Larkin G. Mead,

So, you think McCain's 100 years war will help the USA?

How much do you pay for gas, since invading Iraq? I used to pay $20 before the war, but now I am paying $100 a week!

McCain, a Commander-In-Chief to lead us?? What a joke!!

Obama 2008!

Eddie, Santa Cruz, ca

I think you are underestimating McCain's disadvantage against Obama. When it comes to change, where McCain is attractive, Obama is off the charts.

For example, McCain has earned a lot of respect from Democrats for being a maverick by challenging the Bush administration on Iraq and Gitmo. But in the past year, he's had to sell out and tow the party line in order to get the nomination. There is a ton of debate footage that show him trying to out-Bushie his opponents. He is going to get called on it fiercely if he tries to cast himself as a change candidate.

Meanwhile, Obama is being likened to Reagan by many Republicans and is in the final phases of slaying the Clinton establishment. By beating Clinton and snubbing her 'us against them' rhetoric', he gives Reps a way of leaving a party they've grown unhappy without the indignity of surrendering to their nemesis.

Obama's essentially creating a new party and inviting the disenfranchised majority. And that message is resonating.

Mokey, Redmond, WA

Grandpa John McCain has no hope nor chance. Obama is special and one in a generation man, people see that.
McCain who is so close to the Bush cabal can shout all he wants too about experience. But what matters is judegment and Obama has that. We will soon hear too how 'heroric' McCain was in the no doubt silly sean full steam that is going to be had.
Sen.Webb is a very good pick for Obama VP. They are the dream team.

SonnyL, Cleveland, OH, USA

When Ronald Regan entered the White House we were presented with a B Movie actor who had risen through the ranks of American political life by choosing wise and experienced advisors and listening to them, and his own politic gut feeling.
Obama is equally as wise. He may not know all the tricks or have all the solutions, but he has the men and women in his administration who do or who will provide them. What is more he has is the ability to inspire a new hope in the American people, that tomorrow will be a better day and that could just make him that special leader that the US and the West needs right now. After too many years of George W Bush and his disastrous administration, it's time for a Change.

Bruce Robinson, Plymouth, UK

McCain can't do anything for this country. Obama is a naive beginner. Only Hillary has the experience, intelligence and ability to change America for the better. Come on, people. Get real. Wake up from your daydream mentality and look at the facts. If you want the right kind of change and the right kind of country, then Hillary is very clearly the only choice. End of story.

john, seattle,

Interesting article! It appears that Andrew Sullivan has his finger on the campaign pulse.

The fact is, however, Barack Obama is an empty suit and his "rock-star" persona that is galvanizing so many young folks will at some point peak. This is not a high school pep rally; this campaign is for the soul of this nation and the election of 2008 will determine whether this nation becomes a Socialist State or will remain the most powerful Republic with democratic principles.

This is not a game. We have serious problems in the world of such a magnitude that we may well be teetering on the brink of World War III. Sabres are once again rattling in South America and the Middle-East. The world economies are on the brink of collapse, especially here in the United States.

If we are to survive, we need a steady hand, an experienced Commander-In-Chief to lead us. This is not Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton. The hard core truth is, our last hope well may be Senator John McCain.

Larkin G. Mead, Woodstock, Illinois

Perhaps, Senator Obama is Divinely ordained to rescue this
GREAT country from itself. Because what he has accomplished thus far is nothing short of a miracle!
I wish him God's speed.

If it's ordained by GOD that he be
the next President of the United States, nothing can
stop him. Here is a richest country in the world, where there're tens of thousand of people earning ten million dollars and more annually, there are millions of Americans who cann't find job, millions are homeless, people are been thrown out of their houses by greedy lenders and greedy lawyers. States pass laws to give the poor and low income earners a break, the judges usurped the law, and give the greedy lenders the break instead.

The rich should be made to pay more taxes so that there will
be enough fund to take care of the needy and the poor.
To whom much is given, much is required!

Robert Gbobaniyi
West Haven, CT USA

Robert Gbobaniyi, West Haven, CT, USA

Sadly mistaken, the "present" vote is a part of Illinois state politics and cannot be understood as a "pass" vote. The phone will ring, the point is who has the judgement, that is who should answer. Obama has not had a honeymoon, Clinton is throwing everything she can at him, and the Republicans have already been whipping up the whispering campaigns for months now. There is simply nothing on the man, besides constitutional law professor, eight years in the fourth largest state legislature, passing bi-partison legislation on ethics reform and education. He has been equally energetic in the senate for the past two years, and before that as a community organizer for years. What more experience are you looking for? Failed healthcare? Failed judgement on the war in Iraq? Do you really want a 72-year-old in office who says that Americans don't care how long troops are in Iraq or that the rich need a "permanent tax cut" paid for (along with the war) by the working class? Oh yes, be my guest..

Jeff McNeill, Honolulu, HI

I agree with Sullivan's comments. I voted for Hillary Clinton and I will not vote for Obama even if he is elected as the Democratic candidate against Mc Cain. I would rather vote for someone I know, than an unknown.
The news media gave George Bush a free honeymoon through the elections, but afterwards, the marriage was a disaster.
I believe Obama is too inexperienced to be President. He votes "present" on issues which is basically a "maybe." He complains about the treatment of our soldiers in Afghanistan, yet he is on the committee to do something about it and doesn't. He complains about Hillary's 'fear mongering' video and says the red phone won't even ring when he's president. I hate to be the one to tell him, but when the red phone rings, it's to react to a crisis already in motion, it's not a vote.

If the American people want " change", they should vote for a woman, not a man. That's REAL change.

Agatha K, Yorba Linda, CA

Dear Americans,

Wish you folks very well. Read the following:

If you guys elect John McCain as President:

You guys will be forced into going far with Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Sudan, Somalia and so on. McCain knows WAR, But, he doesn't know how you can making living in failing American economy. He doesn't care as long as he can get his morning toast and cup of coffee.

If you guys elect Hillary Clinton:

'God will never again bless America'. I don't want to say anything.

If you guys elect Barack Obama:

Do not expect too much from him. Because, Change doesn't GROW in White House. Change will happen when Americans realise 'minding their own business' and work hard

Uma Shankar, UK,

About Mccain's stand on torture, he has already flip floped. He was against torture in a 2005 bill, but on feb 13 2008 (after he was the clear front runner), he voted against a bill that will ban waterboarding, probably to apease his rights wing buddies with whom he was never popular. He also wants Gitmo closed, most rebublicans don't. He will have a problem winning the hardcore rightwings and still retain his "straight talk" centrist views of the past.
As much as Mccain wants to keep the election civil, there will still be some outside groups running smear ads of the worst intentions. How will he seperate himself from them? This last week he had to rebuke bill cunningham for his remarks making bill and rush limbaugh start a new barage, questioning John's conservative credentials.
There is no blueprint (yet) to run against this movement because if you have one, your services are greatly need by the Clinton and Mccain team.

Darrel, Winston Salem, NC

Yet again a class article, Andrew, and I fully agree. The troube is that the barn door is wide open and the horse has done a runner. Obama is a diamond in the rough, but he's very rapidly becoming polished. Very soon he will be a class political act, and it will take much more than McCain playing him at his own game to beat him. As other political commentators have observed, Obama is proving to be, above all, nimble and dexterous. His emerging genius is such that he has the capacity to simply reinvent himself as and when the need arises. Moreover change is virtually synonymous with youth and there again McCain is at an obvious disadvantage.

Simon, London, UK

Obama inspires me. He has a geniune sincerity and I know there will be huge change when he is in offie. The republicans don't offer anything to me, they offer nothing but fear and scaring people. They won't fool me again.

Kelly Pierce, Kansas City, KS, USA