Americans Away From Home

Do you ever get the feeling that the only reason we have elections is to find out if the polls were right?
- Robert Orben

Numbers have true believers made this week, of Obama and Hillary supporters alike, each claiming more delegates, more popular votes, more money, more support.

In a contest of two, how can this be, this claiming "We Won!" by two sides?

Is it just that problematic old cliché that statistics don't lie, numbers do? Is it numerical spin? Remember that old joke about Jesus walks on water, and detractors diminish him with their headline, "Jesus Can't Swim"?

Eye of the beholder, folks: beauty, and poll numbers. Look at a meta-poll site, and results show different results. Reporters and pundits appear to see what they want to see.

The truth in two words: Super Delegates (ok, one-word if you prefer. Like the ubiquitous misspellings of tshirt, t-shirt, tee-shirt; would you please email, e-mail, or Email me your comments?)

Hillary counts pre-pledged Super Delegates in her delegate count, then claims she won Super Tuesday. Obama claims the popular vote and number of States won, then claims he won Super Tuesday.

It's a dance up that slippery poll, with Florida and Michigan ascending.

Will Democrats unite, re-holding primary contests in both states, seating those delegations in the end? Or won't it matter, because by the time it's time for Denver, we'll have a winner?

I doubt either candidate will let go. I suspect Obama will be the clear choice, but Hillary will tenaciously fight on.

And what if primaries to come result in unclear numbers again? A floor fight! Spectacle for the masses. While the eyes of the world are on this election, while the millions spent might have been spent in a million ways to make things better, primary season may become the battle without end.

Thankfully we know this: in 268 days and less than 3 hours, we'll have our answer.

Come January 20, we'll have our answer. Let's hope it doesn't involve the Supremes this time.

Meanwhile, remember Will Rogers. He wouldn't have believed the polls, or the pols, for that matter.

Carole