Obama: Don't Pick out the White House Drapes Yet!

Polls this good should not be believed since they sound too good to be true. Obama is up 10 points in Virginia, ahead in Missouri and New Mexico and in the lead in my home state of Indiana -- if he wins Indiana this would, most likely, be a landslide election.

But as in anything in life, if it sounds too good to be true it probably is. If the election were held today Obama most certainly would become our 44th president. However, we still have several weeks to go and much good -- or bad -- could certainly happen to derail Obama's large lead in national polls and his leads in historically Republican voting states.

Voters have had to figure out who and what Obama and McCain are all about.

By this time the average voter -- not talking about Joe the Plumber -- is ready for election day. We should know the candidates better than their closest friends at this point with debate after debate during the primary season and the final debate during the general election last night. It is hard to believe that there are still people out there who have not yet made up their minds.

If there is no "game changing" event, then Obama and Biden will head to the White House next January to try to solve our massive economic, financial and foreign policy problems.

Alas, there may indeed be a "game changing October surprise," but other than the capture of Osama bin Laden or the markets actually calming down on a daily basis, it is hard to see what McCain can do to actually win.

Voters see McCain as capable and experienced, but even though he is not George W. Bush (as he so proudly pointed out in last night's debate), one does not really see him as an agent of change. He doesn't seem all that calm during these debates and his "my friends" every few seconds really gets on our collective nerves.

However, I would have to admit that I would like to see more emotion in Obama. He seems almost too serene and self-satisfied. During the final debate, I felt like yelling at him to show some more emotion and to get a little angry.

We don't want a president who thinks issues to death without acting on them. Times are too dire for that. We need a president that will combine the characteristics of a Franklin Roosevelt and an Abraham Lincoln.

If Obama does win, his first one hundred days will be compared to those of Franklin Roosevelt. We have to remember that FDR rose to the occasion of fighting the Depression, restructuring the American economy and putting into place financial safeguards.

Now history judges FDR as one of our three greatest presidents. But when he was first elected president many people thought of him as a dilettante, someone not capable of knowing what the common persons' problems really were.

None of know how Obama will react if he does become our 44th president. Let us hope that we all rally behind him as we may only be seeing the tip of the iceberg in this economic and financial meltdown.

What have the debates proven? Most likely they were the vehicle that showed the American voter that Obama has the ability to understand our problems. While McCain has tried to make us wary of Obama because of his lack of experience in national politics, by being in so many debates Obama has become a familiar figure to us. It is hard to be scared of someone we seem to know so well through debates and his commercials.

The name of the game is to get out the vote on election day. The youth vote, which historically has not turned out, needs to come out for this election.

Obama should not sit comfortably on his impressive lead at the moment. Events and conditions can change rapidly in these final weeks of the campaign. Obama staffers should refrain from beginning to think about what role they might play in the White House.

The race is isn't over until all the polls close on November 4th. Political races normally tighten up at the end especially in years when the incumbent in the White House is not running for re-election. Obama and his team of supporters need to "keep their head in the game" and concentrate on winning by getting out the vote and keeping his message concise and clear.

Obama, keep on message, show more emotion and don't worry about the drapes in the White House...at least until November 5th!

Read more reactions to the Obama-McCain Hofstra Presidential Debate from HuffPost bloggers

Comments

[clevelandchick]

I've seen several Obama reps on TV say they believe the race is closer than the polls are showing and they are not taking anything for granted. I think we have to worry about Republicans trying to get registered voters kicked off the roles more than anything.

[StellaRay]

How did a guy who you say "doesn't show enough enough emotion" manage to rally around him the most passionate voting block I've seen in my lifetime?

[mmgbizgirl]

Obama doesn't take anything for granted and that is what I love about him. He'll fight the fight until the last hour of this campaign as he said he would.

[Voltage]

More important; voters don't get complacent. Don't let the idea of a landslide keep you at home on election day. Vote.

[londongal]

"We don't want a president who thinks issues to death without acting on them. Times are too dire for that. We need a president that will combine the characteristics of a Franklin Roosevelt and an Abraham Lincoln."

Obama is Obama -- NOT FDR nor Lincoln! And yes, we bloody-well DO want a "president who thinks issues to death without acting on them" impulsively or using their gut as a sign from God.

BTW -- Obama isn't measuring the drapes at all -- he's been steady, cautious, wise, etc.

Sheesh!

[Speakchic]

What I find the most curious about these "advice to Obama" articles is that here's a man who got to this point without the advice of anyone who's offering it. This man knows what to do and what he's doing is winning an election. As for emotion and the comparisons to FDR, Clinton, and whoever else out there cut it out as well.

He is setting his own standards, and laying his own foundation. This entire candidacy has been historical because it's the first of its kind so understand that aspect and let the newness and history speak for itself. Just because you can't find the common ground and similarities doesn't mean he's not successful in his attempts. Nothing may resemble anything we're used to but that's for a reason. After all it was Obama who opened up this unrealistic too good to be true 14 pt. lead everyone is afraid to get happy about. It's like when David Tyree caught that ball in SB42...you knew something great was unfolding but there were still plenty of time left on the clock, the final score had yet to be tallied, and of course Tom Terriffic was going to get the ball once more. But something about that moment just felt right for Giants fans all over the world. And that's what Obama supporters feel right now. They know something great is about to happen but they're making sure the clock reads 0.00 before they start to cheer.

[cre8ive]

You make a HUGE mistake to assume Obama isn't emotional. To suggest that Obama isn't passionate or invested because he's not huffing and puffing or insulting McCain and going into the mud to chase him down is ridiculous.

Passion is as passion does. He didn't just attend Harvard. He was editor of the Harvard Law Review. He didn't just say he cared about people. He turned down offers from great law firms to fight for and with poor people in Chicago. He doesn't just say he values family. He is tender with his wife. She respects and loves him, and his children are happy.

His passions are obvious. His emotion is obvious. His commitments are obvious. His work ethic is obvious. His ability to lead is obvious. His plans for the country are obvious and in crazy detail on his website. My question is this:

WHO IS JOHN MCCAIN???

He's walking punctuation with all his eye-rolling, sneering, and scowling. And he's a guy who hates Barack Obama. I don't even think it's personal. I think he sees everything like a POW. There are enemies and allies. Nothing in between.

He has been all over the place on his policy, opinions, and plans. Until recently his campaign slogan should have been "Small Ideas. Big Ideology. Mostly I Just Hate Obama."

Lastly, you are mistaken that Obama's calm is an indication that he has stopped fighting or is resting on his lead. That is the same mistake Hillary Clinton made.

[cjinaz]

Mr. Guttman:

You column says it wants to see more emotion in Senator Obama, some anger. So, you want him to exhibit some of the same childish emotions that Senator McCain is showing when he does not seem to realize the cameras are rolling all the time? Naw, we're not falling for that. Why would our side do the same thing McCain is being called down for. You betcha we're smarter and cooler than that.

[melpol]

Obama is obviously more intelligent and cooler than McCain. There is no chance the old warhorse can overtake his youthful opponent. There is a saying that "Old soldiers never die they just fade away" It is time for McCain to fade away.

[gretchenart]

Prediction--"Osama bin Laden" is captured by moose hunting Sarah Palin shooting from a plane over Pakistan. Seriously I think they may well finally declare Bin Laden dead. Of course he will have been burned to a crisp so there will be no independent verification possible or study done of how long he has actually been dead. I have always doubted Bin Laden's ability to just simply disappear from being the center of attention he so clearly craved and turn his personality completely off into a total hidden one!

[markusmarkus]

Concur! Let's work, contribute and act like we are tied with McCain in the polls.