Part Two - The Blue Donkeys

Since my last column, Huckabee has almost run out of cash, the guy from Law & Order dropped out of the race, Romney is losing what little steam he had, Rudy isn't doing nearly as well in Florida as was expected (sorry, Duane), and John McCain has somehow become the Republican front runner. And so it goes.
I give you, the Democrats.

John Edwards
Let's just get him out of the way, shall we? I still haven't figured out how, but a monumental bore has managed to find himself in a close and respectable third place among the Democrats. Maybe his stolen Bill Clinton thumb gesture is what puts me off about this guy, but it doesn't really make a difference either way, since it's a two-person race on the Democratic side. Still, it will be interesting, when he doesn't win the party nomination, to see which candidate will get his run-off votes.

Hillary Clinton
I believe women are just as smart as men, and that we are just as capable of analyzing, strategizing, and problem solving. I think a woman could be President, but I do not think a woman SHOULD be President, least of all Hillary Clinton. The President's image is detrimental to America's reputation, and in a world where women aren't yet globally accepted as equals, having a female stand as the figurehead for "The Most Powerful Country in the World" is not going to do much to restore their ever-shrinking credibility. Now, before all you feminists start burning the "Traitor Gina" flag, I'm not saying she's any less capable than her male counterparts (well, most of them, anyway). But, in my opinion, women who are in powerful positions like Hillary shouldn't waste their time defending their gender and fighting critics who don't want them to have the glory. She could easily run the country in the background, perhaps as Vice President, let a man take the credit, but still make sure things are handled "her way" (gee, sounds like a marriage).
Another thing, do Americans want a leader who gets choked up when asked about the pressures of running a campaign? I doubt it. Whether her tears were strategic or genuine, a President should be able to keep his/her emotions in check. Composure is key, and I think Hillary has the gender disadvantage on this one.
Add to this her image and likability issues, and things get even worse. Whether it's her wooden demeanor or those ill-fitting pantsuits, she isn't appealing to female voters to the same extent as was expected. I can't really explain the reason for my distaste, except that it's a girl thing. She's like the rich soccer mom who smiles at the rest of us, then goes home and makes fun of our shoes and then fires her maid for not using the right fabric softener. There's just something very insincere about her.
And let's not forget - electing Hillary would mean letting the "First Gentleman" roam around the Oval Office again, and you saw how that worked out last time.

Barack Obama
Like a beacon of light, Obama is drawing people into his vision for a better America. He has a presence that makes him very Presidential. His speech, the way he greets and receives people, his body language, all speak to a natural leadership quality and likability, factors which should not be underestimated in this election. Americans are looking for "The Candidate of Change", and Obama wisely made that his mantra from the beginning. He is seen as the new Messiah of politics, a man with a vision of a better country, and voters are lapping it up, Oprah or no Oprah. His image is helped by his humble beginnings and his admissions of youthful stupidity, so he doesn't come off as pretentious. His attitude is hopeful, and his focus is on a happy ending for everyone. It all sounds a little too good to be true, but even the smear campaigns brought about by his rivals, aren't doing much to stop the Obama train from chugging swiftly down the track to a November victory. Voters nationwide are craving and demanding change, and it doesn't matter which color skin actually delivers this change, contrary to some assumptions. There is a lot to be said about a man whose concession speech in New Hampshire was more inspiring and much better received than the winner's victory speech. Hopefully he'll be able to keep the momentum going and come out on top, as he'd beat any Republican at this point. Who knows, maybe he'll even ask that Hillary chick to be his running mate.

Who's going to win? I'd bet on a Democrat over a Republican, and it will probably be Hillary Clinton, much to my disappointment. Now that I have that out of my system, you won't hear me talk about the election again, I promise. Adam Cooke does a better job of politics anyway.