A McCain White House

By Beth Leamy

With the election winding down to the final days, the race for President is getting closer and closer, and increasingly difficult to predict. Obama is still turning out record numbers to his rally’s, McCain’s campaign has focused on Pennsylvania as a key state for Nov. 4, and polls are closing in on each other as more negative ads are posted by both campaigns.

In this historic and tiring election that has almost lasted three years, we have seen minority candidates on both sides have a chance at overcoming stereotypes and prejudices in the race for the White House. I give both campaigns much deserved credit for keeping momentum up in this race; however, I can see a McCain victory come Nov. 4.

I see Obama doing very well in the urban areas of this country. However, in suburban and rural areas I see voters coming to the polls in droves for McCain.

Take Pennsylvania as the quintessential example of this – Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Harrisburg as the major urban centers which will most likely vote Democratic; but there is the overwhelming potential for the areas in the middle of the state to come out in support of McCain. If this occurs, McCain has a good chance of winning Pennsylvania – a state clearly identified by both campaigns as a crucial victory in this election. Also, if this trend occurs, I can see Republicans gaining back seats in the House because of the coattails effect – The principal that, locally, people will vote straight ticket Republican.

Prior to the last debate, I was unsure how McCain would be able to close the ever widening gap in the polls this close to the election. However, the hype surrounding “Joe the Plumber” I feel has had an interesting and motivating effect on the Republican base. All over the country people are identifying with the plight of “Joe the Plumber” and understand just how scary Obama’s plan to “spread the wealth is.” This surge of people who empathize with Joe’s situation has had a noticeable effect on polls and I believe will be partly responsible for a McCain victory next Tuesday.

In all, I think this election puts more emphasis on the common American – allowing the middle class to decide who best represents them and deserves to be put in the White House. I know that a McCain victory on Nov. 4 will send a message to the “Joe the Plumbers” of the United States thanking them for their entrepreneurship, ingenuity, and contributions to the economy.

After all, this is the election where both sides are courting the middle class – and I firmly believe only one candidate has stood out in that representation.