Finally we are coming to the Close of the Run Off Elections Tomorrow.

From: Chuck Mears 

Sometimes it seems we would never get to the end of this primary election, but like all things that are difficult, some will finally get a sigh of relief after tomorrow. As tired as we supporters are, imagine how the candidates must feel. Those who lose tomorrow will have mixed feelings because they have lost but will be glad to see the stress level fall. Some of those who win tomorrow will likely have mixed emotions, for even though they have won against their own party rivals, most will now have to continue their campaign against the opposing party's candidate, with only a short rest at best.

Political elections in America have often contained strong emotions, both for the candidates and voters. One aspect of political contests that contain mixed emotions, is the act of revealing the negative characteristics of a political adversary. Americans usually refer to this as 'mud slinging'. Rarely do we enjoy and many condemn this element of a political contest. I never enjoy the process but I do recognize both the negative and positive benefits for the voter.

The vast majority of  voters get their information about a candidate by what they hear or read, not by personal experience or knowledge. Mud slinging is a part of that hearing and reading process that can serve to educate a voter about the candidates, in a least two ways. If mud slinging comes with a legitimate document it can be considered a positive educational element about the provable characteristics of a candidate, but if mud slinging does not contain documents, it should be counted as a negative against the slinger, which can be nothing more than a lie or rumor.

The realities of political contests are that some contain all good candidates, some contain all poor candidates and some only contain one good candidate. In all cases,  wise voters are forced to decide by mathematics. Subtract the rumors, add up the positive and negative  'documents,'  vote for one with the most positive documents and against the one with the most negative documentation. In my humble opinion, any other method that does not include these elements is unwise. Like playing the casino slot machines and expecting to win every time, based only on a casinos advertising claims or one's emotional based, 'feeling lucky'.

Polls open April 13, 2010 in most of the same places you voted at in the primary election.


Sincerely,

Chuck