You Know What They Say About Assuming

It would be easy to recite chapter and verse all of the lies and distortions the McCain campaign have conjured up in the last days of this historic campaign. It would be easy to use McCain's own words against him; i.e. "The fundamentals of the economy are strong." It would be easy to list every military, economic and political endorsement Senator Obama has received since becoming the Democratic nominee. But not as easy as exercising your most basic American right and privilege - voting on November 4th.

Some say 543. Others contend it's 562. At any rate, less than 600 votes in Florida decided the outcome of the 2000 Presidential Race. Less than 600! Nevada, please do not assume that leads in other polls mean that this race is over solidifying an Obama win. This race is not over.

I love a good sports analogy relevant to a political campaign. Let's take a ride on the NCAA time machine to 1991. The NCAA Basketball Championship game pitting powerhouse UNLV against underdog Duke. Duke came into the game a modest 30 - 5 record thus far, trying to shake off of the memory of being trounced in the title game by UNLV the year before 101 - 71. Meanwhile, UNLV was undefeated and was widely expected to become the first team since Bobby Knight's 1976 Indiana Hoosiers to go undefeated. Perhaps some complacency set it. Perhaps UNLV read their press clippings too soon. Perhaps they believed the media hype. The end result was one of the biggest upsets in sports history, a loss that still stings the UNLV campus.

But this was only a sports event. The NCAA Championship will never impact how much food you can put on the table, how much gas you can afford to put in your car or how much longer we will have to watch American soldiers fight a senseless war in Iraq. It will not solve our healthcare crisis, create jobs, provide tax relief or heal the wounds left by a divisive administration. It also isn't free. If you want to be part of the excitement of a world class sports event, you have to reach deep into your pockets. The only things voting on Election Day will cost you are a few moments of your time. A few moments to correct eight years of pain, futility, fear mongering, politics as usual. A few moments to bring about the change we need.

It would be easy to listen to the television polls. It would be easy to start planning your Election Day Barack Obama victory party. It would be easy to assume Florida could not repeat itself. But change is not easy. Leave nothing to chance. Vote for Barack Obama for President.