October 15th, 2008

Undecided? Time’s Up!

©Getty Images, WSJ

If you’re among the 13-15% of voters that remain undecided (as of yesterday), I’m here to tell you: it’s time to decide. The debates are done - the positions have been stated and argued. Their cases for leadership have been made; it’s time for the jury to deliberate the outcome.

Ok, technically you do have a few weeks left, but my point is this: the campaign is (mercifully!) coming to a close. Barring some huge gaffe or kerfuffle by one of the candidates, I don’t see a lot changing in the next few weeks. At least, I don’t see a big swing to McCain reversing Obama’s steady rise in the polls.

Why are undecided voters important? This election still could be as close as any in recent history (though it’s hard to imagine a closer one than in 2000). Today’s undecided voters will decide this election. My wife said to me last night that she’s still undecided. I’m glad she has a few more weeks to examine the evidence, consider the arguments, and weigh the character of the candidates.

Have you decided? Was it an easy decision? If you’ve not decided, what issue do you need to resolve before deciding?

Much love for all you patriots out there weighing the issues and the leaders. God bless America!

Posted in Life

Responses

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Responses

Some of this is just a difference in the way people process. I tend to just gather, gather, gather information and impressions without making any formal conclusions - other than I generally feel good or not so good about a given topic or person. I need to spend one good evening with pencil & paper, fact checking on the issues that are important to me before I’ll be ready to mail in my ballot. So I don’t know if it’s so much that I can’t decide between the two, but rather that I haven’t taken the time that I need to clarify my choice. You, on the other hand, analyze and draw conclusions as you gather your information. Yours is a quicker way of getting things done - like voting - but I’d like to think that my modus operandi is as effective.

Interesting points, wife. I probably started really comparing the candidates a little earlier, too. Election day is coming fast!

With the issues being as complex and manifold as we have these days, I just don’t think it’s possible to have a completely good feeling about one or the other. Maybe some do, I can’t imagine feeling good about all positions a given candidate possesses.

Colin Powell has made his mind up (video, NYT article).

I’ve decided now. And it’s not even November yet.

Having decided doesn’t matter if you don’t fill in the ovals and get the ballot in the mail (by tomorrow). Hmmm - what are you doing this fine Thursday evening?

I would be working on my ballot.

I’m still undecided. It’s 2 days before the election, and I’m still in data-gathering mode. I see a number problems with both candidates, so I’m not excited for either. :-(

Frank, some things that crystallized it for me were Powell’s interview (above) and Fareed Zakaria’s The Case For Barack Obama. In case anyone was wondering where I stand…

Good points, well reasoned, from voices I trust.

The Zakaria article (he’s a Newsweek columnist): http://www.newsweek.com/id/164498