Impressions of an Election.............By David Mixner

-So far, Barack Obama has been endorsed by 231 newspapers with a combined circulation of 21 million people. McCain has a total of 102 newspapers with a circulation of 7 million people. Forty-Six of the papers that endorsed Bush in 2004 have switched to Obama. One of the more interesting endorsements for Obama was the Anchorage Daily News. You bet'cha. If you want to know how your newspaper endorsed, go to www.editorandpublisher.com .

-Tell me again, John McCain, why we should not tax corporations more? Exxon/ Mobil, just for this quarter, has reported an all time record profit of $14.3 billion dollars! So much for taking our hard earned money at the gas pump and putting it back into exploration.

-Astronaut Sally Ride (photograph) has endorsed Obama and says he is the best choice for the future of the space program.

-Matt Drudge continues to bring shame to his site The Drudge Report by endlessly printing every slimy unauthenticated rumor about Obama. His effort to pump up the Republicans with such trash is unbecoming. But not surprising.

-The latest CNN/Time battleground state polls continue to show we are heading in the right direction. They showed Obama leading in a number of states including:

Florida +4%
Virginia +9%
Pennsylvania +12%
North Carolina +6%
Nevada +7%
Ohio +4%

-In the 'just when you think it can't get any worse' department, incumbent Republican Elizabeth Dole sank to new lows in the already acknowledged nadir known as Republican politics. She accused very religious challenger Kay Hagan of 'associating with Atheists" in a television spot! The Charlotte Observer called out Dole on her disgusting ad and said:

“This is indecent. It is the modern-day version of the “white hands” ad, a lie born of Dole's desperation in a race in which she has trailed for weeks. It is also a deliberate attempt by Dole's campaign not just to distort the truth, but to shatter Hagan's admirable record as an elder for more than a decade in Greensboro's First Presbyterian Church, as a Sunday School teacher and a volunteer in her church's fundraising campaigns, worship services and community service programs. It has no place in N.C. politics. Unless she admits this egregious, shameful mistake and acts appropriately, Elizabeth Dole has no place in N.C. politics, either.”

-Queerty.com carried the story of 109 year old Texan Amanda Jones whose father was a slave. Her life has spanned three centuries and has voted Democrat for seventy years. She proudly filled out her Absentee Ballot for Barack Obama this week. She announced it was her proudest vote ever in her long life.

-Speaking of the Lone Star State, a University of Texas poll showed that 23% of the voters of that state believe Barack Obama is a Muslim. Really. No kidding. No wonder they keep electing Republicans. Guess they have had too many head injuries in those Friday night football games.

-McCain has 177 lobbyists for Big Oil, Wall Street and other corporations running his campaign. No wonder his campaign thinks Obama's fair tax policy is "socialism".

-My political guru in Nevada, Dr. Jerry Cade, reports that Democrats out numbered Republicans in early voting in Clark County (Las Vegas) by 54% to 29%! In the Republican stronghold of Washoe County (Reno), Democrats have out numbered Republicans in early voting by 51% to 33%. Good news.

-Patrick Range McDonald sent a note about a rally in West Hollywood, California on Sunday at 4PM against Proposition 8. The huge rally will be at Santa Monica and Robertson Blvd. If you are in the Southland, please get your butt to it and while you are at it please give more money. We need $3 million more in three days to air a spot by Senator Dianne Feinstein against Proposition 8. Go to www.noonprop8.com and give one more check.

-"Keep on truckin' Scott Kleeb" is driving his pickup truck all over Nebraska. The Democrat, running for U.S. Senate, is having citizens sign his truck with missives detailing what they need from their government. The truck is covered with messages from the grassroots. (See Photograph).

-Alison Teal reports in "Hot Flashes from the Campaign Trail" that National Public Radio had a story of a factory worker in Missouri who voting early. As an old civil rights activist, I loved his quote which sounds like he might have gotten it from his preacher last Sunday:

 "Rosa sat so Martin could walk; Martin walked so Barack could run; Barack is running so children can fly."

-The Lady de Rothchild has taken her tiara and diamonds to New Hampshire to hold press conferences for John McCain. Once again the big Democratic contributor married to a billionaire is accusing Obama of being an elitist! I guess when you have that much inherited money, the notion of irony never enters your addled thought process. Even so, you have to admit that Lady de Rothchild seems to have lost all sense of what is elite and what is a noble struggle to create a magnificent life.

-The 'silver fox' President Clinton joined Barack Obama on stage for the first time last night at a huge, boisterous, and incredibly satisfying rally in Florida. If you missed the meeting of Democratic Titans, it is worth viewing. Just click on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RC-9PgJfJIw

-This will be my last Impressions of an Election column and next week after the election, I will begin my "Impressions by David Mixner" column. Lets hope I love covering this transition!

I leave you with this Obama canvasser who does it all on horseback in Missouri.

Impressions of an Election.........by David Mixner

-"kill'em them, gut'em them" Sarah Palin has told the press that they have to pay, get this, $15 million to get copies of her emails surrounding the controversies that are surfacing in Alaska. Oh, and by the way, she can't get them to you until after November 4. That should discourage anyone from vetting her!

-As only a Shakespearean bard can, Sir Ian McKellen (photograph) added a moment of class to American politics when he announced his opposition to Proposition 8. Sir Ian said,

"California's influence stretches across the world through the imagination of its citizens in films and through the internet. At the same time, its welcome to strangers has meant it has been home to those escaping oppression, many of whom have identified themselves as gay. For both reasons I feel involved in the outcome of voting over Proposition 8.

I think of Englishmen like the painter David Hockney and the writer Christopher Isherwood who emigrated to Los Angeles and Santa Monica where (far from home) they loved in the way they felt they were born to, with people of their own gender. I think of the gay novelist Armistead Maupin, a refugee from the Deep South who in San Francisco discovered his talent to amuse. These great men (and there are many women like them) deserve society's respect for their honesty and their determination to dream in the American way of being completely themselves, against all the odds."

-Holly Near, in the best tradition of Woody Guthrie, is heading to Ohio with "Sing Out The Vote"! She says, "We plan to use our 11 days to energize the weary activists in Ohio who are working so hard. We know how song works, we walk in that tradition." Over a dozen troubadours are traveling with Holly to the major cities to "Sing Out The Vote!". They are paying their own way and sleeping in people's home. Another good reason to volunteer for Obama.

-two more Republican newspapers that backed Bush in 2004, the Salt Lake Tribune and Kansas City Star, have endorsed Obama. Now get this, the main reason that they did so was because of the choice of Sarah Palin.

-what a weekend of numbers Obama has had! He announced that he raised a record breaking $150 million just in the month of September and now has 3.1 million contributors. The average contribution was less than $100 which is astounding. In addition, he had 100,000 people in St. Louis and 75,000 in Kansas City meaning that 175,000 people showed up in Missouri to see him.

-one very happy group of staffers are those that work for the Democratic Governors Association. They have raised more money to help elect Democratic governors than anytime in the organization's history. They raised one million dollars more than the Republicans!

-too bad our Canadian brother and sisters can't vote in this election. They favor Barack Obama over John McCain by 70% to 14%! But the record has to go to the Swiss who like Obama over McCain 83% to 7%.

-this is an indicator of this year's turn-out. Over 50% of Colorado voters have requested a ballot before election day! And, what was once solidly Republican, Arapahoe County in Colorado is now Democratic for the first time ever. Democrats have had a 26% increase in the county while Republicans have dropped 20%.

-my favorite Senate race continues to be Kay Hagan's incredible challenge to Republican incumbent Elizabeth Dole. The latest Daily Kos pol has Hagan up by 4 points. And so far, five major newspaper have endorsed in this race and all of them urged voters to vote for Hagan. Guess Liddy Dole will have to find a new retirement plan.

-speaking of Daily Kos, his latest poll has Republican incumbent Wicker only up by 1 point in Mississippi over Democratic challenger Ronnie Musgrove. Daily Kos has done remarkable and professional polling throughout this election.

-author Marylouise Oates (photograph by Michael Oates Palmer) who wrote the fun "Second Home Book" has no problem understanding why John McCain is obsessed with "Joe the Plumber". She says, "After all, he has seven homes and everyone knows how valuable plumbers are to homeowners!"

-is it just me, or has Time Magazine's "The Page", written by Mark Halperin, become nothing more than a newsletter for McCain/ Palin? I expected more of him.

-the latest polls from battleground states have Obama up over McCain by 7 in Colorado, 5 in Nevada and an amazing 6 in Missouri.

-Obama/ Biden had their surrogates and staff on conference call making sure all of us know his strong commitment to fight HIV/AIDS in his administration. Waiting for that same call from McCain...oops, there won't be one on this issue.

-more on endorsements. The Denver Post has a great endorsement of Obama. They say:

"Republicans love to mock Obama's history as a community organizer. But here was a man with no money to offer, no patronage to dispense, no way to punish his opponents. All he could do was to work with people from all walks of life, liberals and conservatives, business people and the unemployed, and bring them together in common cause for a better community. Could there really be better preparation to reunite a worried and divided America to again pursue our 'more perfect union'?"

-on the first day of early voting in North Carolina over 100,000 voters showed up at the polls.

-campaigns can be a work of art and GQ Magazine proves that in their latest issue. It has a photographic portfolio of pictures from this year's campaign. Click here to see it.

-you have to love the St. Louis rally picture of 100,000 turning out for Obama.

Impressions of an Election..........by David Mixner

-The Lady de Rothschild continues to get her diamonds tarnished by carrying John McCain's dirty water. The good Lady has become the symbolism of those who turned on the Democratic Party in its great hour of need. Now in an effort to fortress McCain's losing campaign, the good Lady has proclaimed Sarah Palin the victim of sexism from those attacking her competence. Come on good Lady, you know that attacking Palin's concept of seeing Russia is a foreign policy is not sexist. The good Lady even claims that - now get this - Palin is good on gay rights and abortion. M'lady, you have sunk into the mire with the rest of them and it is sad to see such a dirty tiara.

-Speaking of Palin, it is very troubling to read the interview with poor Levi Johnston - her soon to be son-in-law. He has dropped out of his senior year in high school to get a job to support Bristol and his baby that is due soon. You'd think that the Palin family could have helped him finish his high school education and given these two young people a better chance at life. Not a very good role model for other families facing similar difficulties. The good news is that Levi forgot to register to vote!

-Republicans are getting desperate all over the country and resorting to the only thing they have left...slimy campaigns. Incumbent Republican Elizabeth Dole, in an effort to rescue her failing campaign, has gone to new lows. In an editorial in the Fayetteville Observer, the paper lambasted Dole for reaching "the low mark in negative political campaigning." It continued by saying, "Jumping into the deep end of the slime pool is no way to catch up." Democrat Kay Hagan continues to run her campaign on issues and is up by 2 points in the latest PPP poll.

-Word is that the Republican National Committee is giving up on McCain and starting to send more money out to places like Georgia where Democrat Jim Martin is giving incumbent Republican Saxby Chambliss a race for his money. In a huge boost for Martin, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution strongly endorsed the Democrat.

-This news just in from Louisiana. National Republican committees are pulling there ads out of the campaign of Republican challenger John Kennedy to use elsewhere. This is pretty good sign that they believe that incumbent Democratic US Senator Mary Landrieu is going to win. This was the only Democratic seat that appeared a year ago to be in trouble. This is really good news.

-Hiring undocumented workers in your family business and then denying it can cost you votes as incumbent Republican Senator Gordon Smith has found out. His Democratic opposition, Speaker Merkley, is now ahead of Smith by five points. Ironically, Republican Smith keeps running ads with Obama's picture in it. Bet Barack would be surprised to know they were such close friends!

-One of the most intellectual and passionate bloggers around, Wayne Besen, is working hard to stop the Radio Hall of Fame from honoring the Rev. James Dobson's radio broadcasts which are filled with hate towards the LGBT community. Besen has helped launch a new web site called DumpDobson.com. Check it out.

-Have you made your contribution to defeat Proposition 8 yet? Do it now at www.noonprop8.com .

-The Republican stronghold in Nevada, Washoe County, for the first time in 30 years, has more Democrats than Republicans due to the Obama voter registration drive. You gotta thank those volunteers...they are simply amazing.

-Another powerful editorial for Barack Obama from the Boston Globe. The paper ends in an no hold's barred endorsement by saying:

"As the first black major-party presidential nominee, Obama has strived to make voters comfortable with a 'skinny kid with a funny name.' And yet the historical significance of his bid is impossible to ignore. Voters can make no more powerful statement about America's commitment to inclusion and opportunity than to put forward this man - Barack Hussein Obama, son of a father from Kenya and a mother from Kansas - as the nation's representative to the world.

An early Obama campaign slogan declared, "We are the ones we've been waiting for." His critics deemed such rhetoric too ethereal. Now it seems prescient, as the nation confronts a financial crisis of historic proportions, as well as all the other policy failures and debt-fueled excesses of the last eight years. The United States has to dig itself out. Barack Obama is the one to lead the way."

-Rumors are flying all over the place that former Republican Secretary of State Colin Powell will endorse Obama. Lawrence O'Donnell even penned a post yesterday on Huffington predicting Powell to announce after Wednesday's final debate. Will trade Secretary Powell for the good Lady de Rothschild any day.

-In the "dare we believe it" department, the New York Times/ CBS poll has Obama leading by 14 points. God, I want to believe it with all my heart. I really, really want to believe it!

-Very sad news coming out of Dallas. According to his son, major Democratic contributor Fred Baron is dying of terminal cancer. Many of us knew the Dallas attorney through his active involvement in the Edwards for President campaign. Our thoughts are with him and his family.

-Hope you have gotten your tickets for the Empire State Pride Agenda Dinner in New York this Monday (October 20). It is looking to be quite the evening with Whoopi Goldberg, Governor David Paterson and honoring Ralph Lauren. I hear they have set another record with this dinner but don't miss it. Order your tickets by end of day on Friday by clicking here. -

Speaking of great events, there was a helluva one in Los Angeles this past Sunday at the ever-hip   Sunset Strip Mondrian Hotel and Asia De Cuba for the campaign against Proposition 8! Evan Wolfson's speech moved the entire crowd. The place was packed and Eric McCormick of "Will and Grace" fame coughed up $10,000 only to be topped by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa who donated $25,000! Loni Anderson chatted with Steven Guy (photo). Celebrities Nia Vardalos, Chad Allen, Jeremy Glazer and Thomas Roberts roamed through the crowd looking hot and sexy. Over $250,000 was raised for the No on Eight campaign that evening.

-Just in case you are getting over-confident and think you don't have to do anything more for Obama, take a look at the video below, watch with horror and double your efforts. Isn't it time for one more contribution to Obama? Just click here.

Impressions of an Election........by David Mixner

- have you ever seen such a hate-filled campaign like that coming from John McCain? He is finished, no matter how you cut it. If elected, he would be unable to govern given the hate, division and anger he has created. If he loses, he will always be remembered for running one of the hateful campaigns in American history. Hey, John, is it really worth losing your heart and soul for power?

- my buddy, LGBT pioneer Dr. Jerry Cade, reports from Nevada that Obama is making great progress in that state. In this week's Reno-Gazette poll, Obama leads by 53% to 43%. Even more interesting is that in Nevada's second congressional district (in green at right), a district that went for Bush by 16% in 2004, Obama is virtually tied with McCain. Not good news for the McCain camp. Maybe they should start talking about the issues.

- we have a good chance to pick up a spectacular new Democratic senator in North Carolina. Kay Hagen has been running a flawless campaign against Republican Elizabeth Dole. What is amazing, despite spending only about 13% of her time in North Carolina while Senator, Dole is still hardly coming to North Carolina to campaign. She has refused all debates and is doing fundraising events at her Watergate home. A year ago she had a party for her staff on the North Carolina Outer Banks and charged the taxpayers. Come on, those Bob Dole Viagra ads must be bringing in enough money to pay for her own staff party.

- shoot'em and gut'em Governor Sarah Palin has spent way too much time at home. As Governor, she has spent 300 days, out of 20 months, working at home, with the State Capitol hundreds of miles away. But get this: she charges the state per diem to stay in her own home, and thus far has raked in $17,000 from taxpayer dollars. In addition, she conveniently left the $17,000 off her taxes! What is it about Alaskans and their homes? Maybe Senator Ted Stevens gave her some advice.

- don't mess with Senator John McCain at the craps tables in the Casinos! According to Michael Kinsley, on the Tina Brown "Daily Beast" , a hot new web site, McCain was at a gaming table in Puerto Rico when a woman next to him touched him to get his hands on the craps table. (Gambler's protocol.) McCain screamed at the woman not to touch him and shouted through the casino - didn't they know who he was? He continued this tirade for some time. Bet he wishes today they would forget who he is.

  - Florida must be in play for Obama since they just sent my good friend, Steven Hildebrand (National Deputy Campaign Manager - he is at left), along with get-out-the-vote specialist, Paul Tewes, to Florida, full time until election day. They are two of the best grass roots organizers in the country. This says a lot about what the Obama campaign polling is indicating.

- ok, here is a shocker. The National Rifle Association supports McCain.

- wonder why suddenly all the press is once again talking about race. The new TIME cover asks the question: will voters overcome their concerns about a black man because of the economy? Why is race being brought up this way in the last weeks and days of the campaign? There is no doubt in my mind that voters know Obama is black. Duh.

- Andy Towle, at Towleroad.com, brings disturbing news that the hot Cleveland Browns quarterback,   Brady Quinn, is supporting John McCain. Guess those multimillion dollar contracts made him a Republican and he probably loves those tax breaks that McCain will give the rich. My advice to my fellow gay men is to get a new fantasy quarterback! Quinn has just lost all right to that title.

- Nate Silver of 'fivethirtyeight.com' has an amazing track record of predicting political winners. His predictions are based on his sports site that projects winners in sporting events. His latest projection is that Obama wins with 346.8 electoral votes and with 52% of the popular vote to McCain's 47%. Interestingly, he projects the new Senate will be 56 Democrats, 42 Republicans. Could be a good year, couldn't it?

- according to Rasmussen.com, Obama has the lead in every state that John Kerry carried, is leading McCain in four states that Bush carried, and is tied with McCain in five states that Bush won. Boy that hate filled stuff really works for McCain, doesn't it?

- according to the latest Strategic Vision Poll, Obama continues his amazing lead in Pennsylvania at 54% to McCain at 40%.

- Taegan Goddard also has a Strategic Vision Poll. It shows the Georgia incumbent, Republican Senator Saxby leading Democrat Jim Martin by only a few points.  Could be the famous "Obama Effect"!

- hey, gang, it is push come to shove time. Have you volunteered to help out on election week and day? Have you made another contribution to Obama? Don't wait for them to ask for money. Send it now by clicking here. We don't have a day or a dollar to spare!

- want to see some raw emotion and a powerful moment on video? The New Yorker has a video of  Donna  Brazile at their recent symposium. You must click here to see it. I just adore Donna Brazile and this makes me love her all the more. Thanks, Donna, for letting it all hang out.

- the recent New York Times editorial, called the "Politics of Attack", blasts the McCain/Palin ticket for running one of the worst campaigns in the history of the Republic! It ends by saying,

"In a way, we should not be surprised that Mr. McCain has stooped so low, since the debate showed once again that he has little else to talk about. He long ago abandoned his signature issues of immigration reform and global warming; his talk of 'victory' in Iraq has little to offer a war-weary nation; and his Reagan inspire ideology of starving government and shredding regulation lies in tatters on Wall Street."

"But surely, Mr. McCain and his team can come up with a better answer to that problem than inciting more division, anger and hatred."

- have American corporate executives lost all good sense? Just before they went under, Lehman Brothers approved millions in golden parachutes but they seem modest by AIG executives. These AIG winners, AFTER they had been bailed out by OUR money, decided they were stressed and needed a retreat. Again I say, at OUR expense, they went to a spa and spent $400,000 talking, dining well and getting spa treatments. Hell, I am stressed by the economy, too. Where is my trip, Uncle Sam?

- want to create your own Cabinet for the next Obama or McCain administration? You can go to CQ Politics, by clicking here, and participate in making the next Presidential cabinet. Eric Holder is first choice for Attorney General, so far, with 62% of the vote. Surprisingly, Governor Bill Richardson is first choice for Secretary of State while usual favorite, Richard Holbrooke, is third with only 12% of the vote.

- with all the anger in this election, take a look at this Obama ad and remember why we are supporting him. Peace.

Impressions of an Election............by David Mixner

-Biden was so Presidential and brilliant last night. The initial polls are excellent with CBS poll showing  Biden winning 46% to 21% and the CNN poll show a Biden victory of 51% to 36%. Once again the voters are more impressed with our team in the debate than the commentators.

-One of the best parts of campaigns is often the concerts that come out of them and the interesting paring of performers. Who wouldn't want to be at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York on October 16 to see The Boss and The Piano Man do a concert for Barack Obama. They could have sold out Shea Stadium with Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel. Wow.

-If you are in Washington, DC tomorrow (October 4) head on over to Politics and Prose bookstore to be greeted by Larry Tribe talking about his new hit book "The Invisible Constitution". Larry will be int he store by 1PM. It won't be possible to have a more intelligent afternoon in Washington tomorrow than at this event.

-The ever-great site, Queerty.com, points out that this summer Congress passed the provision to remove the ban of HIV travel to the United States. For some reason, Homeland Security has decided on its own to 'streamline the process' but not to lift the ban. This ban continues to shame America around the world and you have to wonder what idiot reason Secretary Michael Chertoff has for this one. After all, you remember he was so brilliant at handling Katrina. "Heckuva job, Chertie!"

-It baffles me why Republicans are screaming so loud against early voting in Ohio. Seems to me both sides would want to make sure their supporters had an easy time voting. But then maybe it might have something to do with the McCain/Palin ticket falling behind in the Buckeye State.

-Taegen Goddard has poll results on its site that show newly registered voters are breaking for Obama by a margin of two to one.

-Way to go President Clinton! After raising some concern about his energy behind Obama, he proved many of us wrong by delivering a hot and passionate speech in Florida on behalf of the Obama/Biden ticket. Thanks Mr. President!

-Thank God Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger protected the State of California from a horrible fate! The ever wise Governor decided to veto the bill that would have created Supervisor Harvey Milk Day to coincide with the release of the film "Milk". Not one single Republican in the legislature voted for the bill despite the fact that Harvey Milk died while being in service to his city, state and country.

Remember Iraq? That is the war that is still raging in the Middle East. A group of activists and citizens in the cold northwest corner of Wisconsin hasn't forgotten. They have formed the Iraq Moratorium and every couple of weeks take time out of their lives to remind people of the continuing tragedy of this unjust war.

We have talked a lot about Proposition 8 in California which would repeal marriage equality granted by the California Supreme Court. However there is also a big battle going on in Florida which is an attempt to put into the Florida State Constitutional a ban on marriage equality. The good news is that they need 60% of the vote to successfully include it. You can help out by going to www.SayNo2.com which is the site for Florida Red and Blue.

-There is a great site headed by Kathleen Unger to maintain election day integrity and prevent fraud or people from being denied the right to vote on technicalities. Go to www.ElectionPreparedness.com and find out all about it. I know that many areas are looking for lawyers to prevent voter suppression on election day.

-Now, this is precious. The Republicans in Minnesota who hated the late Democratic Senator Paul Wellstone (in picture at left) are using him in ads in attempt to defeat Al Franken. Have they no shame at all?

-Democrat Musgrove has pulled within two points of incumbent Republican Wicker in the race for US Senate in Mississippi.

-Newsweek columnist Fareed Zakaria has a tough column on McCain's selection of Palin. He closes by saying:

"Obviously these are very serious challenges and constraints. In these times,for John McCain to have chosen this person to be his running mate is fundamentally irresponsible. McCain says that he always puts country first. In this important case, it is simply not true."

-The Georgia US Senate race is continuing to amaze and heat up. Incumbent Republican Senator Saxby Chambliss has only a 2% lead over Democratic challenger Jim Martin. People are talking heavily about the "Obama Effect" in that progressive Southern State.

-Set your recorders and Tivos to record the 2AM (EST) showing on tonight (Friday) of the GLAAD Awards on BRAVO. If you missed it the first time around, it is a great show. Not in the program is the wonderful introduction Judith Light gave when she presented me the "Pioneer Award". If you are at all slightly interested, you can watch it here by clicking here.

-Have to admit that I have some guilty pleasures. Not only do I love "Judge Judy", I also can't wait to read Cindy Adams each morning in the New York Post. I know, I know...

-The tiny city of LaCrosse, Wisconsin with a grand total of 52,000 people turned out nearly 15,000 plus citizens to listen to Barack Obama this week. Below is a picture of the crowd.

Impressions of an Election.............by David Mixner

-This will scare you all, early voting begins today in many states. People are ACTUALLY voting on the Presidential race as we speak! Registered voters living in Georgia, Kentucky and Virginia are first in line but it escalates each week. About one third of Americans will vote before election day. If you are supporting Obama vote early or by absentee to make sure you vote is counted.

-Seems as though some states have to be moved soon to the Obama column from toss-up. The latest Iowa poll has Obama up by 14% and in Minnesota, Obama has developed a 8% lead! On the other hand, Pennsylvania has closed somewhat and might be moved into the undecided column but North Carolina clearly has to be moved also into the toss-up category since the two candidates are virtually tied in that state.

-Speaking of North Carolina, there is nothing but good news coming from the Tar Heel State. Not only has Obama closed the gap but for the first time in the Rasmussen Poll, Democratic challenger State Senator Kay Hagen has moved ahead of Republican incumbent Elizabeth Dole. Hagen now is winning by 5%!

-the Congressional newspaper Roll Call has developed a list of the 50 richest people in the US Congress. Here is the top five. (For the remainder of the Top 50 click here):

1. Senator John Kerry ($230 million)
2. Congresswomen Jane Harman ($225 million)
3. Congressman Darrell Issa ( $160 million)
4. Senator Jay Rockefeller ($80 million)
5. Congressman Robin Hayes ($78 million)

-Now it turns out that John McCain has 11 cars and 7 houses (9 according to pundit Paul Begala) and the endorsement of the Lady de Rothchild. Now remind me again who is the elitist?

-In the 'sure this is really change' department, Senator John McCain refuses to rule out former Texas Senator Phil Graham as his potential Secretary of Treasury! Now we all know that it is Graham who told us to stop whining about the economy and the one who brought to us this mess on Wall Street with his deregulation bills.

-The Mississippi Supreme Court ruled that the Republican attempt to place their close US Senate race at the bottom of the ballot is just unacceptable and have order it back to the top of the ballot. When the Republicans can't win the voters they resort to all sort of tactics to suppress voters.Unbelievable.

-There is an incredible article in this month's issue of GQ Magazine by Robert Draper called "Prisoner of War". It is about McCain's history with the issue of Iraq and his policies toward that country. It is a must read. Just click here.

  -Speaking of great articles, Ebony Magazine has a fantastic piece by Goldie Taylor (on left)called "A Woman's Worth: We've Come A Long Way Baby". Here is an excerpt about Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin from this fascinating article:

"I do know that she's a life-time member of the NRA, a proponent of individuals who wielded the very weapons that killed my father and brother. I do know that she “lives really close to Russia,” but I'm not so certain she is ready for Putin. I know she wanted to ban books for public libraries and sex education in schools, but that her 17 year old is pregnant and preparing for a shotgun wedding. I know that she loves her husband enough to allow him (and probably did herself) use her office to settle a personal score--one that the McCain campaign would now like to cover up under a blanket of Juneau snow. I know that the Alaska Independent Party, and its secessionist platform, was enticing enough for her to attend its conference (and for her husband to become a card carrying member). Does she love her country? I'm sure. Enough to support those who want to leave it"

-George Bush's approval rating is down to an amazing 19% in the American Research Group Poll. Think about it, over 80% of the people of this country thinks he is doing a bad job.

-Sunday was not a good day for John McCain. On This Week with George Stephanopoulos very conservative columnist George Will almost left his support of McCain in the dust! Will said in response to McCain's actions surrounding the economic crisis, "John McCain showed his personality this week," said the writer and pundit, "and made some of us fearful." Wouldn't call that a ringing endorsement, would you?

-The very conservative San Diego Union-Tribune came out against the repeal of marriage equality in California and urged voters to vote "NO on 8"! The historically right wing paper said in and editorial entitled "Gay Marriage Should Not be Repealed" : "With gay marriage a fait accompli, society has not crumbled. The long-standing institution of marriage is not in crisis. Californians have taken this change in stride. Indeed, there appears to be a marked shift in public opinion toward acceptance of gay marriage."

-Want to keep up on a daily electoral vote count? Just tune into www.electoral-vote.com . Warning. It is not for the faint of heart as you hold your breath each day to see what state is moved where!

-Finally, like most newscasts (evil grin), I bring you some interesting weather! A very complex series of events this week could enable a tropical depression over Puerto Rico right now to become a Cat 1 hurricane and hit New Jersey/ New York City directly by the weekend! Now this would be the only second hurricane in modern history to make a direct hit on the Garden State. About a quarter of the computer models are forecasting this possibility!

Impressions of an Election.........by David Mixner

-The campaign season is getting hot and heavy these days and no where hotter than in Oregon. I have said all along that Republican senator Gordon Smith is in trouble and the mounting evidence is proving me correct. After denying employing undocumented workers in his family business, the local newspapers are finding them everywhere. The revelations appear to be taking a toll and the latest polls have his opponent Democrat Jeff Merkley pulling into the lead by a mere 1% for the first time. Watch this race. It could be the sleeper of the year.

-The Lady de Rothschild, a Democratic National Committee member and fervent Hillary Clinton supporter, has endorsed Senator John McCain because she says Obama is an elitist! Now that takes the "Marie Antoinette Let Them Eat Cake" award! This titled billionaire with homes around the world calling Obama - a man who was raised by a single mom on food stamps - an elitist defies credulity. To make matters worse for the McCain campaign, today she was widely quoted as saying she was considering the McCain "redneck" vote. Yow! Will Howard Dean step up to the plate and demand that she resign her position with the Democratic Party? This vague 'elitist' issue is enough apparently for her to overcome McCain's anti-GLBT positions, his support of the war, his disastrous economic policies and sad environmental record. It is time for this destructive Oligarch to go. Pearls and all. Calling Dr. Dean!

In the midst of the staggering Wall Street crumble, CNN interviewed McCain advisor Carly Fiorina about her candidate's response. Ironically, that very day Hewlett-Packard laid off 25,000 workers. That is the company that Fiorina used to run. Also, she said that none of the candidates, including McCain and Palin, could run a company and for that she was banned for further appearances by the campaign. And to think she on the short list for McCain's Vice-President! I'm guessing she and Lady Rothschild will be banished to the same "Cone Of Silence".

  -Actor Brad Pitt just donated $100,000 to the No on 8 campaign in California. A great role model for the rest of Hollywood, he and Angelina Jolie were widely quoted a while back as saying that they would not marry until "everyone" was granted equal marriage rights. Bravo, Brad! We will be waiting for those checks to come in from Hollywood's elite who has been treated well by the LGBT community over the years. And if Brad could give that much don't you think our own millionaires and billionaires could step to the plate with a million here and a million there? The YES side is out raising us by 33%. Time to get busy.

-Continuing on the theme of contributing to the fight against Proposition 8 and its ban on marriage equality, reporter Karen Ocamb has an excellent article called "A-Gays Missing in Fight Against Proposition 8" found in IN Magazine. It is a must read. Seems like some very important people in the community have done nothing to help in this epic battle. Click here to see who is sitting on the sidelines.

-As the Obama campaign picks up steam this week, interesting polls from some states that many thought were out of his reach following the Palin selection. Guess that glow from "Caribou Barbie" is starting to wear thin. In Indiana, the Indianapolis Star and WTHR poll has Obama up by 3%. In North Carolina, the CNN/TIME poll has Obama only trailing McCain by 1%. Maybe "Happy Days Are Here Again" after all!

-Reports grow on Governor Palin's expensive taste in clothes including a $2,500 Valentino jacket she wore at the Convention. Included in her expenses are also hundreds of dollars for glasses. How is a mother of five on a low salary paying for all this stuff? Just interested. Also, today, her husband, Todd, has declared he will not honor the subpoena issued to him to answer questions about his wife's alleged unethical behavior in "Troopergate." Hmmmm. That doesn't bode well for a couple championing "reform", now, does it?

-On September 25, New York Governor David Patterson and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom are   joining forces at the Manhattan Park Avenue home of Ira Statfeld and Michael Recanti to raise serious money to fight No on 8 in California. If you can go to the high end event call Carrie Roush at 202-683-2551 and join in the fight for Marriage Equality.

-A new poll of traditionally conservative economists finds that they want Obama to win over McCain by a margin of 66% to 28%. If McCain's recent clueless comments on the spectacularly tanking economy weren't enough to convice you of his glaring inadequacies, this information should settle the argument on who is best for the American economy.

-According to the Field Poll, Obama leads McCain by 16% in California!

-Good news for wildlife lovers....and we need some! The Grizzly bears are making a comeback in the lower 48 states. There are now 765 Grizzlies in Montana and that is the highest in over thirty years. Watch were you walk in Montana!

-Democratic New Mexico Senate candidate, Tom Udall, is now leading by 16% and almost assures us of picking up that Senate seat.

-On a sadder note, my guess is that the eventual death toll from Hurricane Ike will run into the hundreds as we realize how many had been simply swept out to sea.

-The following is a magnificent television ad on 'change' from the Obama campaign

Impressions of an Election............by David Mixner

-"People...people who love people, love Obama" crooned uber-diva Barbra Streisand performing a variance of her signature tune, "People", from the musical FUNNY GIRL, for the man himself last night in Beverly Hills. Over $10 million dollars were raised for Obama for President in one night, setting an all time record. Ironically, the McCain folks were bragging that Sarah Palin brought in the same amount in over a month. But then, clearly, she is no Barbra and McCain is no Obama. Almost everyone in Hollywood showed up making for the largest turnout of stars in years for a political event.

-Seems as though the state of Virginia will be seeing a lot of McCain and Obama this year. The state is in play for the first time in 44 years! The latest Rasmussen Poll has the two dead even at 48% each while the SurveryUSA Poll has Obama up by 4%. Looks like the candidates will be fattening up on bar-b-que, touting NASCAR racing and raising mint juleps in horse country!

-Next door in good old West Virginia, get out the hymnals and praise the Lord since a state that Barack was given little chance of carrying is now up-for-grabs. The turnabout makes total sense given the undeniable fact that the economy is clearly heading south. A massive McCain lead in the Mountaineer State has shrunk to just 4 points according to a recently released ARG Poll on Taegan Goddard's web site. Goddard's site also continues the good news delineating Obama with 7 point lead in 'must carry' New Mexico.

Want to know how Obama can win without carrying Florida, Ohio or Missouri? It is entirely possible. He has to carry the entire Northeast including New Hampshire and Pennsylvania. Then he carries Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa. Obama sweeps the West Coast including Washington, Oregon, California and Hawaii. The key battlegrounds then become the crucial states of Colorado, New Mexico and Nevada. If he accomplishes this scenario then he wins without Florida, Missouri, Ohio, Virginia and North Carolina. Picking up any of them would be icing on the cake!

-The DSCC has a new ad up in Alaska pointing out that for almost every special project that disgraced Republican Senator Ted Stevens brought home, the Republican party immediately hired his even more disgraced lobbyist son, Ben. In the best tradition of All in the Family, "Get federal money, then pay Ben."

-One of my best buddies, Richard Houghton, has recently made me - and America - very proud. Richard, who has been in Iraq the last three years, got special recognition this week. General Petraeus personally presented him with the Army Superior Civilian Service Medal for outstanding service to his country. No one deserves it more and I am so very pleased for him.

-Major New York Democrat, Jeff Soref, turned 60 this week and the Union Square Cafe closed for the first time ever for a private birthday party. After a loving toast by his partner Paul Lombardi, Jeff brought us all to tears with his amazing speech. At the event was Andy Towle, Alan van Capelle, Matt Morning Star, Kimberly Kakerbeck, Frank Selvaggi, Will Trinkle and Juan Grandos, City Council President Chris Quinn, State Senator Tom Duane, Sean Maloney, Randy Florke and several hundred others gathered in a moving tribute to Soref.

-With this recent economic crisis, New York is in serious danger of falling behind London as the financial center of the world. With Bear Sterns and Lehman Brothers disappearing and Merrill Lynch merging with Bank of America, many of the big firms are no longer in New York. Mayor Michael Bloomberg has his job cut out for him.

-Handsome, astute and compelling Democratic cowboy candidate for the Nebreska US Senate seat, Scott Kleeb, has put out an ad that succinctly captures the last four years of Bush in just thirty seconds. This guy is the real deal. You might want to watch twice. Wow.

America 2008: Something to Think About

This is powerful and delightful.  Enjoy!

-If you're a minority and you're selected for a job over more qualified candidates you're a "token hire."
-If you're a conservative and you're selected for a job over more qualified candidates you're a "game changer."

-Black teen pregnancies? A "crisis" in black America.
-White teen pregnancies? A "blessed event."

-Similarly, if you name you kid Barack you're "unpatriotic."
-Name your kid Track, you're "colorful."

-If you're a black single mother of 4 who waits for 22 hours after her water breaks to seek medical attention, you're an irresponsible parent, endangering the life of your unborn child.
-But if you're a white married mother who waits 22 hours, you're spunky.

-If you're a 13-year-old Chelsea Clinton, the right-wing press calls you "First dog."
-If you're a 17-year old pregnant unwed daughter of a Republican, the right-wing press calls you "beautiful" and "courageous."

-If you teach abstinence only in sex education, you get teen parents.
-If you teach responsible age appropriate sex education, including the proper use of birth control, you are eroding the fiber of society.

-If you kill an endangered species, you're an excellent hunter.
-If you have an abortion you're not a Christian, you're a murderer (forget about if it happens while being date raped.)

-If you grow up in Hawaii you're "exotic."
-Grow up in Alaska eating mooseburgers, you're the quintessential "American story."

-If you're a Democrat and you make a VP pick without fully vetting the individual you're "reckless."
-A Republican who doesn't fully vet is a "maverick."

- If you are a Democratic male candidate who is popular with millions of people you are an "arrogant celebrity".
-If you are a popular Republican female candidate you are "energizing the base".

-If you are a younger male candidate who thinks for himself and makes his own decisions you are "presumptuous".
-If you are an older male candidate who makes last minute decisions you refuse to explain, you are a "shoot from the hip" maverick.

-If you are a candidate with a Harvard law degree you are "an elitist-out of touch" with the real America.
- If you are a legacy (dad and granddad were admirals) graduate of Annapolis, with multiple disciplinary infractions you are a hero.

- If you strategize and manage a multi-million dollar nationwide campaign defeating more tenured politicians, you are an "empty suit".
-If you were a part time mayor of a town of 7000 people, you are an "experienced executive".

-If you go to a largely African American south side Chicago church, your beliefs are "extremist".
- If you believe in creationism, don't believe global warming is affected by human activity, and see the Iraq invasion as "a mission from God", you are "strongly principled".

-If you have been married to the same woman for 19 years and raised 2 beautiful daughters, you're "risky".
-If you left your wife after cheating on her with a rich heiress, whom you married the next month, you're a Christian.

-If you spend 3 years as a community organizer growing your organization from a staff of 1 to 13 and your budget from $70,000 to $400,000, then become the first black President of the Harvard Law Review, create a voter registration drive that registers 150,000 new African American voters, spend 12 years as a Constitutional Law professor, then spend nearly 8 more years as a State Senator representing a district with over 750,000 people, becoming chairman of the state Senate's Health and Human Services committee, then spend nearly 3 years in the United States Senate representing a state of almost 13 million people, sponsoring 129 bills and cosponsoring 545 bills, and serving on the Foreign Affairs, Environment and Public Works and Veteran's Affairs committees, you are "inexperienced".

-If you spend 4 years on the city council and 6 years as the mayor of a town with less than 7,000 people, then spend 20 months as the governor of a state with 650,000 people, have traveled to 3 foreign countries, are the Commander in Chief of the Alaska National Guard of 4,000 members, you are well qualified to lead the nation should you be called upon to do so because your state is the closest state to Russia then you've got the most executive experience of anyone on either ticket, .

Impressions of an Election.......................by David Mixner

-The combination of September 11 and Hurricane Ike has made this somewhat of a slow and weird week with the election so close. But one thing is becoming clear, Obama is, to quote Howard Beale in the film NETWORK, "Mad as hell and not going to take it anymore!" The lies upon lies upon lies coming out of the McCain/ Palin camp are so myriad that they are even making the media's heads spin. When the Republican team is caught in an obvious lie, they seem to answer it with a greater lie. Interestingly, they don't lie about broader more vague issues - instead, they choose to prevaricate about tiny easy to track down lies which can clearly be trumped by the truth. Especially given the age of YouTube, what are they thinking?

-Having been totally caught in the lies about the "Bridge to Nowhere" with every media outlet disputing the false assertion, Sarah Palin seemed curiously unfazed. In her first media appearance alone yesterday, the Governor simply repeated her lies as if no one had caught on to her. Has she no shame?

-The Palin "Truth Watch" effort now finds that after talking about her "first hand visit to Iraq" that Palin has never stepped foot in the country! She got as far as the border and Kuwait and never tip-toed across into Iraq. The campaign is again in the middle of damage control, "clarifying" what she meant. This Governor is a proving to be an accomplished compulsive liar.

-There is a hot fundraising event taking place in New York on October 5 chaired by John Phillips and Margo Lion. They have combined chefs, artists and musicians to create a spectacular roving dinner party starting at the Pace Gallery and moving into individual homes. At each home will be a guest chef and artists. Participating will be such celebrities as Philip Glass, Ruth Reichl, Danny Meyer, Alice Waters, Chuck Close, Richard Croft, Tony Kushner, Judy Blume and Toni Morrison! One can get tickets to this creative and delightful event by clicking here.

-Great news from Iowa! Senator Obama now leads John McCain in this battleground state by 12%. The last couple of elections it is has been razor thin in this Midwest state but the Obama lead keeps building

-John Cloud, who never ceases to amaze with his excellent writing, has another powerful story in TIME called "A Transexual vs The Government" . Ex Special Forces David Schroer who had a distinguished military record applied for a job and was accepted at the Library of Congress. The masculine military stud revealed to the Library that he was about to undergo a sex change operation to finally be free to be Diane Schroer. They took away the job offer immediately. Instead of shrinking away into the night, Diane filed suit against the Library. I am sure that one's gender really should be a major issue in dealing with books and papers, right? God, how narrow minded can these people be?

-Everyone is talking about the New York Times article called, "Once Elected, Palin Hired Friends and Lashed Foes". The word of mouth is correct. This is a "must read" for anyone who really cares about the future of the country. The article, written by Jo Becker, Peter S. Goodman and Michael Powell, discloses how the Alaskan governor made close school mate friends powerful appointees despite their lack of experience. My favorite is the following mind-numbing revelation: "So when there was a vacancy at the top of the State Division of Agriculture, she appointed a high school classmate, Franci Havemeister, to the $95,000-a-year directorship. A former real estate agent, Ms. Havemeister cited her childhood love of cows as a qualification for running the roughly $2 million agency." That one is almost better than the "I can see Russia from Alaska" qualification!

-My friend Don Krouse met with former in-laws from Missouri who were considering voting for McCain/ Palin. By the time he got done telling them what impact that horrendous team would have on his life, they all agreed to vote for or consider seriously Obama. He personally maybe changed 11 votes in a battleground state. There is no replacement for this one on one effort. Don will claim credit if Missouri goes for Obama! Don't hesitate, call family and friends now. People who love people don't allow family and friends to vote McCain/ Palin!

-There is major news coming out of California. Senator Dianne Feinstein, who has long opposed 'marriage equality', not only has come out against Proposition 8 in California but has changed her mind and now supports marriage equality. She said in a statement, "The views of Californians on this issue have changed over time, and as a State, I believe we should uphold the ability of our friends, neighbors, and co-workers who are gay and lesbian to enter into the contract of marriage." No one has ever accused Dianne of being a flaming liberal so this is big news.

-After some discouraging polls, it appears that Democratic candidate and champion environmentalist, Mark Udall, is up 11 points in Colorado according the latest Harstad Strategic Research poll. This could be a big Democratic year in the Rocky Mountain state with Obama up by 3%.

-Have to thank my friend Gary Belis for sending in that marvelous YouTube video of "Les Misbarack". Readers love it. Thanks, Gary.

-Speaking of loving it, the below ad from the Obama campaign is one of my favorites. Take a look.