St. Paul, Minn. -- (TYDN) With the conclusion of the Republican National Convention here late Thursday, Sen. John McCain and his Democratic opponent, Sen. Barack Obama, pledged to campaign on the "issues."
Historians said it was a bold move by both candidates to risk stating their opinion on issues â.. opinions that are likely to shift as does the political climate.
"That these candidates are willing to announce where they stand on the issues is unprecedented and likely to change the course of politicking for generations to come," said Darin Spoutolovitch, a Harvard University historian and former aide to President Ronald Reagan. "Never will there have been an election for the presidency with so much debate centered on the issues."
Political insiders said the focus on the issues is likely to favor McCain, the Arizona senator and former prisoner of war in Vietnam. That his surprise running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, was able to woo Americans by eloquently reciting a speech written for her Wednesday evening at the Republicans' convention here shows that McCain has the upper hand when it comes to the issues.
"The voters are really in touch with McCain and Palin, who I dub 'The Living Room Candidate,' because the candidates and electorate are so focused on the issues and would like to have Sarah in their living rooms," said Braden McPontificator, a Republican election strategist.
For their part, Democratic strategists countered.
"Obama, the senator from Illinois, is much more focused on the issues than is McCain and Palin," said Jordan Herdit, of the New York lobbying firm of Herdit, Lamey, Plumpkin and Xorciando. "There's nobody better to discuss the issues than Obama and his running mate, the Delaware Senator Joe Biden, who isn't afraid to really drive home what others say about the issues."
In an exclusive interview with TheYellowDailyNews, Obama said he is the better man to be commander in chief of the United States because he and his running mate have a better grasp of the issues.
"I promise to help American's with their issues and can relate to their issues better than can my opponent," Obama said.
McCain, in an exclusive interview with TheYellowDailyNews, disagreed. "I understand the issues much better than the other candidate and promise to fight for those issues," McCain said.
Still, non-partisan strategist Joana Paxila said the election is going to be a test of both parties' sincerity.
"They both have issues," said Paxila, in an exclusive interview with TheYellowDailyNews.