if mccain wins its simply because republicans know how to run a better campaign.

they might say that now but i think after the dems finally get a nominee next month, people will see things a little differently. but i guess we'll see how everything works itself out in the comming months....

I think that's a little bit of wishful thinking. He can certainly win, but regardless of which party takes the office, I think it will be a close call and a tough race.

I think it's very possible Sen. McCain can win by a blow out if possible vulnerabilities of Sen. Obama are fanned into flames.

If Sen. McCain is going to win I would really like to see him win on policy differences not (oh he served in the military and knows what it's like to be a prisoner of war there for we'll be safe). I respect any one who has served in the military but with all due respect (this) does not make them a better President than the next person.

"Obama’s weakness in culture, ideology and association" - what the heck does that mean?
Last year, the experts had Hillary taking the Democratic nomination easily - no one saw Obama coming - so they're not always so smart. McCain's reputation has some shadows and if Obama gives him tough race, his dark side could scare people off.
If the economy gets worse as Warren Buffet says he expects it to, if we attack Iran, if the Democrats have an ugly fight at the convention- any of these things can shake up the race. Experts love to call things early, then forget what they said when everything changes.

I've always thought McCain will win, my explanation is a few things:

1 - Republicans run a better campaign, that can mean dirtier or smarter.

2 - Republicans are more loyal. Republicans tend to be loyal to their party even when they don't like the candidate and even when the other side makes some sense (personal opinion here) - even the ones who don't like him will stick with McCain.

3 - Now, after this primary campaign is near an end, I am more convinced that a lot of America are either really ready for a non-white male, or no where near ready - and those who are not will be another thing in favor of McCain, tipping the scale even more in their favor.

Those are very good points Stephley. I recall the paper headline calling the winner of the 42(??) eletion for the other guy, and Truman won.

So, they asked a bunch of republicans who they think will win the presidency and they said a republican will win. They really went out on a limb there, didn't they.

I agree. It's like asking a Hillary supporter who's going to win. They are going to say Hillary. Some reporters get soooo lazy sometimes.

"He can certainly win, but regardless of which party takes the office, I think it will be a close call and a tough race."

I completely agree!

I am starting to worry a bit about McCain.
I have been so resentful of Hillary supporters who say they will not vote for Obama, but after she said those awful things last week, I don't think I could vote for her if somehow she got it. Now I understand that you can have a very strong dislike for a candidatein your own party. And it is true that Repubs are loyal to the party.
I am hoping that McCain continues to say stupid things, betraying a lack of understanding and knowledge. I think O has the potential to blow him out of the water on the issues during the debates.

i dunno j, obama is a great speaker, but he doesn't seem to be quick on his feet in a debate setting, whereas mccain really ruled the republican debates...

i can't wait to find out though!

Yeah, if he ever gets there janneth

I can't wait for the debates in the general election! Mccain is great at those, your right cabaker. It will definitely be something I look forward to!

i know alot of republicans who do not want anything to do with this election. they feel that mccain is nothing more than a conservative democrat.

I agree. I'd almost say he's only a moderate liberal.

Nay, I cannot stand to see another Republican go into office. Our country needs a Democrat to change and fix what the current president has messed up. If McCain does manage to win the election... I think I will move to either Canada, London, Ireland or Australia; I wouldn't want to live in a country under his rule.

Forgot to add that I would have to wait until 2009-2010 to move away; downside to being 17.

I hope Hillary can find a way to bounce back, I am such a fan of hers. If she doesn't and the democratic nominee becomes Obama, then I will root for him (although I will always wish that Clinton made it.) I have to root for him; both democratic runners equal the change this country needs.

There were a whole lot of people who said that last election who never kept their promises. Care to put some money on that?

Might I add the Labor government in the UK is on the way out , and the exchange rate sucks.

London is so expen$ive.
Ireland they don't speak English.
Australia is so far away.What about Canada, leeluv, they are pretty sane and you can be close to your fam.

this country was founded on dissent,moving to another country because you dont like the government is a cop out. if you dont like it, stay in and change what you dont like.

But there may come a time when you decide life's too short for all the drama, and head North. One Canadian newspaper says there was a SLIGHT increase in Americans moving there after Bush's re-election.
http://www.thestar.com/News/article/243555
I'd have to find someplace warmer than Southern California.

Cuba?

Leeluv, what is so horrible in your current living situation that George W. Bush/the United States has caused to make you consider moving?
Easier said then done. At the end of the day, this place is too hard to leave (IM-humble-O).

I think we will be seeing another Republican rule for atleast 4 years. Not that that's what I want to see, but I'm rather certain it will happen!

Unfortunately I can't be too cheerful or positive (Seeing Bush elected once made be sad, seeing him elected twice made me jaded). BUT, I would hope the people of this country--or at least the majority--have finally had enough of this type of administration. I think democrats have a great chance at winning, especially Obama. So to answer the question, no I do not think McCain will win. I think there is enough people fed up with the way things are going that we can have real change.

Go Barack = )

Who knows. Obama and McCain have their strengths and weaknesses... i am more of a democrat but I don't mind him at all, he`s certainly not Bush lite. Ummm why no mention of Hilary... is it over for her already?

Great Som does a little dance.

GS - Excellent use of emoticons!

I love the "if my candidate doesn't win, i'm moving" line of BS... its the grown up way of saying "if you don't let me win, then i'm taking my ball and going home!!!!"

ummmm, they asked top REPUBLICAN strategists who they thought would win the election...do you think they'd say Obama???? yeah right! it's their freakin job to promote their candidate and of course they're going to stack the cards in his favor!

this is a bit of a "duhhhh" article. kinda like asking Terry McAuliffe if he still thinks Hillary will win the nomination. We all know the answer by now (sorry HF!).

No, it's more than just asking the Repubs who is gonna win. They are analyzing the possible outcome, and it is kinda interesting. I worry about exactly what they are saying.

i just don't see this happening. call me naive but i'm feeling very hopeful that all of the people who are energized and inspired by obama will really hard this fall to get out the vote. i will be one of them.

to me it seems like john mccain has ended up where he is by default. there is no question that this is one of the most important elections we've had in a generation - so why didn't the republican party work harder to find someone a little more exciting? i mean, we are in a war that a majority of americans disagree with and they choose a candidate who is mainly known for being a war hero? it doesn't make sense.

The fact that in many primaries, the number of democrats voting for Hillary and Barack doubled the Republican turn out also says a lot to me. Obama's campaign has really upped the participation factor, and it is kind of hard to predict how it will effect the general.

I've always thought/(known?) he will win, but we shall see!

Whatever happened to the "Gas Tax Holiday" that he came out for a couple months ago? Does he usually just drop policy ideas that don't poll well?

They didn't even ask regular people, but "top strategists". Boy, that's a pointless story! I think they really don't understand how many people who would vote Republican are alienated by McCain. If I vote for him, it will be with my nose held, mostly due to his immigration stance. I wonder how many conservatives will stay home or vote third-party.

Jill: I think Obama's oratorical skill has inspired a lot of Democrats, especially younger ones, to turn out to vote. However, by November, the novelty may have worn off.

Frankly, I think the outcome of the general election will depend largely on how safe the voters feel from terrorist attacks and how well the situation in Iraq is going. That will make it difficult to predict in advance.

I think it is dangerous to say wither party is a definite win. It is going to be a tight race, and should be a really great election to watch.

Lain, at first I was not going to vote for him, but I changed my mind. I decided I would rather have McCain then Obama or Hilary, and a lot of my Conservative friends have come to feel the same way.

I think the turn out for primaries is deceiving. There hasn't been a lot of turn out for Republicans in recent nominations because McCain has already won the nomination. It would be unwise to think that just because teice as many Democrats have come out, doesn't mean the same ratio will occur in the general elections.

Of course the Republicans are going to predict a McCain blowout. I'm sure the Dems would do the same for Obama. Ah, politics.

Hello Obama fans! Could some of you read some of my blogs and tell us what you think? Several of us are genuinely curious as to an Obama supporters opinions on them.

Barack Obama should come back in 8 years. Charismatic Guy, but you can't overcome the lack of experience. He is a great speaker, but our President needs to be able to do more than give great speeches. If he really loves this country, even HE should know he is not ready. He is a smart guy, and I believe in his heart he knows he is not ready.

Hilary would be a decent option - experience is there, and she definetly has the passion. Unfortunetly, Universal Healthcare does not work - look at Canada. Her husband is also a strange factor. First Man?

McCain is the best choice - experience, he is a moderate, and as a war hero, he loves this nation. I think he is what we need. As a moderate, he can heal this nation, and he is smart enough to know he needs to work with the democrats. He is not a perfect candidate, but he is the best choice.

I encourage people to remember that NO CANDIDATE can fix the economy or the mortgage crisis. Obama always pretends he can - that's simply not in the power of the President. It's a combo of the Senate, House, State government, Fed Chief and American and International Business.