As for economics, he's in favor of perpetuating the Bush tax cuts for the rich. I can't see him suddenly becoming a convert to fiscal responsibility.

He was against them at the time. I believe that - once elected - he will revert to being fiscally responsible.

It's really stretching credibility to say Obama will be in deadlock with a Democratic Congress, while McCain will give them everything they want.

No, that's not the case. Obama and a very Democratic congress will overreach, and be defeated by the Republicans with some Blue Dog assistance. That's what happened to Clinton. McCain would not try something that foolish and will revert to his usual compromising.

I have to take McCain at his word on his policy positions, and they are very much following the same direction the Republicans have been moving these past seven years. Maybe he would change everything once in power, and become sweetness and light. But why take the risk?

I don't think it makes any sense to believe what a politician says during a campaign. It makes more sense to see what he's been like over the last few decades in politics. I don't believe McCain's conversion to tax cutting and dogmatic social conservatism.

For my money [Obama is] an intelligent man of obvious character and integrity who'd work very well with a Democratic Congress -- particularly on getting people on board with the changes America needs to make.

I agree, but I see this as no different from Clinton in '92. I also see no reason why the result would be any different. It will essentially cost us two years before something gets done.

I find McCain to be much more of a risk. I have no idea whether he would stick to his harsh rhetoric on North Korea or Iran, and I don't want to find out.

But why would you believe Obama's soft rhetoric on the same subject? In office, McCain can compromise, as he has nothing to prove, whereas Obama will continuously be under pressure to show he's not weak. You've already seen him back up on supporting Israel, who knows where he will stop?

Personally I agree with most of Obama's ideas on what needs to be done. I just don't think he can get most of them done. He'll overshoot, and will fail. I think a Democratic Congress with a weak Republican president will get more things done.