Important to cast a vote (10/28/04)

Only one thing is certain about next week’s election.

A week from today roughly half of America will be disappointed and unhappy about the outcome.

Virtually every poll we’ve looked at shows the presidential race to be a dead heat, and even if one of the candidates manages to grab all of the “undecided” voters the margin of victory isn’t going to be huge.

Polls released this week provide a snapshot of how close close can be.

The Zogby poll had it 49 percent for George W. Bush and 46 percent for John Kerry. The ABC poll had it 49 percent Kerry and 48 percent Bush. The Democracy Corps poll put it at 49 percent Kerry and 47 percent Bush. The TIPP poll had it at 49 percent Bush and 43 percent Kerry. The Washington Post poll measured it at 50 percent Kerry and 48 percent Bush.

A coin toss would be just as reliable for predicting results.

For voters, many of whom feel passionately one way or the other about the outcome, this sort of razor-thin margin can produce anxiety and edginess.

It can also create friction with friends, family, and co-workers when the electorate is divided as evenly as it is. That’s unfortunate because, after all, when the election is over the friendships, family ties, and work relationships will continue.

Our advice would be the same for voters as for the candidates: Ratchet down the rhetoric, turn the thermostat on your political zeal down a bit, and don’t go out of your way to pick fights you’ll only regret later.

It might also help to hit the mute button on the TV when the campaign commercials and the professional talking heads appear.

Instead, focus on the only thing that really matters: Vote. — J.R.[[In-content Ad]]