wow! Presidential elections in the states are pretty intense.
It's somewhat different down under. The Obama's nomination has been on the news of course, and I was rather taken back a tad on how big it was. I presume that McCain will have a similar one. I had to chuckle actually because after showing Obama's big bash with Stevie Wonder etc, they showed a clip of our current Prime Minister in his election campaign, doing a jig with a busker on the sidewalk! (well you have to budget costs you see. Can't be seen to spend too much on the entertainment).
In regards to this election, what I look for is basically any reaction that will filter down to our own market & economy, interest rates etc. Things that would have a direct bearing on myself and my lifestyle. Which is also how I look at elections locally, both State & Federal, at least at first. Then of course, you might afford yourself the luxury of thinking about issues in a wider outlook, like troops at war & global warming. But essentially, I believe most people are worried about their jobs, feeding their family, health care, schooling, basically the things that allow us to function in society. OK, now who's the best person and party to do that!?? Can be a tough choice, but I'd rather have to have that choice, than to never have it.
In my younger days, I actually flew a lot of politicians around when in the RAAF, and I'm well aquainted in how fallible they actually are. So when you are in that voting booth, you just hope that tick you place on that form was the right one for you & your family.