Necessary background: My friend Tyler voted for Bush twice. He was an early McCain supporter and flirted with Romney. I have been a long-time and fervent Obama supporter. I first created a banner for my website in January 2007. In fact, I started hoping he'd enter the Presidential race soon after subscribing to his podcast (which I miss terribly) in 2005.
Two months ago, I sent him a link to Obama's speech on race in America, A More Perfect Union. This was literally the first time he had ever seen Obama speak. His first reaction was to say, "Wow. He's so likable."
Then silence for 40 minutes.
When it was over he said, "That was the best political speech I have ever seen."
One final, necessary piece of information: We are both Mormon. Active, happy, and in good standing with the Church. We both served missions (he to France, I to North Carolina), we're both married and we both have young children (2 for him, 3 for me).
Here is the conversation we had this morning through iChat:
Me: How cute is this:
Tyler: RAD
Tyler: I'm happy
Me: Boy, yeah. I never thought the outcome of a political race would effect my mood for the better. I'm so used to being depressed by politics. I'm downright giddy!
Tyler: seriously
Tyler: he's got it in the bag now
Me: Yeah, what does McCain think he can do?
Me: Who is he appealing to?
Me: Actually, if you think about it, he's trying to appeal to you and me. Socially conservative moderates.
Me: And look how that's working out for him.
Tyler: mmm yeah
Tyler: all he has to bring to the table is that he's the "republican candidate"
Tyler: that's it
Me: Yup. He'll get a LOT of votes by simply being Republican and it's not going to be easy for Obama, but the only thing McCain can do is convince people to vote AGAINST Barack. He keeps saying it will be a civil campaign, but mark my words: this will be the ugliest yet.
Tyler: yeah
Tyler: I can see it
Tyler: but McCain isn't going to win anyone over
Tyler: that's the thing
Me: nope.
Me: All he can do is hold the line.
Me: And that won't be enough.
Tyler: it's going to be ugly but in the end, I predict it'll be Obama by a landslide
Me: totally. I mean, come on, we're two MORMONS having this conversation. If McCain can't hold us, what chance does he have?
Me: Besides, Obama is brilliant. A better strategic politician than I think anyone gives him credit for. He just brought down the CLINTONS. People have been trying to do that since 1980. And he did it.
Me: We did it.
Me: Which is the other thing I like about his campaign. It's not about Obama, it's about "us". "We." "United." Hillary is all about Hillary, McCain is all about McCain. But Obama doesn't talk about Obama, he talks about the people around him.
Me: It's refreshing.
Tyler: TOTALLY
Tyler: amen to everyting you just said