Thursday, October 30, 2008

COUNTDOWN BEGINS!

It is just six days to go! The race to the White House enters its last and decisive phase. Polls, pollsters and analysts suggest Obama already has his foot in the door. Likes of me who have betted on McCain’s win are busy making bailout plans! “What happened to my claims made in my September 15 article where I extolled you to bet with me,” you are probably asking. The factors I had mentioned in support of my arguments favoring McCain’s win still stand and valid. But no one could have predicted the catastrophic events that followed after I wrote that article. The financial meltdown, the unprecedented collapse of financial institutions in America and across Europe, and anticipated deep and prolonged economic crisis starring in the eye, all these have changed the world we used to know. The American people will remember all these happened under the Republican watch and might vote for change when they go to vote on November 4 (or those who have already cast early votes) even though it would mean electing relatively inexperienced person into the office.

And I could not have anticipated McCain’s campaign managers to be so inept and so poor in their judgment. People are fed up of the negative tone of McCain’s campaign. The consistently negative focus of the McCain’s campaign has even had many Republican supporters drifting away from McCain. Former Republican secretary of state Collin Powell’s declaration of his support to Obama was more out of the exasperation at the way the McCain campaign was going than anything else. At a time when American people are worried about their future, they want to hear from their presidential candidates some constructive things and not just finger pointing. Obama has realized what Americans want at this juncture and has been wisely structuring his campaign speeches accordingly, while McCain’s is still overwhelmingly focused on personality. Add to it Sarah Palin’s reported wardrobe and makeup excesses, and her reported conflicts with other top advisors of McCain, you have a potent recipe for self-destruction.

I am still not taking off my bets on McCain and would not advise you to do that either. Because I still believe that the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election is different in the sense that it could be one of those rare times when results challenged popular polls and perception. The Americans are greatly worried and confused lot about who would be better choice that could lead them out of the current tumultuous time and secure their economic future. I have a gut feeling that the fortune of McCain might change in his favor that last moment in the polling booths when the voter would suddenly feel that it is not the time to do any experiment with their future and so better vote for experience rather than what otherwise their right choice would be. But I would certainly want you to cover the risk by betting on Obama in equivalent that would square up your position.

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