Last of Our Kind

According to CNN/TIME Magazine, Barack Obama is up in five key swing states.

Florida: Obama 51, McCain 47
-- Minnesota: Obama 54, McCain 43
-- Missouri: Obama 49, McCain 48
-- Nevada: Obama 51, McCain 47
-- Virginia: Obama 53, McCain 44

I know there are over thirty days left until Election Day. I know the Republican spin machine and McCain will turn this news around and say everything will change, but let’s look at some reasons why these numbers are changing.



1. Sarah Palin will not shut up. I know, I know, I know, at first everyone (including us at Last of Our Kind) wanted Sarah Palin to stand up and tell us where she stands. We wanted to hear her speak and know what defines her as a human being and a candidate. Well, she has now spoken and reminded us all of the reason she has been kept under lock and key. It is because she has nothing to say, and when she tries to speak she trips on herself so bad it becomes a Saturday Night Live sketch. Need I remind you how verbatim the latest sketch was?

2. Elderly voters are swaying. I was watching MSNBC the other day and there was an older retired woman making a comment on her shrinking IRA. She said, “I guess it’s better if I don’t live so long.” Take a moment to let that sink in… Now she gave a chuckle while saying that, but it was one of those ‘I have to laugh because I'm serious’ moments. There are people facing life or death decisions because of the situation the economy is in, and we know John McCain just doesn’t get it because…

3. John McCain said, “The fundamentals of the economy are strong.” We may be getting repetitive on the failures of leadership John McCain is showing. We certainly write about it regularly, but it is important to remind people that complete lack of leadership John McCain has showed since the financial crisis has exploded into the headlines and hands of taxpayers.

4. George W. Bush has another disaster to add to his legacy. Just when you thought he was done being a bad president, just when you thought Katrina, and Iraq, and Abu Ghraib, and domestic spying, and Walter Reed were bad enough, the economy is a disaster. Thank you Mr. President for leaving an even bigger mess for your successor.

5. Barack Obama is organized. Everyone knows how well he is organized, but people don’t realize how that translates into votes. According to the AP “Since the last federal election in 2006 …more than 2 million Democrats [were added] to voter rolls in the 28 states that register voters according to party affiliation. The Republicans have lost nearly 344,000 thousand voters in the same states.” This is simply remarkable.

6. Bill Clinton is finally on board. President Clinton has finally begun to make the rounds on talk shows and swing states praising Senator Obama. He claims Obama has the “better answers” and continuously says Obama will win. Thank you Mr. President for finally convincing many that have doubted you cared.

7. Partisan politics. Barack Obama has yet to play politics on the economic meltdown. Yes, he ties McCain to George W. Bush as often as he can (because it is true). However, Obama did not take his politics to D.C. during the last week. He went to listen, to offer ideas, and to stand up for middle class voters everywhere. Obama stood by his claim for four key points in the bailout plan and got them. That is true leadership not blowing wherever the wind blows.

8. It is no longer about “Lipstick on a pig.” Times have gotten so tough for people that we no longer care about dumb comments like “Lipstick” and “Pitbulls.” We care about issues. We care about solutions. We care about true leadership that will inspire a future generation to continue to lead this great nation toward higher and higher goals.


9. Joe Biden. Barack Obama showed true leadership in his selection of Joe Biden. Joe Biden has the credibility that critics say Obama does not. And tomorrow Joe Biden will take center stage in his debate with Sarah Palin. Personally I think he will make Sarah Palin look silly. Personally I think that we won’t have to try very hard. Now, this could definitely be the moment where Biden seems like an ogre and attack Palin, or it could be the moment where Palin will stand up and have nothing to say. I’m betting on the latter.


10. Senator Obama represents change. You can’t spin this one. It has been his message from the beginning. Barack Obama wants to go to Washington to make a difference. McCain has tried to steal this message. McCain has tried to say that he will be the true change Washington needs, too bad he represents everything in Washington that needs to change.

This week Obama is winning. There is a lot of time left. Let’s hope the American people aren’t persuaded by spin and lies.