If I voted Republican I guess it would be MCain
The last time I saw McCain in person, I had an hour's notice that the Straight Talk Express was showing up at my workplace. We had no choice, and ended up stuffing what felt like hundreds of folks into a small historic site, all the while being filmed by C Span. I have no recollection of his politics, just was struck by how short he was in person.
So, we recieved an invitation from my husband's friend, Mark Squires, to see McCain at his parent's house in Hollis- Dr. Jim Squires helped McCain out the last round, and is still a staunch supporter. It was odd being with essentially several hundred strangers, in a tent in their yard. The Squires were gracious hosts and the event was very well organized.
I was struck by how relaxed McCain was, and how funny. One of the things that concerns me is his age, and there he tells the story of his 95 year old mother travelling to Europe - went to rent a car and was turned down due to her advanced age, so she bought one instead! I'm sure it was a story to prove a genetic longevity point. And frankly, it helped.
He shared some practical views on healthcare reform - pointing out that the Canadian and British system isn't a good solution. Having spent 11 years of my life in the UK, I have to agree. He answered quite honestly a challenge to the No Child Left Behind policy - where he feels it is a step in the right direction in bringing up the children in most need of help, even if it doesn't address the needs of the brightest children. He does not support the draft, which was a huge relief as we have a teenage son. Prove to me, he said, that it can be truly fair and that the rich can't figure a way out of it. He believes that there is much more the military can do in recruiting, and that a draft doesn't allow for the kind of sophisticated training that current military goes through.
I'm leaning Democrat, but I don't think I'd suffer the same kind of depression, frustration, anger and plain old dumbfoundedness that I experienced after Bush was elected...I'd give McCain a chance.