Gripped, swamped, saturated, overwhelmed

Ever since John Kerry won the nomination, I have been enthusiastically following the United States election scene. In April, India went to the polls too and that provided a fantastic opportunity to compare and contrast election campaigning in the two largest democracies. And tomorrow, I shall get to sample almost first-hand the election process in the United States itself. The scheduling of the elections, like many other events in the United States, is as quaint as can be and is a delightful reminder of the traditions and history of democracy in the United States. For which other country ordains that the election be held every four years on the first Tuesday of November?

This has not been the ideal election to help getting acquainted to the politics of the United States though. It has been recorded even by most Americans that this election is the most important in their lifetime. The endless, hedged statistical dead heats in various polls seem to suggest a nail-biting conclusion to this massive juggernaut. I am inclined to believe these polls more than those in India that were conducted by MARG and other analysis groups either on behalf of the budding news companies or by themselves during the April elections which resulted in bitter heartbreak for many and humiliation for the so-called psephologists.

The web is inundated with features on bizarre probable scenarios such as John Edwards being sworn in as president while a tied electoral college and hung House of Representatives is resolved in two years time or a hung Supreme Court verdict in the absence of Rehnquist as he combats his cancer ailment. I shall unashamedly admit that I have lapped it all up. I have kept pace with Kerry's campaign trails and Bush's whistlestop tours. I have followed with amusement John Edwards' door-to-door campaigning and Cheney's blitzkrieg Hawaii tour. I have noted with interest two District Courts in Ohio independently striking down as unconstitutional plans of the two parties to send volunteers to different polling stations to challenge and "combat voter fraud" and the subsequent, rather expeditious striking down of the striking down by the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

Tomorrow, in spite of a packed routine I shall still return forever and ever to my staple browsing Xanadus. I shall gauge for myself the patterns in voting as the day wears on and as returns are processed across the spread of the country starting in the afternoon. With any luck, I shall witness a historic and emotionally charged acceptance speech and an equally moving and bittersweet concession speech. For a few hours tomorrow, I shall be spared all the viciousness and acid of the previous few months and in the moments when the results crystallise I shall be silent but enthralled, impassive but inwardly invigorated, deferential and bemused. The joys are sweetest when there is nothing at stake.

CNN

Real Clear Politics

Yahoo Politics

New York Times

NYT Times on Trail

Washington Post Politics

Andrew Tanenbaum's Electoral Vote

del.icio.us politics

April 2004

January 2004 - March 2004

October 2003 - January 2004

July 2003 - October 2003