article also expressed that he felt John McCain hadn't done enough of his homework on national security and therefore would make a good president but not as good as Obama.
The Los Angeles Times also contributed to the Colin Powell endorsement conversation, in a combined article discussing his record breaking fundraising for his campaign in September that amounted to $150 million. With these recent findings, Obama seems likely to become president. Powell was also quoted in the article as saying that Gov. Sarah Palin was not ready to be president should something happen to McCain and that was the job of a vice president.
Obama leads
Obama is leading in the polls taken by Washington Post-ABC News daily tracking poll. The Washington Post noted that these polls are not much different than Monday's polls of last week, except in some sub-polls there is more support for McCain. One sub-poll in which McCain is doing better is that people feel he would be a change from the current administration. This poll also notes that it is not only conducted on land lines, but also cell phones. Some would conclude from this that the pollers are more understanding of the generational shift from the common use of land lines.
And...
So today, no doubt, has been a positive one in the media for Obama. While the polls say that he is likely to win, we all know that polls are not always the most reliable when it comes to elections, especially in elections when race has become a factor because people will say they are voting for one person but do the opposite in the enclosed booth. Let's hope that Obama's race isn't the deciding vote for America, and that we are passed our shameful past where people were judged by the color of their skin.

(Photo Credit : Emmanuel Dunand / AFP/Getty Images)

Colin Powell and Black voters

Colin Powel Endorses Obama

Despite reports that Republican Colin Powell's endorsement of Democratic Senator Barack Obama is not surprising (LA times and NY times) there is a lot interest in the endorsement as the story is headlining all three followed publication's websites on the campaign. The Washington Post notes that Powell was not willing to support Obama based on his race, but only if he proved himself worthy of the position. He felt that after considering the debates and other aspects of their campaign that Obama was a more fitting candidate for the American people. Powell expressed disdain for McCain's campaign for its negative draw on Muslims and selection of Governor Sarah Palin as a running mate.

Black Voter Concerns

A long overdue issue of this election year addressed by the LA times today are the feelings of black voters and the question of the possibility of a black president that hangs in the balance. While many Americans would like to believe that race is not an issue for some Americans it may decide their vote. Many are skeptical that a black president will be allowed to take the office and the presidential race is being seen as an indicator of how far the American people have come in civil rights and not about the candidate's policies. A loss for Obama could indicate for some that America is backsliding and a win would show how far we have come from the dark days of slavery.

Obama Campaign Contributions

Something should be said of the ability of a politician to inspire the pocketbooks of Americans. While America and the world are in financial crisis, Obama supports have found it in their budgets to raise $150 million for his campaign in September alone reports the NY times. Some of these contributions have been questioned by the Republican National Convention, but Obama's campaign promises to give back any donations that are questionable (Washington Post).

Photo Credit: Meet the Press

New Record, Voter Eligibitity Questions, and a "socialistic" Tax Plan

High Advertising

Sen. Barack Obama is looking to pass President Bush's record in advertising spending from 2004. Sen. Obama is expected to break that mark of $188 million this up coming week. He is reported by the NY Times to have spent four times as much as Sen. John McCain, who has spent $91 million since becoming his party's nominee months before Sen. Obama. “We’ve certainly seen heavy advertising battles before. But we’ve never seen in a presidential race one side having such a lopsided advantage.” said Kenneth M. Goldstein, the director of the Advertising Project at the University of Wisconsin. Sen. Obama has been running advertisements repeatedly day and night, on local stations and on the major broadcast networks, and even on video games, such as Guitar Hero. He is expected to announce in the next few days that he raised more than $100 million in September, a figure that would shatter fund-raising records. This could turn out to be the major factor in putting Sen. Obama in the White House.

Voter Eligibility

Thousands of voters across the country must reestablish their voter eligibility in order for their vote to count on Nov. 4. New state registration systems are incorrectly rejecting voter registration. The Washington Post reported that in Wisconsin officials admit that their database is wrong one out of five times when it flags voters. It could be a problem as small as a middle initial or a typo in a birth date. The systems are questioning the registrations of many voters when discrepancies surface between their registration information and other official records, often because of errors outside voters' control. The change was required by federal law and was agreed by many as a more efficient and accurate way to keep lists up to date. As states switch from locally managed lists of voters to statewide databases, the scramble to verify voter registrations is happening. Since all this has occurred, it has led to a dozen lawsuits. Because many voters may not know that their names have been flagged, eligibility questions could cause confusion on Election Day. This could end up to have a huge impact on the election. Keep a close eye on this story.

Socialistic tax plan?

The battle of both candidates to bash each others tax plan continues, as Sen. McCain says Sen. Obama's plan "sounded a lot like socialism." And referred to it as a "phony tax cut." Sen McCain said," At least in Europe, the socialist leaders who so admire my opponent are upfront about their objectives." While in Missouri, Sen. Obama readdressed his plan stressing the fact the 95 percent of working Americans were not going to see a tax increase. Although he did not directly address Sen. McCain's use of the term "socialism," he did address the fact that Sen. McCain has been referring to his tax plan as "welfare." Sen. Obama wants to "convert the IRS into a giant welfare agency, redistributing massive amounts of wealth at the direction of politicians in Washington," Sen. McCain was reported saying by the LA Times. In response Sen. Obama had this to say: "He must be the first politician in history to call a tax cut for working people 'welfare.' " Sen. Obama then reminded the people how Sen. McCain's plan is "to give another $200 billion in tax cuts to the wealthiest companies in America." I see this battle continuing all the way till Nov.4, where the fate of each candidate will be in the hands of the American people.

My Opinion

It paid off for President Bush in 2004, will it pay off for Sen. Obama in 2008? only time will tell if that $188 million was money well spent.

It would be a shame if voters' right to vote gets lost because of a new system that was thought to help, but only caused problems. What's the old saying,"Don't fix whats not broken?" That didn't seemed to be the philosophy in the case of many voters having to reestablish their voter eligibility because of a new system that was thought to be more efficient and more accurate.

It's clear that time is running out for Sen. McCain. He has to put all his cards on the table to try and get into the White House. He is doing so when using terms like "socialism" and "phony tax cut." I do believe the American people are smarter than that and will not be persuaded as Sen. McCain hopes.

In 2004 they were Red could they be Blue in 2008?

Colorado

Mail-in voter ballots. Nearly half the state of Colorado's registered voters are calling in for mail-in voter ballots.The NY Times wrote an interesting article on this topic. In recent years, mail-in voting was was done mainly by people who lived in rural areas. But this year it's said to be different, Sen. Barack Obama and his campaign staff made the push for mail-in voting ballots first.Their motive is obvious, to get a higher voter turn out. There have been two recent statewide polls that suggested a dead heat in Colorado. Both the latest CNN/Time poll and one conducted by Suffolk University in Boston give Sen. Obama a four-point advantage, an edge that falls within each poll’s margin of sampling error. Volunteers for Sen. John McCain and other Republican candidates are hand-delivering information packets in a county that usually has a Republican stronghold. They know this county has the ability to push the state over one way or another.

Virginia

Over the next two days both parties will be visiting the key state of Virginia. A State where a Democrat has not won since Lyndon B. Johnson 44 years ago.The Washington Post reported that Sen. Obama seems to have the advantage, having nearly three times as many offices, and helped register about a half million new voters who are believed, by state officials, to support the Democrat.

Florida

Sen. McCain is finding himself having to defend grounds that have been Republican states in recent elections. North Carolina, Virginia, Ohio, Missouri and obviously Florida, are all states captured by Republicans in 2004 and where polls show Sen. Obama running strongly. In Florida Sen. McCain is continuing his broken record of quoting Sen. Obama on wanting to spread the wealth around. The LA Times reported this quote: "Senator Obama says that he wanted to spread your wealth around," McCain told the crowd. "When politicians talk about taking your money and spreading it around, you'd better hold onto your wallet." Sen. Obama made the statement of "spreading the wealth around" when answering a question from the recent celebrity, "Joe the Plumber." Sen. Barack Obama was also quoted by the LA Times here: "Sen. McCain doesn't look like President Bush, he doesn't have that Texas accent like President Bush. And I don't blame Sen. McCain for all of President Bush's mistakes," Obama said. "After all, he's only voted with George Bush 90% of the time."

Both presidential candidates have already laid out their plan if elected into the White House. Since there is not much time left, each party is trying to get all the votes they can. At this point I'm not sure if it's about showing the American people why their plan is better for our country over the other's plan. I see both just trying to prove that the other's plan is worse than their own. For Sen. McCain it seems he is battling in states he didn't necessarily think he would be this late in the campaign. For Sen. Obama, I would imagine, he is feeling confident with a slight sense of worry, knowing anything could still happen.

Photograph of Obama supporters who held a debate party and all plan to vote by mail.

by: Carmel Zucker for The New York Times

Big Talk on 'Joe the Plumber'

The third and final debate Wednesday night was possibly the best yet. As the moderator, Bob Schieffer stayed on top of his game and continued to keep the ball rolling and get direct answers from both presidential candidates the best he could.
The debate covered many topics from health care to the negative tone of both campaigns.
But what the big question across the media has been is, "Who is Joe the plumber?" And is he related to "Joe six pack?" Who Gov. Sarah Palin mentioned in order to try and relate with people across the nation in her one and only debate against Sen. Joe Biden.
The answer is no. "Joe the plumber" is actually Joe Wurzelbacher from Ohio. Recently Wurzelbacher asked Sen. Barack Obama about his plan to raise taxes on people making a net profit of over $250,000 a year. Wurzelbacher was planning on buying the plumbing business he has been working for, but now may have to double think that one. If Wurzelbacher did decide to buy the business, it would be one of few small businesses to make it into the higher tax bracket. According to Sen. Obama 98 percent of small businesses would not see a nickle increase. But unfortunately for Wurzelbacher his would be in that small two percent and receive higher taxes.
“You know what Senator Obama had to say to Joe?” Mr. McCain asked. “That he wanted to spread his wealth around, he wanted to spread his wealth. What does that mean? He wants government to take Joe’s money and give it to somebody else. His hard-earned dollars! We’re not going to stand for that. America didn’t become the greatest nation on earth by spreading the wealth; we became the greatest nation by creating new wealth.” As reported by the NY Times.
Sen. Obama explained to Wurzelbacher that with 95 percent of Americans receiving tax breaks, they will be able to afford to higher him of his services. He believes that we must build from the bottom up, and if the working class is doing well, then our country is doing well.
McCain "is trying to suggest a plumber is the guy he's fighting for," Obama said in New Hampshire. "How many plumbers you know making a quarter million dollars a year?" The LA Times reported.
In previous debates Obama has pointed out that Sen. John McCain wants to give tax cuts to some of the largest corporations in the nation, which includes, Exxon Mobile Corp.


Photograph by Seema Mehta and Michael Muskal