McCain's Campaign Motto

It is clear that Sen. John McCain is in a tight race in Florida with Gov. Mitt Romney. Both men have substantial support in the state and each is trying desperately to set the tone and principle issue. For Romney it is the economy and for McCain it is national security. Yet, it appears more and more clear that McCain is perhaps taking the national security issue a bit too far. Two days ago, he inaccurately accused Romney of favoring public timetables for troop withdraw, which he does not. Then yesterday, McCain approached the American people with a new campaign promise. Oh, you might ask, what is this American hero and long time legislator going to offer our country? Lower taxes? Better health care? Reduction in our dependency on foreign oil? No, in the words of John McCain, "my friends" the Senator is offering us more wars. More wars?!?!?! That's right, straight from the Senator's mouth, if John McCain is elected president he will give us more wars. Does anyone really think this is a winning political strategy? I never have viewed McCain as a warmonger but I am beginning to question his commitment to peace.

History in South Carolina?

Last night, Barack Obama soundly defeated Hillary Clinton and John Edwards to win the South Carolina Democratic Primary. Barack's victory clearly gives him an impressive win on which he can build. That said, there are still underlying issues standing in his way (at least as I see the current political environment). Despite the media's renewed confidence in a faltering Clinton campaign and a rising Obama we should not forget Iowa. Even when Obama won Iowa (if the exit polls are to be believed) he only received 36% of the white vote. In South Carolina, despite winning 55% of the overall vote, he won less than a quarter of the white vote. I would like to believe that our country is above racial voting, but clearly there is a divide between the voting blocs. Why can't Obama appeal to white voters in large numbers? Is there a political or racial explanation? I don't know the answer, but his lack of appeal to this voting bloc is not due to a failure to court their support. Obama has waged a clearly unifying campaign. He has not cast himself as the "black" candidate and rarely talks about racial issues. This presents a critical voting problem for Obama, especially as Edwards fades, and the Super Tuesday Primaries are in predominately white/hispanic states. That said, it is clear he has tremendous youth support. In every race he has won the under 30 vote, and usually by wide margins. Additionally, he seems to be attracting large numbers of previously apathetic young voters to the race and the Democratic Party. With this in mind, it is clear the Obama has tapped into something unique within today's youth. I see it everyday in the classroom. Almost, without exception, high school students seem to support this Senator from Illinois. His appeal is strong, and if you simply watch his victory speech from last night, is it any wonder?