One week to go

Election Day is one week from today. It has been so long in coming that it is almost shocking to think that the day of reckoning is almost at hand. Whatever late trend develops, it better develop quickly or it won't make a difference.

My prediction for the presidential race one week out is that Barack Obama will win - but I still don't think it will be a blowout.

Part of this caution may simply be me not daring to believe that Barack is ahead. Still, at the end of the day, I think a lot of people - not a majority but a lot - will revert to form and pick the candidate they know over the one who has been cast (unfairly in my view) as the unknown man of mystery. I have always thought it was going to be close.

Given the challenge of the pollsters to gauge who will turn out to vote and what secret prejudices they will bring to the task, I think it is unwise to count Sen. McCain out. This is one that has to be seen through until the end, no matter how sick and tired everyone is with the process.