McCain refuses Obama handshake

The “town hall” debate was a yawn-a-minute, but if you tuned in long enough, you might have caught this:

McCain not only turns down Obama’s handshake, he pawns him off on Cindy.

The moment was innocuous, but it’s exactly this kind of behavior that people read into at this point in a campaign.

Meanwhile, the polling trends are clear: Wisconsin, Ohio, Colorado, and New Hampshire are all starting to clear the margin of error as they break for Obama.

Cell Only Voters

Some interesting research just released by Pew analyzes polling methods and the political preferences of people who only own cell-phones.

(hint: they tend to support the candidate who uses a blackberry on a regular basis and knows how to email).

The big question remains: can these so-called “Cell Onlys” be translated into votes on election day?

I have a somewhat smaller question which is how the cell phones themselves could be better used as get-out-the-vote tools?

In a putatively democratic country where people my age tend to vote in absolutely dismal numbers, this seems like an area that should have already attracted a lot of attention.

What projects are doing this well (or at least experimenting in similar areas)?

Hockey Moms for Obama

Check it out – thinking I might send one to my (hockey) mom…

Re-reading David Brooks on Joe Biden

Worth a second look now that the news is out.

I am still woefully uneducated on Biden’s record and his politics, but here’s hoping that David Brooks speaks for a broad swath of centrists and accurately depicts the imagination of the rustbelt.

If Biden can appeal to someone like Brooks, I’m tempted to be optimistic about the selection.

Update: Ferraro steps down

From CNN’s Political Ticker. Here’s the full letter:

Dear Hillary –

I am stepping down from your finance committee so I can speak for myself and you can continue to speak for yourself about what is at stake in this campaign.

The Obama campaign is attacking me to hurt you.

I won’t let that happen.

Thank you for everything you have done and continue to do to make this a better world for my children and grandchildren.

You have my deep admiration and respect.

Gerry

Notice something missing? How about an apology, Gerry?

Jeez.