Novelty Is For Party Favours

Written by B-Double
I've noticed Q's musings on who McCain should choose as his VP running mate in the lead-up to the U.S. Presidential Election in November. I'm not convinced he really needs to counter a "novelty factor" in the first place.

No question: Obama is a novelty in American politics. He "speaks well" (as Joe Biden infamously mentioned), he has poise and presents a vision (albeit a little light on the details) for the country. Oh, and he's black. Now, I don't think being black is the novelty in and of itself. Its that he is a black candidate who hasn't made being black a cornerstone of his campaign. He's a junior senator who happens to be black.

On the other hand, Senator Hillary Clinton is the first serious female candidate and a former first lady. Interesting background, to be sure. But that's where the novelty stops for her. As far as being a Senator, Washington Insider, or whatever other moniker you'd like to give her, she is as status quo as it gets in terms of past presidential candidates.

Now, it should be mentioned that this "novelty" can be just as much of a drag on their electability. There are - sadly - many, many voters who would never vote for a woman or a black man. I believe in the reverse Bradley factor: people say they will vote for a black person to a pollster, but when it comes down to it, they won't. Same goes for a female. That's just the way it is. And that drag is even more difficult than the "O Factor" to measure.

Now to McCain: I believe that U.S. voters take the job of electing a President very seriously. Especially in a time of war for their country and an extremely volatile global political climate, slow down in the economy and a deficit spinning out of control, the next President is facing some serious challenges from Day One. Everything I've read, listened to and watched over the past year tells me that the average American voter understands this.

McCain needs to address the concerns and desires of the American people, not counter some hyped-up ticket on the Democratic side. What are those desires? Obviously, change. But what does "change" mean? A change from what?
....(Continued on The Conservative Hipsters)