I’m sure you all know that John McCain has chosen Sarah Palin to be his vice president.  I was shocked when I heard the news.  It makes me wonder if he chose her to win votes from people that aren’t sure who to vote for.  I think that Sarah Palin will probably help McCain get votes from people that are so focused on the women’s right issue.  I think it’s a big deal to have a women as a candidate’s vice president.  

 I was also very disappointed that Sarah Palin would choose to take this office with a baby boy that was born in April.  She has a commitment to be a mom to her five kids, yet she would choose to accept John McCain’s offer.  Although; I have heard that she has more experience than Obama.   I think it’s very helpful that she is governor of Alaska and that people really do know who she is.  This has changed a lot of things, and whether it helps John McCain remains to be seen.  I can’t wait to learn more about Sarah Palin and even hear John McCain talk about her. 

 Brooke Barker

I’ve been thinking lately on whether or not how much money McCain or Obama raises will make a difference in the overall election.  Obama has clearly raised more money than McCain, but will that make a difference on him beating McCain in the Presidential election?  Obama has raised approximately $340 million while John McCain has raised approximately $150 million.   Obama has spent about $270 million, while McCain has spent about $100 million.It appears as though Obama would have a significant advantage over McCain, but is this the case?

The recent polls out show that Obama and McCain are running neck and neck.  So as of right now it appears that Obama’s $190 million advantage hasn’t paid off quite yet, but will it.  I think that Obama might be able to advertise more but I don’t believe that it will give him a significant lead.  Yes it might get him a few more votes than if he hadn’t raised that money, but it won’t overpower McCain.

     Most of you have probably heard about both Barack Obama’s and John McCain’s recent incidents.  John McCain was recently asked how many houses he owned.  His response was “I think — I’ll have my staff get to you.  It’s condominiums where — I’ll have them get to you.”  Of course Obama immediately jumped at this opportunity and put out an ad on McCain not knowing how many houses he has and therefore is not in touch with the economy.

Obama’s recent incident involves his half brother.  The following is an ad running in Texas. “Barack Obama has viciously attacked John McCain and his family for being successful and living the American dream,” the narrator says, as the ad then flashes up pictures of Obama body surfing and golfing. “Obama claims he is looking out for our families in an economic downturn, but ask yourself this: If Obama cares so much about your family, why doesn’t he take care of his own family first?” The ad then shows a picture of Obama’s stately Chicago home, and one of Onyango’s shack. “Barack Obama lives in this house … while his own brother lives in this one,” the narrator says.

Both of these incidents have the possibilites of hurting both of these Presidential Candidates.   The question is, who will it hurt more?

Tonight for the first time both of the presidential candidates stood on the same stage for a brief moment. Standing between the two was the pastor of Saddleback Church, Rick Warren. Pastor Warren asked each, separately the same questions. The questions ranged from abortion to war to personal faith issues. Once again tonight Barack Obama gave vague long answers and John McCain gave the straight forward answers. McCain at times even was answering the questions before Warren finished.

From the forum tonight I am certain of what John McCain believes, he was extremely straight forward. As McCain was talking he said that “Homeschooling works” and that life comes at the “moment at conception “. On the other hand Obama was not very clear, when asked about stem cell research he was very vague.

If you did not see the forum tonight I would encourage you to see it, because it was very good and informational.