Ufff! Ten days ago I began the countdown. I thought it would be a creative challenge. It is, instead, exhausting, because it does not allow for a retreat from the political landscape. On the other hand, this is not a time to retreat, regardless of the temptation. If we are willing to put up yardsigns, shouldn’t we be willing to put up a daily blog reminder of how important this election is?

In surfing articles this morning, I was especially interested in reading those that tracked undecided voters. I don’t get this group at all and one always wants to probe and get closer to something that is a complete mystery. So how can voters still be undecided? What are they waiting for? These two candidates couldn’t be more different!

I pulled just one quote from one person in one Pennsylvania town who is still considering Kerry, but wants to basically hand it over to Bush (cited in WashPost). He states:

"Kerry seemed much better prepared, but if we have another war, maybe I want a cowboy in the president's office."

And so what are you going to do with a voter like that? What is he saying? Is it the brainless aggressor we want? A person who is good with the rope? A meat and potatoes man? And what is this about another war? Aren’t we at war now?

Quote of the day: (from the NYT: the president's chief political adviser, Karl Rove, who is normally elusive to the press, sought out reporters to push the campaign's argument that Mr. Kerry was a walking contradiction on Thursday night and that Mr. Bush was focused and pensive during the encounter, not peevish.)

"That wasn't irritated," Mr. Rove said. "I know irritated."

I bet he does.

(*see “forty-second street pre-election diary” post, September 22, for explanation of post title)