"I just don't believe that the majority of Americans really vote on the issues, I think their vote is almost entirely based on their assessment of personalities."

I can't buy that. Every person I have talked to and every "man in the street" interview I have heard on radio or television zeroes in on the issues with no mention at all of the candidates' personalities. Some of the issues the interviewees respond to may have me smacking my forehead and screaming, but they're talking issues, not personalities.

It's easy to make theoretical pronouncements from afar, but if you actually talk with people and listen to interviews, it's issues they're tooted up over.

"I'm voting for Obama and Biden because they'll do something about the abyssmal health care system in this country." That's an issue.

"I'm voting for McCain and Palin because they're against abortions and gay marriage." That's an issue.

And that's the sort of thing I keep hearing.

Don Firth