I really don't remember what I was doing, probably trying to separate one coffee filter from the others, when I heard somebody on MSNBC's
Morning Joe say that the 2008 presidential election may well be decided by educated white males over 50.
"Hey", I remember thinking, "that's me"!
Apparently the Democratic Candidates in particular will be jilting "Soccer Moms" this year, in an effort to win over what one pundit lamely called "Office Park Dads". (Yeah, I know...awkward.)
Yet, despite being a Liberal Democrat living in Florida, I haven't been courted by Barack, Hillary or John. Not only has there been no noisy rallies in my neighborhood, I haven't even gotten a simple push-poll phone call or slick brochure in the mail.
I realize this cold shoulder treatment isn't actually the fault of the candidates.
Thanks to our State Legislature, the Florida Primary was set earlier this year than ever before. This, in turn, really ticked off the movers and shakers in both the Democratic and Republican National Committees. The
RNC stripped the state of half its convention delegates while the
DNC decreed that no elected delegates would be admitted to their convention at all.
Democratic Candidates also pledged not to "actively" campaign in the state.
So here I was today, fighting traffic, to cast my vote in what the pundits are calling a "beauty contest", thinking how much fun it would be to be a
pundit.
The notice taped to the door of my usual polling place said the voting precinct was moved from an elementary school, to a meeting room in a Holiday Inn, just outside the Why Not? Lounge. For years, the
Why Not was known as middle age pick up bar. Now, it has a comedy club on the weekends, but is still known as a local "meet market", where over amplified music and cheap drinks lead to sordid stories often deficient in traditional family values...
...or so they tell me.
As I slipped my completed ballot into the optical scanner, I thought "what better place could there be to curry favor with us 50 plus educated white guys".
...while grumpy, old, fat women in curlers and mudpacks push the Democrats towards those reliable Diebolds.
Ah, Florida! You gotta love it!
RISING IMPORTANCE FOR FALLING ECONOMY
Given four choices, nearly half of Florida Republican primary voters said the economy is the most important issue facing the country. Terrorism, Iraq and immigration each were picked by fewer than two in 10. The economy also was the top issue out of three choices for voters in the Democratic primary, which none of the candidates contested because of questions over whether Florida's Democratic delegates will be seated. The economy has been seen as increasingly important since the start of the 2008 presidential nomination season.
AND HOW'S THE ECONOMY DOING?
Republicans were more likely than Democrats to rate the national economy positively, though few in either party rated it excellent. A third of Republicans but fewer than one in 10 Democrats rated the economy good. Half of Democrats called it poor, compared to only about one in seven Republican primary voters.
THE GRAYING OF THE PRIMARIES
Both parties' electorates were older than in any other presidential contest this year. A third or more in each primary were at least 65 years old. In earlier Democratic contests no more than a quarter were senior citizens, and on the Republican side only the Nevada caucuses came anywhere close to Florida in the proportion of older voters.