Decisions

So, as I spend more and more time talking to undecided voters in New Hampshire and talk to more and more fellow Obama volunteers and supporters about what got them so devoted to the Senator, I have grown increasingly curious about people's decision making process in this election. Some have followed Obama's career for years and knew long ago he was their guy. Many undecided voters are holding out as long as possible, since they know they have great access to these candidates in their state - most of those voters also have 2 or 3 key issues which they want addressed and are looking hard at the candidates specific policies. One of my fellow volunteers said she decided to support the Senator after meeting him a couple of times because her uncle has a close relationship with him. When asked, she revealed that her uncle is MA Governor Deval Patrick. So, to those of you who have a candidate you support (and those of you who are undecided)...what's your story?

I decided that I was supporting Obama around August or so. I had a feeling he was my guy, but I did some research to confirm my suspicions. Having missed his famous speech from the 2004 DNC Convention because I was working that night, I decided to check it out on youtube and sure enough, love at first sight (or speech). But, I wasn't about to make a purely emotional decision based solely on a speech from 3 years ago, so I researched further.

I went back an looked some more at Hillary Clinton and felt that she was incredibly smart and tough and her policies are really solid, but she has never been able to convince me of anything. I respect her a great deal, but I feel she is a Politician (with a capital P), not a Leader with conviction and integrity and the power to inspire a nation (all qualities I do see in Obama). She tries so hard to be "electable" to the whole country, but in the process, ends up seeming more and more disingenuous. Despite her efforts to come off as the moderate, bi-partisan candidate, I truly worry about her chances in a general election - I think independents and Republicans are going to come out of the woodwork just to vote against her and the Right will become unified and mobilized once again.

I also took a long, hard look at John Edwards. His platform and policies really appeal to me. His emphasis on the many problem related to the epidemic of poverty in this country is something I'm grateful for - it's an issue that has been ignored too long and I'm glad he has focused on it. An aggressive, populist, lefty message like his is hard for me to say no to. However, his record in the Senate is a real roadblock for me (a problem I have with HRC as well). Yes on the Iraq war, yes on the Patriot Act. I want a president who can say he stood up to both those atrocities when it mattered. Overall, his 2008 campaign appeals to me more than he does, if that makes any sense. I think if Obama were not in this thing, I'd be firmly in Edwards' camp, with Richardson as my 2nd choice.

So, I went back to Barack Obama. I studied his policies, I found other speeches and interviews and articles and he resonated perfectly with everything I want in a President. With his personal history and background along with his cerebral nature, I think he might be the only one who can repair not only our country's internal damage, but improve our image and relationship with the rest of the world at this critical juncture. His hope, pragmatism, honesty and fair-mindedness - in lieu of ideology, cynicism, obfuscation and "politics" brought me to believe he has a chance to be a truly great President of the United States. In short, I think he's the real deal.

So, what's your story? How did you decide on your candidate? If you haven't decided, what's holding you up? I can easily see being decided in this race, actually. I think it's a very strong field of candidates. Even some of the "2nd tier" candidates that I didn't really talk about here have some great qualities and I think in a different year, might be serious contenders. At any rate, I'm just curious as to how everyone came to their decisions.