I can't believe what my eyes are telling me. There are only 49 days until the election on November 4th, and both campaigns are going full throttle until the end. Although the primary season was long, the conventions seemed to fly by, and now both candidates are at each other's throat. LET THE MUD SLINGIN' BEGIN!
Since the Republican convention last week in St. Paul, John McCain has seen a jump in the polls, as did Obama last month after his nomination speech. However, it is Sarah Palin that seems to have taken the spotlight off McCain. Recent polls show John McCain ahead anywhere from 3-5%. This lead could be explained by the 'pit bull in lipstick'. Gov. Palin has received a very warm welcome from the Republican base, and proud hockey moms are uniting with the McCain-Palin ticket. Palin has unquestionably charged the Republican Party, but is she bringing in new voters?
We have heard time and time again that it is the undecided and independent voters that will decide this election. News stations across the country are also obsessed with Hillary supporters and wonder where they will lean come November. Instead of wondering, I decided to talk to some young voters that were hanging around campus, and get their take. "I'm a democrat and am excited to vote for Obama," explained Douglas Wright, 20. "I supported Hillary in January, but Sarah Palin is definitely no Hillary." Doug told me that when it comes to issues, Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin are polar opposites. "Hillary Clinton was a woman who was pro-choice, pro-stem cell research, believed in climate change, and had extensive experience compared to Palin. I voted for Clinton because of her politics and stances, not because of her sex." He said he was confused by voters who wanted to side with Palin because of, what he believed to be, her personality. "This is an election about where America is going, not about who is going to make the best smart remarks in the White House." Andrea Tuhl, 22, disagrees. "McCain was always my pick from the beginning. Sarah Palin made me more excited about the election."
Deciding who undecided and independent voters are going to support in November may be an impossible task just yet, and may continue to be impossible until Election Day. Nevada, which has 5 electoral votes, can make or break a candidate's campaign. A swing state, like Nevada, is the front lines in the continuing battle for the presidency.