As the United States Presidential race nears a close, it is getting more excited and heated on the topics of the economy, Iraq, health care, “patriotism,” and most recently “Joe the Plumber,” the battle between Democratic Presidential nominee Senator Barack Obama of Illinois and GOP Presidential nominee Senator John McCain of Arizona has become more heated up and even more tense.
One could say this is becoming far more exciting.
Today, Obama has gone on the offensive against McCain on the issue of health care. Obama VP running mate Democratic Senator Joe Biden of Delaware has went on either the offensive or counter-offensive against McCain running-mate Republican Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska.
In short, there are two different battles going on today.
Today, Biden went on the attack against Palin on comments and suggestions on “patriotism” and “pro-America.”
On Thursday night in Greensboro, North Carolina, at a fundraiser, Palin talked about patriotism. Right now, Palin and McCain have been in the situation of having to play defensively.
A poll launched early October revealed that Obama was gaining ground in states that were won by current US President George W. Bush back in 2000 and 2004. Right now, Obama and McCain are battling it out hard to win North Carolina.
“We believe that the best of America is in the small towns we get to visit, and in the wonderful little pockets of what I call the real America, being here with all of you hard-working, very patriotic, very pro-America areas of this great nation,” Palin said.
In short, Palin had given the implications that the small towns are more patriotic than the more urbanized areas and big cities.
On a personal note, as a person that was born in the city and prefers big cities over small towns, I do somewhat take offense to Palin’s words. On a very serious note, those words can be interpreted in different ways.
Also, there would be plenty of people living in the more urbanized areas that could take offense to that statement.
The following day, Palin had to make corrections and clarifications.
However, Biden was quick to the attack Palin’s words. Biden said that he hopes it was a slip of the tongue on Palin’s part.
“It doesn’t matter where you live, we all love this country, and I hope it gets through. We all love this country,” Biden said. He adds: “We are one nation, under God, indivisible. We are all patriotic. We all love our country in every part of this nation! And I’m tired. I am tired, tired, tired, tired of the implications about patriotism.”
On that front, Biden and Palin are battling over the definition of patriotism. But that is just one political battle for the hearts and minds of the voters from now and until Election Day.
At the same time, Obama and McCain are fighting on the topic of health care. Obama was campaigning in Virginia when he attacked McCain’s health care plan. He summed up McCain’s plan as similar to advertising drugs.
In the near future, we can expect Biden and Palin to fight over the definition of what it means to be a patriot. At the same time, Obama and McCain will be fighting it out with each other on numerous topics: mainly the economy.
We can also expect the topic of “Joe the Plumber” be brought up a few times. Ever since the third and final US Presidential debate Joe the Plumber has been somewhat of an “icon.” However, it is unknown how long this iconic effect will last.
Last but not least, Palin will continue to attack Obama on William Ayers (founder of the radical anti-war group known as the Weather Underground), Reverend Jeremiah Wright (notorious for his “God Damn America” sermon), and ACORN (which is under investigation for voter fraud).