Obama will win provided 5 things happen (IMO)

1. The supporters of the candidates get over themselves and the 'slights' they have felt inflicted upon them. As smarter people here have said, "This election is not just about you, me or the guy living on the street." This election is about all of us.
I supported Edwards and was offended by a few things that supporters of both sides said about Edwards while Edwards was in the primaries and after he called it quits. But, I know those comments were NOT written by Sen Obama or Sen Clinton and they did NOT reflect the majority opinion of either sides supporters or the candidates themselves.

2. In line with number 1. People don't go looking for reasons NOT to vote for Sen Obama. If you go through everything Obama (or anyone for that matter) has ever said or done, you can find many reasons not to like them.
I was not particularly thrilled with the anti-homosexual ass-hat he had at a rally or his comments about reagan.
But, if I compare that to the many good things he's said and done (he's my US Senator) in terms of constituent responsiveness, his opposition to no child ever educated act (NCLBA), his willingness to go back and look at all free-trade agreements we've made, his support for bring troops home, etc, his pluses far outweigh his minuses.

3. If people get out and talk up Obama to their friends and co-workers about Obama.
Contrary to what many people have said, what the Clinton campaign has said about Obama really will mean nothing come November.
The fact is, most people don't really believe what politicians say, because we all figure, they're lying sacks of crap -- and 90% of them are.
But, people do care what their friends say. If they hear mcbush say something negative about Sen Obama, they're less likely to believe it if we're out there refuting that point.
It's human nature to believe what people we like and trust say.

4. Sen Obama and Sen Clinton come to an amicable end. One of the 5 worst video moments for the Democratic Party in the last 1/2 century came in 1980, when Jimmy Carter has to go over to Sen Edward Kennedy and raise Kennedy's hand.
Kennedy looked sick. He didn't look like he was supporting Carter at all.

5. And this is the MOST important thing...Get the F*CK out and vote. It's great to talk about how you support Obama and you've sent money to his campaign and you've canvassed. If you don't vote, it doesn't matter.
Don't say, "Oh, well. I know others have voted." Hell, they may be saying the same thing and then we lose lots of votes because we're too busy.

Sen Obama (for that matter anyone running for any office) can only do so much.
The way to deflect negative press coverage (like 'invented internet') is to be ready with facts.
It's all on us. If we don't work and support AND VOTE, he won't win.
I mean, why would a fence sitter want to get fired up and support a man, his own supporters seem indifferent to?

1. We have a presidential election on November 4th.

2. Obama continues breathing.

I am genuinely concerned about your second requirement. It would be all too easy for a psychotic to get him at long range during an open air rally. He needs better security or perhaps he could hold all future events indoors. Everyone needs to be X-rayed prior to being allowed entry. Remember what happened to RFK.

They may be having big, loud temper tantrums, but fundamentally that's all it is. It's the wingnut militia/Stormfront/freeper/Minuteman types we should be concerned about.

I think we have to trust in the Secret Service, and hope that they're every bit as good as they're supposed to be.

Vietnam. As per standard procedure I asked him about the election. He said that he didn't know but he had heard that Obama was a Muslim.

He had told me earlier. that he was a Protestant, and he was proud that he was different than most Vietnamese who are Catholic or Buddhist.


So I changed the subject and in a few minutes I came back to the subject saying, "I understand you are a Buddhist."

He disagreed and I was insistent and we went back and forth. I then said your name is Nguyen right? Yes. Most Nguyens are Buddhist right? Yes. Then you are a Buddhist right? Then he finally got it. After 5 minutes he was fired up and ready to go and because he now saw how his co workers assumed he was Buddhist and that he was in the same exact position as Obama.

:toast:

Kudos rpannier! :applause: :hi: