Well, in '04 I voted democrat for the second time in my life(Carter) due to Iraq.

McCain hasn't distanced himself on Iraq policy to suit me and Obama was anti-Iraq from the get go.

Obama is trapped in a box on the campaign finance issue.
When he was unknown with no funds of course he supported public fund campaign financing.
He also couldn't change his tune with Hillary ready to pounce if he wavered.

Now, he's looking at a choice of either a 84 million public fund limit
or the 265 million he's already sitting on with the ability to raise more.
He'd really be an idiot to walk away from that kind of funding.
And you can bet that McCain would do exactly the same if he had that warchest at his disposal.

Truth is Obama will need every penny of it to battle the 527s.
How effective can Left wing 527s really be against McCain?
He is a Vietnam veteran, ex-pow with disabilities in service to his country.

Right wing 527s have an arsenal of pathways....
Black
muslim name
inexperience
liberal
flag pin etc...

The campaign funds are usually reserved for issues and slinging mud with gloves on. They can also be used to refute 527 attacks.

The 527s are anything goes, and McCain has fewer 'dirt' issues.

 

My first election was 1988, I was 18, voted republican, have ever since.

Things are going to get very interesting in the coming months, and I have a feeling that McCain will steadily continue to pull away in the poll of public opinion when Obama's policy decisions come to light.

 

here is my version of campaign finance reform all canadates must finance their campaign out of there own pocket period end of story. no 527s no fund raising just simple how much are you personally willing to loose to be the president of the U.S.

 

I had zero interest in politics at 18.
My first vote was Carter in '76 and I honestly can't tell you why or what was going thru my head.

I do remember 1980, I was 'active' and opinionated and have maintained that level of interest these last 28 years.

In '80 I voted for a third Party candidate named Anderson.
He got 5 - 10 percent, which was a success at the time.
I don't remember whether he pulled more from Reagan or Carter.

By 1984 I was on board with the Reagan machine, and rode it for twenty years.

 

I remember how pissed my father was when Carter won in 1976. I was very young, but I'll remember his reaction forever. My father is 100% German, so he has a good temper. We lived in Va. at the time, and he worked in D.C. He used to do phone work for the (R) party until recently, even has a signed pic of president GW.