Yellow Bird: It's McCain v. Clinton in 2008

"Columnists such as David Broder and George Will of the Washington Post or Maureen Dowd and Paul Krugman of The New York Times specialize in the politics, policies and events in our government. They talk face-to-face with world and national leaders and, on occasion, travel inside countries where their interviews are salted with bullets and bombs.

Although they may lean to one party or candidate at times, their experience says they are experts.

Me? I can speak only as a "woman on the street," one of many who aren't intimately familiar with each candidate and glean what we know from the media. But here are some of my thoughts.

McCain supports the Iraq war and supported a bill for amnesty for illegal immigrants. But what strikes me most about McCain, even though I don't agree with his stand on the war, is that he is an American hero. Five and a half years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam should count for something.

Huckabee, Romney, Giuliani or McCain? I can't help but like the war hero.

What is Clinton's strength in this contest? She and Bill Clinton are a "two-fer." Two heads are better than one, they say, and I agree. What's better than a former successful president as the "first gentleman?"

There are times β€” I've followed her climb though the years β€” that Hillary seems too formed by her political machine β€” almost robotlike.

Yet, this woman on the street's opinion is although I like Obama and what he stands for, I think Hillary Clinton or the Clintons could put the country on the right track."

Get the Story:
Bring on McCain versus Clinton (The Grand Forks Herald 12/15)
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