·Voting for Gore (11.7.2000) ·Down the Stretch: Still Reserving Final Judgment (10.31.2000) ·After The Final Debate: Tipping Slightly Toward Gore After His Strong Showing (10.20.2000) ·After the Second Debate: Still Waiting to Hear a Reason to Vote for One Guy Over the Other (10.13.2000) ·After the First Debate: Tie Goes to the Guy Who Didn't Screw it Up? (10.4.2000) ·Introduction (10.2.2000) Colleen is 25 years old and works as a web editor for a large private university. She is engaged to be married. In 1992 she was ineligible to vote. In 1996 she voted for Bill Clinton. taxes, welfare, and social security She is regular church-goer and is pro-choice. She believes in practicing abstinence, but doesn't want the government to get involved in these areas.

A week after the debates I am still leaning towards Al Gore, who I think has a more viable economic plan than Bush even though I'm not terribly impressed with him as a person. Looking at all three debates now, I see Gore as the winner in economics, and the lesser of two evils on issues such as education, tax relief and social security. While I still feel Bush has a better plan for social security (allowing younger workers more investment options) the consensus from financial experts seems to be that he won't have the funds to fulfill both his promises for social security AND his promises for Medicare. Even though both candidates are playing with imaginary money, it worries me that Bush is not able to see the overlaps in his own plans and I think it points to a weakness in his leadership skills.

So far the only ad I've been impressed with is the Snickers ad featuring a cartoon elephant and donkey. It points out the greatest truth of this election -that neither candidate is truly worthy of the office and both are running on false merits and slick slogans.

Missouri seems to be still in a dead heat but I'll be very interested to see how the Carnahan factor affects the outcome. I've been more interested in the race in Florida and Tennessee - surprised that these states have not been easy wins for Bush and Gore.

Bush has been focusing heavily on the notion that he will be good for the country as a Washington outsider and I still feel this is a poor platform. People seem to think that if you have money and can get your face in the paper, you're qualified for public office. In my mind, rather than showing him as a sort of Mr. Smith going to Washington, it highlights his inexperience and the fact that he does not seem ready for this responsibility.

In the end, I think I am still willing to be swayed one way or the other, but neither candidate has come out with a single strong, convincing reason why he deserves my vote. I'm holding off on making a final decision until closer to election day.

·Voting for Gore (11.7.2000) ·Down the Stretch: Still Reserving Final Judgment (10.31.2000) ·After The Final Debate: Tipping Slightly Toward Gore After His Strong Showing (10.20.2000) ·After the Second Debate: Still Waiting to Hear a Reason to Vote for One Guy Over the Other (10.13.2000) ·After the First Debate: Tie Goes to the Guy Who Didn't Screw it Up? (10.4.2000) ·Introduction (10.2.2000)