I wish this state wasn't such a lock for McCain. It would be good to have a candidate or two come to Utah and give us an opportunity to discuss issues that we think are important. We're shutting ourselves out people!

I agree that he's got way more support that what the polls show. Look at all the signs around SLC. The must be 10:1. He may not pull of a victory but it will be a much closer popular vote than expected.

From looking around the state and the country, and from watching the media, it seems like people are getting sick and tired of the elitists out there. He may not like it, but McCain is part of the elite circle.

Like I said, it's just my 25 cent opinion...

All you obama supporters remember who you voted for is 2 years when He is leading the usa and we are in dire straights

You're both right. Except 'Utarded', Obama did come to Utah during the primaries. I also agree with 'Go Obama' about him having A LOT more support in SLC then people think. I rarely see any kind of sign or bumper sticker for McCain but always see Obama stuff. Having said that although SLC is primarily liberal, you have the rest of the state that is deep red. It is actually kind of appalling that the Republican Party knows that they can ignore Utah and that Utahans, come election day will still follow in line.

The root of the issue here is the electoral college. If we made it possible for the electoral votes to be matched proportionately to the popular vote, than many states - UT, ID, CA, etc -considered a "lock" would actually become meaningful in the election. If Obama could score one electoral vote out of ID's 4, then both parties would want to contend for it.

The result? Representative government, seeking to meet everyone's needs and not ignore anyone. The other result would be the death of the "Red state - Blue state" myth. We are a vast and varied tapestry. It'd be nice if our elected government reflected that.

My vote will be going to Obama. The man has the leadership and intelligence this country needs to lead us into the future.

REMEMBER wrote, "All you obama supporters remember who you voted for is 2 years when He is leading the usa and we are in dire straights"
-----------------------------------------------

I'm guessing you voted for Bush...just because he failed doesn't mean Obama will. He has something that Bush doesn't have. Intelligence.

REMEMBER said: "All you obama supporters remember who you voted for is 2 years when He is leading the usa and we are in dire straights"

I ask: Are you living under a rock REMEMBER?

Warning about Obama being risky today is pretty much telling a drowning man that he is hypothetical danger of getting serious burns.

We ARE in dire straits (that's the correct spelling) and it has far more to do with 8 years of Bush with full Republican backing in his 1st 6. Remember also, a slim margin by Democrats in Congress only gives positions to Democrats it does not mean Dems can push bills past Republicans in both houses.

I am absolutely ASTONISHED that anyone world warn of "dire straits" or say Obama is "risky" when we are living through the absolute worst crisis of our lifetimes! And another thing: This is the SECOND crisis under the SAME President!

Give it up Republican doom sayers! Your party owns this crisis.

Re: REMEMBER

Kind of the way all of you people that voted for Bush remember that it was your vote and your President that got us into the messes we are currently in?

To: REMEMBER
Unless you are totally blind and deaf, the USA is right now in dire straights. The Economy is in total melt down, we have no reserves because we are spending billions EVERY month to fight a war that Bush started and there will never be a victory to while Osama bin Ladan roams free in, where ever he is at. The environment is in shambles and the list goes on and on and on. McCain/Palin are in lock step with Bush/Cheney we need a change, nothing can be any worse than the last 8 years and I sure do not want 4 more of them.

It is a shame that when one candidate is talking about bringing the country together and engaging everyone, that folks are using this forum to simply continue the divisive and negative talk. Remember, it is us, together, who must bring the country to new heights. If we continue to fight against each other, we will not move forward.

This is for REMEMBER : Everyone who is voting for Obama knows Obama has not been to washington as long as "That One" or should I say the mean old scrooge?! Guess what, people are losing confindence with that old mean scrooge on his strongest hold: Foreign policy. How many years has Mccain been to washington? and what was he doing then? Ooops! I guess he was too busy stealing money with the other keating four! For your information this is a new era,all the old mean scrooges will follow Bush to the retirement school of Old mean scrooges!

Actually, Dan D, I thought these comments were pretty civilized and well thought out. Hope you're not equating "negative talk" with "a difference of opinion".

I wanted to add, I am very troubled by Mr. Burbank's suggestion that I should be voting like everyone else in the western states. Why would I want to be in lockstep with Arizona and Alaska? What does Alaska have in common with Utah? Beautiful scenery, yes, but little else. Their state government and issues have very little in common with the lower 48, in my opinion.

I am scared to death to think that John McCain might pass away and leave our country to Sarah Palin... That was a huge mistake by him choosing her, I get that they were trying to get the Hilary voters to sway their votes to Palin because she is a woman but that failed and I am now voting Obama :)

Utah drinks GOP Kool-Aid. It is a state badly out of touch with reality. A disasterous economy, a wrecked foreign policy, and a trampling of the Constitution. And they want to vote for the GOP? Good grief, people!

Osama is losing strength and will ultimately lose this election.....the fact that around SLC you see tons of Obama Signs means nothing as SLC is not the State of Utah! SLWhackedCity elects losers like Rocky all the time, but Rocky couldn't win a governorship even if he had to collect only 25% of the vote!....Dan Jones is anything but unbiased...Doesn't his wife work for the Democratic party?

I wasn't planning on voting until McCain chose Palin. So I guess I cancel your vote Obama 08.

McCain in part of the Old Guard and is now pretending to be part of the New Guard.

And only the dumbest of Americans are buying this BS.

McCain and Obama are both horrible choices for our country. Both are just puppets for the Wall Street puppet-masters. McCain thinks we are in a "mental recession" and no one knows if Obama is even a citizen of the country. It's time for a 3rd party to arise that is not in cahoots with the Wall Street pirates.

We surely need change in this country. We need a new generation to bring hope. I voted Bush twice, I am 63, but you can count me in the 30% Utahns voting for Obama!

There seems to be a huge fear of Bush. McCain doesn't remind me of Bush at all. I know this will get to all you Obama supporters but... Load your guns and be on the look out for future terrorist activities on U.S. soil. Obama has a friend... Ooop's... I mean an acquaintance of a terrorist. This much is true, it is not Republican tricks. I'm NOT Republican but I don't see Obama's emotion for America. I see it in McCain. I don't care how bad McCain might be, Obama will be worse. You'll see.

Please leave your racist, bigoted, offending, comments to yourself. YOU and people like you are what makes thinking people hate the conservative/religious/republican/wing-nut/right.

It appears as though Mr. Hartley is trying to say Senator McCain is still a contender nationally because Senator Obama does not have the sort of lead most suspect he should have, given the toxic attitude most Americans hold toward the Republican brand. My question for Mr. Hartley would be at what point would he say Senator McCain is no longer a contender?

The truth is modern-day measures of public opinion do not lend itself to runaway majorities in questions such as these. This is because two large blocks of the public will support a particular party's candidate strictly based on ideology. The polling, therefore, is more of an indication of where the undecideds are leaning, thereby narrowing the gap.

Much more of an indication Senator McCain is currently not a viable contendor is the fact he is markedly losing in states he is not supposed to be losing. E.g., VA, NC, IA, FL. This places him on defense in states he should have sewn up by now.

Obviously, a lot can happen between now and Nov. 4th, but don't hold your breath.

Have you been paying attention?

Chris Dodd (D) and Barney Frank (D) took more money from Freddy Mac and Fannie Mae than anyone and they were supposed to be Chairing the Senate and House committees on banking/finance. Why are they not held accountable?

Under Democratic Rule (2 years majority in House and Senate with a lame duck President), look what has happened to our country! Were you better off 2 years ago? I sure was!

Where is our freaking spine? Tired of fighting in Iraq? Gimme a break! We'll either be fighting radical Isalm for the next 1,000 years or surrendering to them - so if we can't handle 4 years of war, you ladies better get ready to start wearing bags over your heads and being treated like animals!

Why on earth would we be willing to turn the hen house over to the foxes? Democrats know nothing other than tax the productive and give the unproductive just enough to survive, keeping the rest for themselves.

Big government will NOT make your problems go away, folks! See USSR, China, Cuba, etc., etc.

I COMPLETELY agree with you. It is interesting how people turn a blind eye to the FACT that Obama has terrorist relations. Why don't we just get Osama Bin Ladin to run for President? Obama is just a smooth uh, uh, uh, tounged devil. It is painful to listen to him.

The hate mongering of the McCain campaign is only working with those who already support him. McCain vowed to run a clean campaign, to not follow the same dirty politics that George Bush used against him. So what has he done? McCain has run the dirtiest campaign in modern history. He has absolutely no issues to run on so he attacks Obama with unfounded claims of Obama being a terrorist. Fortunately, the American public has seen this before in both Bush campaigns and are not falling for it. So let's look at the reality of the situation. Obama served on a board with Ayers. When Ayers was committing crimes, Obama was 8 years old. Palin, on the other hand, is married to a man who was a member of the terrorist, separatist Alaskan Independent Party until a few years ago. And Palin herself attended their meetings. McCain, totally involved in the savings and loan scandal, McCain on the board of a right wing anti-semite organization. The fact is, the fear campaign of the extreme right isn't going to work this time. Obama for president.

Obama is the man!! And, this party of "experts" predicting things is pretty lames. Read other papers from the region and you'll see that Colorado is going to go for Obama and they will pick up a Senate seat. New Mexico will also go for Obama and will pick up a Senate seat. In fact, in NM, they may take all 3 congressional seats to boot. People are on to this McSame/Palin scam.

Isn't it funny that Utah votes just like the deep south does. The people that despise us the most are our political bed-fellows. That should tell us a great deal. Shaspe up, Utah.

Utahns would vote for Lilburn Boggs if he had an "R" by his name. The republican ticket has little interest in the Utah "sect."

As a washingtonian, it's nice to read a variety of opinions out of what is portrayed as a 'red' state.

McCain and Palin have really disappointed me in their reliance on hate speech to galvanize. Who, really, is getting all worked up at their rallies? It looks like a nazi gathering. All anger and violent gesturing.

It's just so un-American. Sad.

Have you ever heard of Ronald Reagan?
Have you heard of Reagan's friend, Walter Annenberg?
Have you heard of his right-wing charitable foundation?
Have you heard of the people that the right-wing charitable Annenberg Foundation wanted to serve on their board?
Bill Ayers!

That's right, right-wing smear-machine! Bill Ayers WAS APPOINTED TO THE BOARD OF THE ANNENBERG EDUCATION FOUNDATION BY A BUNCH OF RIGHT-WINGERS!

Thank you 10:07.

That's the thing these rabid right wingers don't get: it's a new world and information is readily available.

Billionaire philanthropist Walter Annenberg, Reagan' best personal friend and supporter, gave Ayers (and two others) over $40 million in grants for their Chicago education initiative. His widow, Jeanne (I think that is it, might have gotten that wrong) is a high-check supporter of McCain.

These are the kinds of associates that Ayers has.

You know why McCain didn't and won't bring this up in a debate, (and instead lets his foaming lap dog, Palin do it) BECAUSE ITS NOT DEFENSIBLE.

It inspires the non-thinking masses but the rest of us can follow the stories and read the truth.

Ayers is a dead end. On to the economy, and on to Obama.

for more and more and more socialism. Obama is a left wing socialist so get used to it. You who have hopes for economic freedom and have not learned to appreciate what Capitalism (and honesty) have done for you, this upstart Chicago politician, Barak Husein Obama, and his mama will give you a dose of socialism that America will never recover from. thanks for the great freedoms of the past America. It is a different and dark future as you contemplate the changes that lay in store for you. You can not fix capitalism with socialism or communism. I guess most of you will have to live and learn this lesson the hard way. I feel sorry for you who follow Obama who leaned his politics in the south side of Chicago from people like the Wrong Reverend Wright and his Hate America crowd. It is pay back time with the Obama crowd...Now is the day of My Power..Look out! Get your houses in order. The saviour reigneth!

I'm not surprised to see the slamming of Obama in this forum. Right wingers do tend to be a little intolerant. Isn't that just what happened early in this campaign to Romney? Only, then it was the Evangelical right wing extremists, slamming a Mormon. We didn't like that, did we?

I've changed my mind since then. I've become more tolerant and open-minded, more willing to give somebody who is different from me, a chance to be heard. I like what I've heard, and now I'm a devout Latter-day Saint, and a supporter of Obama. I think there's room in the Church for all of us, no matter what our political beliefs may be, and I don't think Obama will destroy our country. I don't believe he is a terrorist, either.

Go Obama!

The People in Utah are sheep
Stubborn sheep.
Try and convince them that HISTORY REPEATS IT SELF ?
They do not know anything about History
I do hope we see a change in this ELECTION.
Talking about Elected People is not Politics
Not talking about Politics is a myth
So many Ignorat People on Election Day

utah is about as redneck as it gets. Just look at all the other red states. Something to not be proud of.

I'm just glad the majority of Utahans haven't been fooled by Obama like many in this country. Can't wait to vote for McCain/Palin.

NObama is the man who will gut the Defense of Family Act and lead the homosexual agenda. This isn't a bigoted comment; it's in the Democratic Platform and he has made supportive statements many times around the country. If you like what's taking place in California with what Arnold and the state supreme court is trying to do, you'll love what NObama has planned including abortion.

This agenda will pale in comparison to global warming, economy, and the middle east.

What makes you think Obama has the leadership skills we need? Can you point to anything he has done that makes you think he is a great leader? I'll give you that he presents a convincing "executive personae", but without some record of accomplishment, that equates to a stuffed suit. I guess you could say he's a leader because he's successfully convinced a lot of change-hungry people that he's the Messiah, but given our current governmental situation in Washington, that wouldn't be too hard to do.

I wish we had a real choice in this election, but, alas, I think we are in for a very rough next 4 years, no matter who is in the White House.

Just ask your mommys and daddys who to vote for

I'm writing in Hillary Clinton's name on my ballot. Obama is not experienced enough and Clinton should have been the nominee. I want to send a message to the Democratic party that they need to change their nominating process. With that said, I hope Obama wins as McCain will be another disaster.

The Republican ticket should have been Romney-Petraeus. Thanks to closed minded evangelicals and independents (who were allowed to vote in Republican primaries) the Republican Party ended up with McCain, no expert on the economy which is what we need right now. Obama will probably win this election and turn the country sharply left with the help of the democratic controlled Senate and House. The good old US will become like a European nation. We are in for big changes folks and it will be a rough ride!

RE: Dear "NO Obama" and Thanyou 10:07

Annenberg gave the money to an educational foundation that MISREPRESENTED itself.

A separate oraganization from Annenbergs.

(And more importantly, did not do anything useful with it money recieved and did absolutely nothing to improved education!)

Annenberg DID NOT give money to Ayers, and knew nothing about him, nor appointed him to anything.

Again separate organizations.

So Ayers and his groups lied and misrepresented itself to get a sizable charitable donation from anneberg's group.

Those are the true facts.

Yea, and there's a big pink fluffy bunny that delivers baskets to your door every Easter too. Most Utahns aren't as gullible (yet) as to buy into all of that suave, slick talk of Obama. The single most LIBERAL Senator who will plunge this bankrupt nation into Socialism. I am convinced just in the last 2 weeks how RADICAL Obama really is in his heart. All of his radical associations that are beyond coincidence. He just wants to get elected, and then, watch out! In the old days, we called them Flim-FLam men, or Snake-Oil Salesmen. At least with McCain, he's a straight talker and you know where he stands.

Obama will win. But the vote counting will show McCain as winning.

I wish I was a pundit.

The mess we are in is the result of Clinton wanting/demanding and signing a bill into law that coerced mortgage companies into signing risky loans so that "every citizens could own their own home." Bush unfortunately was president when this mess finally came tumbling down. Isn't it convenient how easy it is to forget? I bothered researching those facts and that is the reason why I switched parties and will be voting for McCain.

Utah votes just like the deep South. And what are these states known for- Progressive thinking or backwards thinking? Sure a vote for anything un-republican is wasted in Utah, but I will vote anyway.

I hate to tell you people this, BUT Clinton hasn't been President for the past 8 years.
IF Clinton's policies were so bad, why didn't you Republicans change them?

Anyone who claims to have "researched those facts" and blames ONLY Clinton, didn't research the entire story and read only the right-wing pap.

Dear "Mess we are in". Now you need to Google this:

Bush "ownership society"

I am absolutely stunned at how many of the previous posters are so all-knowing regarding what people who disagree with them think and why those who disagree with them think as they do. The smug and self-satisfied are always defining others through the prism of their own biased opinions and prejudices. Know-it-all posters would do well to remember that it's what they learn after they think they know it all that contributes the most to their education and intelligence.