"And, as we learnt all too brutally in 2000, the US election is decided by the electoral college, not the national vote."
Decided by the Electoral College? Don't you mean, the Supreme Court?
It is amazing that there are people who voted for GW Bush yet believe Obama is not qualified to be President.

Albert, Hong Kong,

"The doubts starting to rein back Obama", the headline says. What's new? These doubts you have helped manufactured. They are many more been processed in the factory as we read.

Jide Salu, Victoria Island,Lagos,

Obama has the least impressive background of any candidate in the history of the country. It amazes me that HE thinks he is qualified to be president.

Lee Rea, Ventura, CA, USA

I will like to remind you of almost all the past president who became president at the ripe age of fouty something. When you talk about experience George W.Bush was supposed to have had experience but we all can see where his experience has brought us. Wall street has crumbled, our 401k has vanis

Ben , Cerritos, USA

Obama is stalling because of the Clinton supporters

Donna , Kingston, Jamaica

Well, Obama is the face of new generation, a bit more vocal. More commitment means more liability. Overall he sounds confident, albeit he may falter to keep the promises because of he may found himself overloaded with emerging issues-- election promises may take back sit. Hearing campaign advisors?

Mrs. Anindita Dey, Karnal, India

Now that you have done an expose on the "doubts" about Obama, do a similar expose on the "doubts" about McCain. In journalism that is called balance. I want you to uncover every gaffe and every risk that is posed by McCain.
And finally: A lead is a lead is a lead. Obama is leading!!!!!!

Mmualebe Lagagwe, Windhoek, Namibia

Read Obama's autobiography, and the one McCain had someone write for him. The phony criticisms of Obama are crafted by his opponents to deflect our attention from McCain's pathetic ignorance & lack of ideas, his big money backers (oil, pharmaceuticals) and his lack of support for women and veterans.

Andrea Rademan, Beverly Hills, USA

hey jack,
the war on iraq was not sold to us as just the removing of a tyrant. we were told he was dangerous (he wasn't), that efforts to contain him had not worked (they had - our own generals told us that afterward, look it up), that removal would lead to peace and democracy..... shall i go on?

joe, nyc, usa

To any person who calls themself christian. Think about the beliefs of Obama. If you believe in the bible and the ten commandments listen to obama stand up and condem them just by stating that he believes in a womans right to choose abortion. How many other liberal ideals does he promote.

Monica, Boquete, Panama

It goes to show you how screwed up so many Americans are that so many will support McCain for President this year in spite of the utterly disgraceful record of Republican leadership these last 8 years. Vote for McCain, you're insane.
Obama is clearly the most sensible choice moving forward.

Tim Silva, McKinleyville, California, USA

"McCain has never led Obama in two months of a national match-up. "

False. He's been up in the Rasmussen and Gallup polls a few times - by a very small margin, to be sure.

Knemon, New Haven, CT, USA

Mr Ziemann, I think you said it in a nutshell. A McCain win would be like America re-electing Herbert Hoover, never mind the Great Depression. Yes Obama is untried, untested and could be another Jimmy Carter. I wanted Hillary. But the alternative is worse, far worse.

David WIlson, Washington DC, USA

McCain wins office 'n it's business as usual for Republicans in the Exec returning to their desks the very next workday. Reviewing their track record/impact over the last 8 years, I'm reminded of Einstein's saying, "Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."

James, London, UK

If White America, will look at the past and what past Presidents, excluding ( Roosevelt, John Kennedy and Bill Clinton) have done and stop looking at Colour and start thinking of what's best for America, Mr. Obama will be the next President. Our Judicial Houses will keep , Obama straight and True.

Lamont, Brooklyn, USA

If America elects another Republican president after Bush, we should be invaded for our own good.

G Ziemann, Tempe, AZ, USA

Jack,
Saddam was a tyrant. There are MANY tyrants all over the world, we (the US) stand by while they massacre thousands of people. The deciding factor for Iraq was OIL. We didn't go to Darfur, or to Rwanda because there was no economic reason for us to go.

john, Minneapolis, MN,

For a country thats crying out for change; America is still not ready for a black president, in the next coming months ppl will make every excuse not to vote for Obama, even though is clearly qualified. All the talk about experience LOOK at Bush the least qualified president ever. TIME TO WAKE UP!

Steven Jones , Melbourne, Australia

As a Republican, I have some doubts about McCain. As an American, I have profound doubts about Obama.

Clement R Knorr, Tucson, Arizona, USA

The "brilliant" DNC chose to pass over the Democrat who got the most votes and instead hand-pick The One with the fainting cult following, chanting "O-ba-ma! O-ba-ma!" to his every utterance.

Yet again, the DNC has proven to be unbeatable at snatching Defeat out of the jaws of Victory.

Jan, Nashua, NH,

Those who still peddle the lie that the Democrats are high tax and fiscally irresponsible should look at the records of the Clinton and Bush admins. Clinton left a huge budget surplus which Bush frittered away on tax cuts for millionaires and his oil buddies. So who is irresponsible?

Roy, Hong Kong,

Obama's ego is so inflated that they are measuring his head for Mount Rushmore.

PE, Saint Louis,

To be honest I am put off by both candidates. McShame is to old and Opra-bama is to young. Unfortunatly this is not Goldilocks and out of nowhere the 'just right' candidate will pop up and all will be well. Sadly many people are going to opt out of this election and not vote at all.

Hedda Lettuce, NYC, United States

Unlike any other people in the world, the Yanks have an opportunity to have a bloodless revolution every four years. For well over 200 years, they have exercised or declined that option in a manner that in the view of history has proven them correct. (A minority of Chicken Littles aside.)

Bob Evans, Anaheim, California

I think if you listen to the voters, instead of the punduts, you'll find that Obama has steered away from the core causes that brought his main supportors to his banner. Essentially, he's leaning too far to the right, and, also he is wimping out in his remarks about McCain. We don't like that.

Nancy, NY state, USA

Helen,

The academic qualifications you describe may make a good presidential advisor, but not a president. Presidents learn leadership through executive experience: as governors, as military leaders. The fact that you think a J.D. is relevant says a lot about the way liberals view leadership.

Matt Ward, Greenville, SC

Thanks for this article. I was beginning to wonder if anybody is still thinking clearly in all this empty Obama euphoria. The nation will be better off with a centrist President McCain and a Democratic congress instead of a leftist Obama and an even farther left Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid congress.

Milton, Silver Spring, MD, USA

Just what record of "bipartisan achievements" has McCain really had? McCain-Feingold, which he now regularly violates? He has voted with Bush 95% of the time. He has a lousy record. He is also running a disgusting campaign of lies, cheered on by the most degenerate elements of the radical right.

Joseph Miller, Kapaa, United States

Good article (though about 75% of these comment are hilarious and make me feel bad for both sides at once). At this point, though, only people who read political commentary for fun are watching the race closely. Trying to figure out what the public at large thinks amounts to reading tea leaves.

David Birch, Chilliwack,

A taxpayer voting for Obama is like a chicken voting for Colonel Sanders.

Hal, New York, U.S.

Replying to Helen Clark:

I think you just explained why we should vote for McCain. We're looking for a national leader, not a exam proctor.

WT, Plattsburgh NY, USA

I am always interested in knowing how we are viewed from abroad, from people and their institutions that see us from a very different perspective. The American public is not a very good voting group, while they make fun of "banana republics", which they help create they do not appreciate democracy.

Arnoldo Torres, Elk Grove, United States

The world needs a US that is loved, not hated. That is why Obama, not McCain, needs to win, because that is when people will start doing favours for the US again - help bring down the price of oil, give much needed support to the US economy etc...

Just a shame some americans don't get it.

Terry, London, UK

The Republicans have entirely failed by any measure - the economy, wars overseas or preventing terrorism (Bin Laden is still at large). The world, not just the US, is in a much worse state than 8 years ago. So the next president MUST be a Democrat, and since they've chosen Obama, it must be him.

Graham, Bath, UK

You say, who will pay these taxes Under Obama? The same ones under Bush who pay for the sub-prime mess; for the stock market at the same level as when Clinton left; for $4.00 a gallon gasoline; for the budget surplus that has turned into a multi-trillion debt; for the sinking dollar; + so much more.

Lee, sterling, usa

The more OB runs his mouth, the more we get to "know" him...and, it ain't good. He is so politically immature it is frightening.

DC, North Florida, USA

Replying to NC Little Rock re qualifications. I took the trouble to research the qualifications of McCain, Barack and Clinton.
McCain has Military College, Barack has majored in International Relations, degree in political science at Columbia Uni. followed with law at Harvard graduating J.D mcl.

Helen Clark, Albany, USA

Bush hasn't been a *total* looser. The economy's done surprisingly well considering two wars, 9/11 and oil at $100+ a barrel. Two excellent Supreme Court nominations may save the Constitution from the liberals. And history may yet record Iraq as a masterstroke, though a badly executed one.

W M Morgan, Mobile, AL, USA

Mr. Sullivan, wake up! Obama hasn't tacked to the left, he's veered way off to the right. Obama's stall in the polls is because much of "the left" is disgusted with Obama's flipflops and transformation into a candidate who embraces policies and rationales of the right wing.

ongho, Easton, USA

I do not like either of the 2 candidates, but you know whats been going on secretly since the past 8 yrs the US has been trying to start a war with Russia, all the republicans have been, mainly because who owns stock in the defense contractor firms,I prefer Obama he wont cause WW3 wake up people.

Denord, New York, USA

It because the American people are simply not ready to have a bi-racial man as President. American for all its charm still hold to the mind set that whites are the only one to hold that power. As a Black Woman in America I still see the signs of the Civil Rights Era and that is not progress.

Pricilla Collier, Fontana, USA

Obama was the "dream" candidate, all the good things people wish for... but as reality rears its ugle head, we are seeing he's just another shady Chicago pol, hanging out with anti-American pastors, far-left Hollywood kooks, and he has plans to use failed Marxist policies to destroy the US.

Dan, Columbus,

Yes, your analysis is correct and most of the pundits have been wide of the mark. The man`s relative inexperience is what bothers so many Americans but when we put that issue in the context of contemporary American history, we will see that the issue is moot.

geoffrey ellis aronson, mexico city, mexico

You really should allow us more than a few hundred characters. You had your say in an unrestricted way, please be more considerate.

Harry Truman had less than a year as a vice president before ascending to the presidency. Jimmy Carter had only 4 years as a governor as did Ronnie Reagan.

geoffrey ellis aronson, mexico city, mexico

If Obama had McCains' policies, even being a republican following Bush would not stop him being miles ahead. It's a testament to his appallingly damaging policies that even with his extra-ordinary charisma he is dead-heating with McCain.

John, Londion,

It is sad that you have to resort to calling Obama a "a secretly Muslim fraud" to give your flimsy argument traction.

Joel Harte, Seattle, USA

Who are these mythical people claiming Obama is a muslim?!? I know the Clinton campaign said some racist comments, referred to him as a drug-dealer, etc. But name some people. Quit speaking in generalities that people assume are true but nobody can prove.

Joe, Albany,

You are wrong Andrew Sullivan. The problem is Americans are just plain old DUMB. And if they elect McShame we are SCREWED.
And as for the GOP talking heads, you all say the same thing. Bush has totally RUINED this country. A vote for McShame is a vote for McSAME

Tony, New York,

"Experienced" people like Cheney led us to a war of choice. Bush (former governor) with the so called executive experience is leaving us with trillions of debt. Mccain has been there for over 20 years. Do we wanna continue along the same failed path?Turn the page for your children's future

emily, Richmond, Virgini, USA

Mark ... clearly, if you can ask that question, you haven't realistically imagined Saddam still in power.

Perhaps you have him confused with the one in the Michael Moore movie. That was fiction.

Phil, Columbia, MO, USA

It's pretty simple for the taxpaying portion of the US electorate: the combination of Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid with increased majorities and no one to check their excesses is lethal. Only the welfare recipients and vulture capitalists like George Soros and Warren Buffett can afford Obama.

Cincinnati Rick, Cincinnati, US

Mark, VA...

Couldn't be said any better.

Young wasted American lives, only justified by those of ignorance.

F.S.Summers, NY.,

It should be noted that George H W Bush was down by 17 points in the polls at this time in early August of 1988. The Obamaites have good reason to be nervous. Why was Obama so freely and openly associating with the self professed domestic terrorists William Aries, socially and professionally?Pause??

Bill McCarthy, Gallup, NM , USA

At least you didn't imply, like many US op-eds, that we're racists if we don't vote for Obama. Obama has big negatives - liberalism, inexperience, dubious friends. His lack of qualifications is scary. Also, his oposition to the war was made as a lowly Illinois senator. He should wait for 2012.

NC, Little Rock, US

Jack Williams writes, "Imagine Saddam still in power."
Ok, I've imagined that.
Now, imagine 4,000 dead young Americans could come back to live full lives.
And then tell me why they died.

Mark Dobbins, Charlottesville, VA, USA

It's amazing to me that we dwell on Obama's Iraq stance and his lack of experience. What we should be worried about is his plan to "reinvent" the US economy with income redistribution and taxes on everything that breathes or moves. Just who will be left to pay these taxes?

Chuckiechan, Antelope, USA

Obama is trying to force race as an issue-it's not to most of us. We already have a socialist congress and a dictatorial judiciary. We don't want a socialist in the WH. He may be good for the NE liberals and Left coast fruities, but the rest of us recognize this smooth charlatan for what he is

arthur, huntsville, us

To Jack Williams - your thinking is broken. No one loved Saddam Hussiein. Many of us, however, believe the same as candidate G.W. Bush - who famously said that american troops should not be involved in nation building.

Michael Heuss, Gainesville, FL, United States

What was it about Saddam Hussain newspaper "intellectuals" loved so much? Was it the rape rooms? the 3 wars? hundreds of thousands dead? 10 million barrals oil in the ocean? Removing that lunatic was "no strategic blunder," except in the eyes of the obtuse. Imagine Saddam still still in power.

Jack Williams, Metairie, Louisiana, USA