The Comeback Kid

With all the excitement that the weeks running up to a US presidential election brings, I couldn't resist coming back for a piece of the action to help out with the final push to get Barack elected. Availing of the teaching mid-term and the generosity of my work and college colleagues, I'm going to be in Albuquerque again today until November 5th, the day after Election Day. I will be assisting in what's called the GOTV drive - which stands for Get Out The Vote.


Although Mc Cain is trailing Obama in the polls, nothing can be left to chance. Every vote will count especially if we are to believe the extent to which certain pundits claim the 'Bradley Effect' will be a factor. Tom Bradley was an African American Democratic candidate for the California gubernatorial race in 1982. Despite being ahead in most polls in the lead-up to the election, he lost by a narrow margin to his white Republican rival, George Deukmejian. It was thought that race played an issue in the election and people said one thing to pollsters but did another in the privacy of the polling booth.


A lot has changed since I left Albuquerque in late August. For one, most analysts now classify it as 'leaning Obama' whereas it was still seen as a battleground swing state in late August. Since then as well, both candidates have announced their vice-presidential nominees and held their conventions. Joe Biden has more or less slipped under the radar as a steady moderate with 'respectable' white working class roots. Sarah Palin, on the other hand, has really ruined any chances for Mc cain to gain ground on his infinitely more calm, sophisticated and charismatic opponent. In my opinion, it is now Obama's election to lose. The next couple of days will undoubtedly be interesting.