The problem Americans are faced with is that the majority of them today are not policy wonks but evaluate their candidates on a prejudicial or emotional level and how they are perceived as "images". The gun-toting rebel is reinforced by cowboy movies elevating John Wayne as a "saviour" and this perception could go a long way to Perry's election.

Obama, by contrast, must assert himself otherwise Americans will think he's a "wimp".

Politics today will be a metaphorical shoot-out at the O.K. Corral.

The country's division is manufactured by the corporate media and they are skillful at controlling the prejudices and image making. They devised the whole idea of red and blue states since the news media relies on conflict to sell their product.

Americans, by in large, have no time for the subtlety of substantial issues and rely on a larger than life personality for them to elect. This is undoubtably why Obama and Reagan were so successful. Obama may be confused on this point as he tends toward "wonkiness".

Obama could be successful if he invoked MLK's history of Civil Rights, a stand for the working class, unions, (as did MLK) and eliminated the equivocation that he has come to represent. It's time for him to go after the GOP tooth and nail otherwise it's all over for him. I'm not optimistic here.

Wall Street is not crying all the way to the bank, however.