Obama-McCain fatigue

Tom Waseleski

What an election year to be in the news business. At the start of 2008, both parties had a lengthy list of viable candidates and both runs to the nomination were wide open. We're now down to the final few days of an epic battle between Barack Obama and John McCain, and there's one feeling I have about this race.

Fatigue.  

It's not about hours worked or interviews held. It's about an election campaign that should have ended about two weeks ago. Right about the time we began hearing about Bill Ayers' exploits and Sarah Palin's wardrobe, I got the profound feeling that this campaign had run its course. There was nothing new of any substance to learn about the major candidates, so the campaigns (and the coverage) defaulted to its silly season. That's when Americans began hearing about racism in Western Pa. (yawn) and threats that would test Obama's mettle (snore).

Enough already. If Pennsylvania were enlightened enough to offer early voting, this would have been the year to cast your ballot in the second or third week of October and be done with it. We've heard it all by now. Too bad we can't call this game early, on account of boredom. Even Tina Fey is looking over-exposed.