The rise of Obama is a real political phenomenon. Ever since he won the Iowa primary, he has been on a roll. Senator Hillary tried very hard to stop his momentum with some successes. Ultimately she failed, Hillary and Bill hinted at some point trying to bring out Obama’s questionable personal associations but without success. We all know what happened, the fight between Hillary and Obama became so violent that it almost splits the Democratic Party.

What McCain is doing now is to continue Hillary’s fight trying to stop Obama. Dickerson was right in that, McCain’s voices are drowned out by the financial crisis currently rolling across the world. But do not forget, we still have over 24 days until Election Day. Any thing can happen between now and November 4. The financial and stock market can recover. At this moment, both candidates are helpless to do anything meaningful about the economy; it is in the hands of Paulson who will try to implement the rescue package. Whatever the candidates say about the economy, it is more symbolic than substance. The impacts of the financial crisis, like the Iraq war, high gas prices, the Palin effect and off-shore drilling will fade into the background as new developments will take place. McCain is smart in that he will keep on hammering Obama’s past and keep questioning his characters. It is important how Obama responds; he can not keep avoiding them like he did during the Primaries against Hillary. During the Democratic Primaries, he has the media and the Democratic Party machine behind him, now he is facing the Republican election machine.

Historically, after 8 years of unpopular Republican President at the White House, two unpopular wars still going on, US is on the verge of a recession and the Financial Crisis griping the world, Obama still have not close the deal, his lead in the polls are not insurmountable. This race is far from over; it will get uglier as the Day approaches. Partisans on both sides will grow angrier and their mood becomes uglier. One can expect more Obama dirty linens will be brought out by the Republicans. Voters do care about the characters of the candidates. Their past associates and friends are important when judging one’s characters. Do not forget, we are talking about electing the President of the USA, the most powerful person in the world, characters are more important than policies which one can change. It will be up to the voters to decide whether Obama’s past associates are relevant in deciding whom they will vote.

The race will be close; it will be won or lost by two factors, which party gets out more of their supporters to vote and how the independents and non committed voters decide to vote when they are alone at the voting booths at the last minute.

"My money is on McCain. I think he has the stones and the heart to heal this nation."

You're joking, right? Who has been dividing the nation since the GOP primary?

You spent a lot of time writing a lot of nothing. You have used a lot of nice, calm language, in stark contrast to the tone of many of your compatriots on this site. But it's like everything else with the Republicans these days--hot air that changes with the winds, or the polls. Save your energy for something else. It's over.

I find it amusing that you assume that John McCain has no "dirty linen", unsavory characters from his past, nor character issues to be examined.

You wouldn't be a tad biased in your assessment of the situation, would you?

This race might not turn out as close as you hope it will.

I now associate John McCain with that stripper from Rio he was balling years ago. Will he keep his pants on when he takes the oath of office? Does he wear a g-string and pasties under his grey suit? Will he give Putin a lapdance? America needs to know!

Interesting ... you are probably a democrap who thought when Bill was getting BJs in the oval office, it was okay. We had proof that happened. Where is you proof ?

Proof that McCain associated--and associated VERY closely--with a stripper? Try the Wall Street Journal. That's just the first link that came up for me.

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Let's think back ... during the Clinton days we had a Republican Congress that made Clinton look great even though he had his mind on other matters, i.e., Monica. Then fortunately George Bush was elected over the "internet inventor" - HA - Gore. Things were going good and then 9/11 happened. Bush pulled this country together (think back about how hard we all worked together) and although it was a tough battle to get this country back on track, it happened. We have not been attached since ... doesn't this tell you anything? In 2004, Bush beat Kerry and that was when gas prices were low and we had a great economy, but then in 2006 the Congress became Democratic. This is were the BIG PROBLEMS began and continued and now we have a unsettling (to say the least) financial crisis and it is ALL the fault of the dems ... namely, Barney Frank (MA), Charles Schumer (NY).

I cannot believe there are so many people who really don't know how the system works and they are now going to vote for a JUNIOR senator (Obama) who is still "wet behind the ears", has voted numerous times to raise taxes, makes more promises than any other politicion, will withdraw from a war that Congress (and President Clinton) vote for and we need to win (and will win) now that the surge is working, assocates with many people with questionable backgrounds, is a smooth talker but an empty suit, and will make the middle class poor .. yes, this is what his policies will do.

P.S. I don't like war, but right now I have 3 nephews that just enlisted in the last 3 months to serve their country ... how can you not want us to win in Iraq ?

VOTE THE McCAIN / PALIN ticket if you want to save America.

Big difference between Clinton and McCain ... McCain tells what happened while Clinton LIED and LIED ...

We have not been attached since ...

Maybe we haven't been attacked since 9/11 because we are doing what Osama bin Laden wants us to do. Which is to fritter away our military strength and the lives of our soldiers in a fruitless occupation that can never be 'won.'

Saddam Hussien was one of bin Laden's enemies. We took him out. Under Saddam Hussein, Iraq was a secular country and unfriendly to Islamic fundamentalists. We fixed that for bin Laden. And when we leave, whether it be four months from now or a hundred years from now, who do you think is going to end up leading that country? It will be Islamic fundamentalists, almost certainly.

Bin Laden has every reason to be happy with what we are doing in Iraq. And no doubt he prays every day that we'll try to do the same thing to Iran.

On the contrary, every politician has dirty linens, it is that, McCain has been in the Senate for over 20 years and his dirty linens have been probably aired many times. On the other hand, when Senator Hillary tried to air Obama’s dirty linens, she was being shut down and threatened by the media, by Obama's supporters and by the Democratic Party heavy weights. Every time when Obama was questioned about his past associates, he was sort of either ignored the question or use the usual reply “….it is a distraction, it is old politics”. Did you see the amount of scrutiny given to Palin by the media when she was selected as the VP?

In the final analysis, it is up to the voters whether they want to accept Obama as their president or not. What I am saying is that, it is better for Obama to explain fully and satisfactorily to the voters about his past before they vote rather than after the vote.

Yes, I did see the media attack Palin for supposedly having a "lack of experience" to be the VP ... she, in fact, is more experienced to be the President than Obama, never mind the VP. At least she has made executive decisions and more important decisions than a "community leader" ... which I think is Obama's claim to fame because he really never did anything outstanding in the Senate.

Doesn't matter if Clinton lied or not, he's not running for president. McCain IS running for president, and according to McCain, we've got to look at the 'associates' of anyone running for president and make the worst possible assumptions that we can possibly make. So I'm only doing the same for McCain.

Don't YOU think strippers are damaging to the morals of our children? Why stripping is just plain sexual terrorism. Strippers, just even the THOUGHT of strippers, are literally setting off bombs every day in the pants of many of our young male teenagers and possibly even some of our young ladies--are you for THAT?

Hence McCain needs to account for his MULTIPLE and VERY CLOSE associations with such unsavory persons as the "Flame of Florida." And please--any person trying to set fire to the good state of Florida can only be called UNAMERICAN and practically in virtual league with Osama bin Laden and maybe even with SATAN himself.

Why isn't McCain answering these questions? What is he hiding? Is he perhaps STILL ASSOCIATING TO THIS DAY with strippers and other 'exotic' dancers? And did he NOT suggest that his WIFE could HERSELF be an exotic dancer? Why I believe he did. It's on You-Tube and it's a scandal to the nation and it is a blight on the morals of our youth. So there.

You sound like someone who frequents a strip club ... I'm not familiar with this type of environment.

I have heard lots of election coverage and I have never heard anything else about his; however, I have heard about ACORN and Bill Ayers and Obama has not come clean on these issues and he is running for President and will destroy this nation !

Well if you're not familar with this 'type of environment,' let me make some comparisions to help make it clear for you.

Obama served on a dull board with Ayers. McCain apparently served the "Flame of Florida" in a hot bed. One is an 'association,' however distant, while the other was practically a merger, however temporary.

Secondly, Ayers held a fundraiser for Obama. And the "Flame of Florida" apparently held a 'fundraiser' for McCain too, if you know what I mean. They both certainly got something they wanted out of their 'association,' did they not?

Now, Obama's 'association' with Ayers, a one time terrorist, causes some people to wonder if Obama has some sort of sympathy with terrorism, or is perhaps somehow in league with terrorists.

So why shouldn't McCain's 'association' with the "Flame of Florida," a one time STRIPPER, cause people to wonder if he's in favor of running around NAKED in the Oval Office? Or perhaps in favor of something maybe even MORE perverted? It makes sense to me!

If you can say the one, then I can say the other.

I don't believe what you are saying about McCain and a stripper because I haven't heard it anywhere else and the liberal media (ABC, CNN, etc.) would have it all over the news if it were true. However, that being said, if I had to choose between someone who spend time with a stripper or a terrorist ... I think you know my answer. Like I said, I don't the "stripper" environment, but I do know that the chance of a stripper doing any harm to America is non-existent compared to a known terriorist, Bill Ayers (a known Obama associate).