One problem that the Republican Party has suffered from this election is due to Obama refusing to shackle himself with government financing of the general election. Considering some of the problems with campaign finance this year (with McCain initially signing up for it, claiming "I didn't use it to secure loans" and thus wasn't beholden to it for the Primaries, and then returning to its fold for the General election), and considering the absolute skill with which the Obama camp has raised money, this 72-hour program is about the only way that the Republicans could hope to sway the election.
The problem for the Republicans is it's too little, too late.
We've been this road before. We've seen elections stolen from us in the past. There are rumors of rigged Dibold machines (though I'd be more worried of it "saving" Senatorial seats than ousting Obama at this point - stay vigilant!), and we've all seen instances of voter caging and the valiant efforts by Democrats everywhere to ensure that people are entitled to their vote.
For that matter, the early vote movement has allowed many of the problems with defective voting machines and chicanery to disenfranchise the American People aired early and often dealt with. We can only hope that between the early vote and absentee ballots, that no matter what roadblocks occur tomorrow, the momentum is more than enough to ensure an Obama victory.
Still, there are fears that the Republicans might be able to sway enough unsure voters with their vaunted 72-hour program. As reported on Huffington Post:
After months of planning, the Republican Party launched the last stage of its vaunted "72-hour program," when volunteers descend on competitive states for the final stretch. Democrats unleashed their "persuasion army" of backers scouring their own backyards to encourage people to back Obama in the campaign's waning hours.
Further, Obama supporters (because it's not just Democrats supporting him, mind you!) are worried because
As the campaign closes, voters were being inundated with a crush of television ads and automated phone calls.
In a new TV ad, Obama highlighted Vice President Dick Cheney's support for McCain. The ad features Cheney, an extremely unpopular figure among the general public, at an event Saturday in Wyoming, saying: "I'm delighted to support John McCain."
Not to be outdone, the Republican National Committee rolled out battleground phone calls that include Hillary Rodham Clinton's criticism of Obama during the Democratic primary. She is heard saying: "In the White House, there is no time for speeches and on-the-job training. Sen. McCain will bring a lifetime of experience to the campaign, and Sen. Obama will bring a speech that he gave in 2002." A Clinton spokeswoman said she disapproves of the ad.
Another phone call to Pennsylvania and Ohio voters takes Obama's words about coal-burning technology out of context and claims he will "bankrupt the coal industry."
The Pennsylvania GOP also unveiled a TV ad featuring Obama's former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, declaring "God damn America!" in a sermon.
Under the face of such attacks, might not some people decide to go with the generic vanilla rather than a few and more exciting flavour of politics? Is Obama too "tainted" by the distortions of his past by Republicans?
Recent history suggests otherwise. Rudy Guilliani thought to create the "Florida Fireblock" to prevail against his opponents, and spent weeks and millions in advertising to stop a campaign in progress dead in its tracks. In the resulting confusion, he would seize the moment and become the Republican Presidential candidate.
Where is Rudy these days? He's definitely not the Republican candidate of choice. Maybe if he were, the election would be a lot closer than with McPlain.
So. Go out and vote tomorrow. And know that the Republican efforts are too little... and too late.
We will prevail.
Robert A. Howard, Tangents Reviews