By Yael T. Abouhalkah, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist
Forget Ohio. Forget Pennsylvania or Colorado. The 2008 presidential race between Barack Obama and John McCain will be decided in Missouri. And on Thursday -- the day Obama and Sarah Palin bring campaign visits to the bellwether state -- the race is too close to call in Missouri.
In fact, McCain has had slim poll leads over Obama in the state, unlike in the other states mentioned above.
If McCain truly hopes to win on Tuesday, he simply has to carry Missouri.
Here's the factual case for Missouri being the most important swing state in this election:
Since 1904, Missouri has awarded it electoral votes to the future president in every single election except 1956.
That year, voters went for Illinois Democrat Adlai Stevenson, over a war hero from another neighboring state, Kansas Republican Dwight Eisenhower, running for re-election.
The state's power to predict election outcomes was enhanced when Missourians voted for the winning candidates in extremely close elections in 1948 (Harry Truman), 1960 (John F. Kennedy), 1976 (Jimmy Carter) and 2000 (George W. Bush).
All were Democrats except for Bush.









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A Picture (Even a Funny One) is Worth a Thousand Words
It's hysterically funny, but accurate nonetheless,
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/p-j-gladnick/2008/10/30/obama-infomercial-poster
Misouri
How here is where I think you are wrong about Missouri being a McCain state.
The average person in Missouri makes 20-30,000 a year, so you will see, it is not one of the richest states for voters. There fore I think that the sound sense of Obama is going to win out.
Since it is considered a radial election, then lets figure that factor in as well.
Missouri has voted Democrats in and they will again this year.
Florida is the state that worries me the most. Even amongst my friends, it is a 50/50 vote.
If you are a women, PLEASE come and see my article about McCain and Palin and "Womens Health," before you vote...
http://babyboomeradvisorclub.com/john-mccain-sarah-palin-out-of-touch-on-womens-health-issues/
Southern smiles and world peace,
Sharon/BabyBoomerQueen
http://www.BabyBoomerAdvisorClub.com
Missouri will lose
Missouri will lose Bellwether status this year as McCain will eeek out a tiny tiny win in MO but lose the US.
Emphasizing States is a Distraction
Thinking about which states will make the difference distracts from our thinking about the capability to analyze and communicate, the capability to have this analysis and communication result in good judgment in choosing advisors and in coordinating the best ideas for America, not just the simplistic ideas. The simplistic distractions are planned to keep voters from thinking about how much poor judgment (Like Keating Five, the relationship with the Bin Ladin family and the last eight years of agreeing with the administration on war and deregulation) costs Americans in resources and in life and limb.
The special interests and lobby groups want to buy government decisions on the cheap and take advantage of Americans without having to deal with the complex results that might cripple our nation. They get people from the top of their class to represent them and manipulate to take advantage. We are too lax about the possibility that we might be represented by those from the bottom of their class and that we might be making it easy for the special interest lobby groups to take advantage of us. Again!!! They "spread the wealth" from the middle class up to the rich who pay for their services.
Having effective and timely studies by our government led by those from the top of their class has been lacking at great cost to us all. We have lost planes due to neglect in the timely study of flight manuals. We have lost lives and livelihood due to neglect in the timely study of intelligence information. We have lost a solid economy due to neglect in the timely study of needed regulations and deregulations. We have lost our standing in the world due to neglect in the timely study of diplomacy and when and how to successfully use it. Our country has had to have an expensive surge with financial payments to those who would oppose and expensive bailouts with hopes that these, although expensive, will fix some of the poor judgment and will work in the long run.
It is time to replace the simplistic attitudes and ideas useful in manipulation with a stronger understanding of ideas useful in doing the strong work needed to get us back on track. This needs to be led by a dedicated president from the top of his class, rather than by the special interest lobby groups who are carefully selected and paid to take advantage of America.
Again!!! Let's be careful in rebuilding our country's capabilities. We cannot buy off on Palin's advice not to be concerned about killing civilians. We cannot buy off on McCain's “I know how to” claims on how to win a war , fix the economy and so on. These are simplistic ideas of those from the bottom of their class, not based on effective studies. They are useful in delighting the emotions of supporters.
Simple choice
So Missourians have a decision to make: vote Obama or let more than a century's title as nation's bellwether go down the tubes. 'Cause, while trying not to be too cynical, Missouri's electoral votes are not going to make a whit of difference come November 4.
You were wrong on Ike--don't be wrong again.