Super Tuesday

Tomorrow is Super Tuesday. It's the day where the greatest number of states (I think 24 states) hold their primary elections. Whoever wants to run in the Presidential election historically must do well on Super Tuesday to ensure their parties nomination.

Whoever wins the most delegates on Super Tuesday usually wins the nomination. As of right now, the biggest debate is among the Democratic party... Clinton vs. Obama. Despite who wins, I will be voting for the Democrat in the 2008 election.

Here is my personal take on the Clinton vs. Obama issue.

It's true that Clinton and Obama agree on most issues considering that they are both Democrats....but the bigger question that Democrats need to consider is WHO IS THE STRONGER CANDIDATE TO WIN AGAINST THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE?

The candidates do differ on foreign policy issues and health care. They also differ on the way in which they PRIORITIZE certain issues....even those that they agree on. They are in a way (and I use this term loosly) conservative liberals....but that is what democrats need to win the republican vote during the election.

Regardless who gets the nomination, I'm voting for the democrat in the 2008 election. But I'd rather see the nomination go to Obama. I think he has the ability to win over more republicans than Clinton. Futhermore, Hilary's stance on foreign policy and the war has consistently changed from one debate to the next...which makes me nervous considering there is a war going on.

However, most people would choose Clinton's healthcare policy over Obama's due to the fact that her's is more universal whereas his is more conservative. Obama believes that the US should decrease the cost the health care and make it more affordable as opposed to giving it to everyone because he believes that part of health care is individual responsibility. I agree with him. It is true that everyone should have a right to good health...but everyone needs food too....so should the government be required to provide everyone with free food or do people need to take individual responsibility in trying to feed themselves as long as food is affordable?

As far as experience, many people say that Hilary is older and has been in the political arena far larger than Obama. This is true. But people have quickly forgotten that Bill Clinton was Obama's age when he ran....and Bill Clinton is a HIGHLY respected president. There is no doubt in my mind that Obama has what it takes.


States Holding Primaries on Super Tuesday

Alabama (Open Primary)
Alaska (Caucus)
Arizona
Arkansas (Open Primary)
California
Colorado (Caucus)
Connecticut
Deleware
Georgia (Open Primary)
Illinois
Massachusetts (Semi-closed Primary)
Minnesota (Caucus)
Missouri (Open Primary)
New Jersey
New York (Closed Primary)
North Dakota (Caucus)
Oklahoma (Closed Primary)
Tennessee (Open Primary)
Utah (Closed Primary)
West Virginia (Closed Primary: Republican only)


** Those who do not know the difference between an open and closed primary election here are definitions as follows:

Closed

Voters may vote in a party's primary only if they are registered members of that party. Independents cannot participate. Note that due to the appropriation of the term "independent" by some political parties, the term "non-partisan" is often used to refer to those who are not affiliated with a political party.

Opened

A registered voter may vote in any party primary regardless of his or her own party affiliation. When voters do not pre-register with a party before the primary, it is called a pick-a-party primary because the voter can select which party's primary he or she wishes to vote in on election day. Because of the open nature of this system, a practice known as "raiding" may occur. "Raiding" consists of voters of one party crossing over and voting in the primary of another party. Although no cases can be shown where this has happened successfully, the theory is that opposing party members vote for the weakest candidate of the opposite party in order to give their own party the advantage in the general election.


Since I'm from Maryland and go to school in Pennsylvania, I'm posting their primary election information as well:

Maryland February 12th (Closed Primary)
Pennsylvania April 22nd


Unfortunately I will not be able to vote in the primaries :-( because I am registered in Maryland as an Independent. Since Maryland only allows you to vote in the primaries of your political party (closed primary), I will not be able to cast my vote for Obama since I'm not registered as a Democrat. I'm going to try to change my voter status to Democrat and register in PA before the PA primaries.


If you are reading this and will be participating in Super Tuesday or your states primaries, I hope that you take careful consideration of the very brief arguement that I presented to you and hopefully you'll vote

OBAMA 2008