Depending on what national polls you follow, there is anywhere between eight to eleven percent of the voting population that is undecided when asked their choice for president in the upcoming November elections.  It would seem that with the stark contrasts between the two major party candidates and the numerous challenges that this country is facing, making a decision a month before the election would be pretty easy.  I mean, at this point, you either like apples or oranges, right? Unless you only like green apples and not red apples.  



We have had dozens of debates during the primaries, two presidential debates and one vice presidential debate since the nominees were selected.  There have been numerous interviews, appearances and other opportunities for us to evaluate these candidates and make an informed choice.  Furthermore, we are experiencing significant financial and economic troubles, we are immersed in war and our international perception is at an all-time low. So why is it that ten percent of us still don’t know who we like? 

We have a president who has the lowest approval rating ever.  In fact, he recently bested his own record with a 26% job approval rating.  One of the candidates has voted with our current President 90% of the time.  America, would you hire someone who would do as poor of a job as the person you want to fire?  Of course not.  Why do we have so many undecided voters?  Why is this race so close?  The answer is race itself.



Throughout the primaries and early national polls, Obama had significant challenges with white, working class voters.  He is currently still challenged in reaching these types of voters.  However, this concept is absurd since Obama’s policies will provide relief to the working class.  Isn’t that sort of cutting your nose off to spite your face?  Letting race dictate this decision would seriously backfire and result in four more years of Rove/Cheney policies that will continue to cripple our country’s middle class while allowing the wealthiest Americans to continue to prosper.  It should be recognized that the person that looks least like the white working class will be the candidate to help them most.  



It is clear that this country needs change -- real, substantive change.  The course that this country has been on for the past eight years leads to nowhere.  Thus, this election is too important for our country. We have to move beyond race when making this decision.    



As the deadline to register to vote approaches in most states, time is running out for those of us who have not registered to have our voices heard.  The citizens of this country need to make a collective statement, an endorsement for our next commander-in-chief to change our country’s course.  For those of us who are registered but undecided, our task is simple: make a choice.