Ustwo

Regional differences in the US might be more interesting than I thought.

I have a friend I keep in frequent contact with in the south. Shes a mild conservative. She wanted to talk politics the other day because 'The Republicans were giving the White House to Hilary' (whom she can't stand).

Her reasoning was that McCain was going to win the Republican nomination, and McCain doesn't have conservative support, so come November they will stay home on election day, while someone like Romney could win the national election.

Now my take was just the opposite. I see McCain as having the best chance in a national election for the republicans, as he will have moderate support and the die hard conservatives would rather have him than a socialist so they might not 'like' him but they will vote for him anyways. I also see Obama as the democrats best hope in a national election as well as he has the least baggage and the press is trying to turn him into JFK.

Her issue with Obama was that he was black and that a lot of southern democrats just won't vote for a black man period. Shes a reporter so shes a bit more in touch with people, and maybe this is true. Her personal example to me was her father who is a life long "liberal", who worked for Edwards campaign, and who would never vote for Obama simply because hes black.

Now to me the interesting thing is here isn't our opinions on merit. I don't know KNOW if McCain has the best shot, I haven't done that much homework on it, I just think being a long time 'uniter' will play well for him nationally. Its interesting that we see the trends to be so different and that issues that don't seem to be issues here in my area are so big in hers. Where I am, if anything, we are SICK of hearing about Obama's race, and the concern is that someone with a strong religious background will hurt more than help this election. Her's is that race is important and that McCain won't carry the republican base.

She might be right, or at least right for her area, but its just fascinating to me that despite this being the information age, where it doesn't matter where you are on the planet if you have the right and inexpensive equipment, you can be in touch with anyone anywhere, anytime, we still have differences in attitude only a few hundred miles apart, in the same country, and loosely the same political beliefs.

So is this just us having a different opinion or have those of you who travel a lot or have friends in different parts of the country see major differences on how people view the upcoming election?

Oh and just a side note: IF you want to discuss the merits of a candidate or their lack of merit in relation to another's post, do so in another thread. I am putting a hex on anyone who tries to argue peoples opinion on the candidates is wrong or that their meat puppet is the best.

__________________
Agents of the enemies who hold office in our own government, who attempt to eliminate our "freedoms" and our "right to know" are posting among us, I fear.....on this very forum. - host

Obama - Know a Man by the friends he keeps.