The Presidential Election of 2008 is just a few days away, and focus is now shifting from campaign issues to analysis of polls and swing states. Recent statistics have shown that Senator Barack Obama (D-Ill.) has established his position as the favorite over Senator John McCain (R-Ari.), according to national polls.
Experts can confidently chalk up traditionally red states like Texas and Tennessee for McCain, as well as classic blue states such California and New York for Obama. Where this election becomes unpredictable is in the battleground states when one takes into account the variables involved in this race; many of which have not been as prominent in past elections.
In the past, college-aged voters have disappointed in terms of turnout on Election Day. Hype has not historically translated into results, but this year’s election seems to have captured the attention of college campuses across the nation. And as Professor Peter Dreier of Occidental College points out in his column on thenation.com, that age group is strongly backing Obama.
Virtually every major national poll has Obama ahead of McCain overall – largely due to the overwhelming support expected from college students and minorities. This map from the New York Times outlines each states tendency, including what to expect from each in this year’s election.
The states that are not either solid blue or red are considered the battleground states, and will surely make or break McCain in his bid to upset Obama. As Ronald J. Hansen of the Arizona Republic writes, Virginia and Pennsylvania could prove to be two of the most important swing states for McCain.
Virginia hasn’t been won by a Democrat in 44 years, but Obama has been ahead in all of the state’s polls. André Razzuri is a senior at Hofstra University from Arlington, Va. Here he offers his thoughts how the election is playing out in Virginia, and his personal view as a college student.
Pennsylvania is a state that McCain has put a lot of money into, but also a state that has Obama as the frontrunner. Eric Marmon is a senior at Hofstra who is originally from Philadelphia, Pa., and he thinks the state is going to favor Obama.
College students, who are considered the Millenial Generation, seem to be threatening to come out in large numbers but still have to back it up. If they do turnout strong, the outcome could potentially help Obama lock up some crucial swing states.
Much has been made over the past week of the Republican Vice-Presidential nominee, Governor Sarah Palin, and the cost of her wardrobe, which was placed on the Republican National Committee’s tab. Reports have indicated that around $150,000 was spent in order to make sure that Gov. Palin (Alaska) would be looking her best on the campaign trail. As a result, much has been made of how these facts damage Palin’s self-portrayed image as a down-to-earth, hockey mom who comes from a simple background.
During this age of the internet, an issue such as this, especially when it’s one that bloggers and web surfers can easily poke fun at, can take on a life of its own. When this story hit the airwaves, criticism in multiple forms was immediately directed towards Republicans, who have tried to play down the issue, citing their desire to refocus on politics.
In a major public relations push, Palin has attempted to address the matter both on the campaign and through the media. She granted the Chicago Tribune an exclusive interview to address the subject, while the New York Times reported on what she had to say to supporters at a campaign rally in Florida.
In the meantime, vast arrays of web sources have found unique ways to convey their own opinions. SarahPalinExposed.com has taken this opportunity to throw more fuel into the fire, while newspaper blogs such as this one from the Chicago Sun Times have given internet-goers a chance to talk about their own thoughts on the issue.
You can find people who take many different sides on the story, such as Maureen Dowd of the New York Times, who says Republican’s have treated Palin like a Barbie doll, or Bonnie Fuller of the Huffington Post, who talks about the double standard applied to women in politics today.
No matter which position you take on the issue, you can surely find others who think similarly somewhere on the Web. With the election now almost a week away, everything including the kitchen sink will be thrown into the ring, with thousands of internet sources looking to land a knockout punch for their own cause.
Here's a look at a few more multimedia links based Gov. Palin and her wardrobe:
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