As with many other states, Tennessee's presidential primary is tomorrow, but we have an "early voting" period (also called absentee in person) that I customarily make use of when not working an election myself. So, I've already voted for Barack Obama.

I've generally kept quiet about this so far, in part because I have friends active in the two Democratic campaigns, and in part because I currently lack the energy to dissect/collect/defend their positions on various issues that are deal-makers/breakers for other people. However, now that it's a two-person race, I find myself feeling far more strongly that Obama is the candidate I'd prefer to see as the nominee. Since the race is indeed a contest, I feel compelled to offer my .02 to readers who are still considering the flipping-a-quarter method:

I voted for Bill Bradley back in 2000. His endorsement of Obama was the one that decided my vote. Additional endorsements for Obama: Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley (about whom I have very mixed feelings, but I also consider him one of the shrewdest operators in contemporary politics), Oprah (ditto, for contemporary entertainment), Toni Morrison, Jim Cooper (my House representative, who's a good egg), and Chris Walton (editor of UU World, my church's denominational magazine).

[ETA 6:53 p.m.: Kate Michelman, former head of NARAL, previously backed Edwards and is now endorsing Obama.]
[ETA 1:25 a.m. Tues: TN State Rep. Steve Cohen has gone ahead with an eleventh-hour endorsement.]

(Regardless of who's got/getting your vote, you might have fun checking out the nifty interactive endorsement guide at nytimes.com.)

I'm persuaded that Obama is savvier than the Clintons when it comes to managing people, and I have greater faith in his ability to attract and retain other gifted decision-makers to serve in his cabinet and other policy-implementing groups.

The Clintons' collective baggage (hers and his) is massive. Although I'm willing to consider that some of it is the result of rotten luck, I also frankly see them as classic examples of smart people who think they're smarter and more worldly than they actually are. In my opinion, this has resulted in them (1) repeatedly misjudging their ability to convince and/or charm others into supporting their actions, (2) repeatedly misreading other people, period, and (3) conveying a "if you're a smart person, you must agree with me" variant of idealism that both costs them allies and intensifies their enemies' resolve to "get" them.

I essentially believe that the Clintons' overall intentions may be good, but also that their m.o. are more flawed and off-putting than they realize. Which is unfortunately true of some other idealistic, intelligent people I've met. You may recognize the type -- someone who acts so sure they're right and so dismissive of anyone else they make you want to argue against them, even if you actually happen to agree with them. I have serious misgivings when a person with a reputation for losing friends and making enemies aims for a chief executive position. It's not a deal-breaker in itself -- anyone with any sort of responsibility is going to make enemies just for doing their job, at some point -- but I become wary when I see certain patterns in play.

[There's another variant of #1 I've witnessed several times among attractive, intelligent men -- their charisma becomes both their drawing-card and their downfall. I was thinking of this when Gary Hart's endorsement of Obama made the news.]

Yes, I realize I'm speaking of the Clintons in the plural. Fair or not, he's part of the package.

Whomever's in charge of Hillary Clinton's telemarketing needs to be slapped with a wet phone book. I have been robo-called at least five times within the past two weeks, and this was after a direct exchange that went like this:

Woman: I'm Scarlett, and I'm calling for Hillary Clinton --
Me: Please take me off your calling list.
Woman: (in a tone of shock) Are you a Republican, ma'am?
Me: No, I just don't accept any calls like these.
Woman: I was calling to invite you to an event tonight. Do you not want to go?
Me: I just told you I do not accept calls like this.

This may be a cultural thing, so let me spell out how the caller's questions came across to me:

"Are you a Republican?" = "How could you not support Hillary if you're a Democrat woman?"

"Do you not want to go?" = "How could you not want to be invited to this?" Plus, hel-LO, it's a Saturday and I'm a Southern woman. How dare you assume I wouldn't already have plans?

Translation of both = REEKING OF ENTITLEMENT.

ETA: Also? When I encounter rabid Clinton partisans dismissing all opposition to her as misogyny or sexism, it makes me start second-guessing whether I should support her should she win the nomination. I find it seriously insulting. That said, I've seen Obama supporters indulge in "plain and simple," "anyone who believes..." and "it's obvious that..." rhetoric as well, and that's equally repellent. Knock it off, all y'all - using condescending language about/to people who don't share your views isn't doing your candidate of choice any favors.

During yesterday's coffee hour, I was chatting with a friend who lives in another, more conservative county; he's been making canvassing calls on behalf of the Democratic party. I get so very tired of the rest of the country characterizing the South as a backwater of old white men who won't vote for anyone black or female for president, but my friend admitted to feeling queasy about how many of those guys he'd contacted so far who have pretty much told him exactly that, and how they'll likely vote for McCain as a result, even though they've voted Democrat all their lives prior to this.

I think a key strategy for supporters of the Democratic nominee will be to motivate and make it easier for first-time/infrequent voters to go to the polls - enough to outnumber the "old South" bloc. My sense is that Obama's campaign can connect with more of these voters.

In the "silly, but still..." department, I know of at least one design geek who occasionally reads this, so here's an analysis of campaign fonts (via Philocrites).

Regardless of where your political allegiances are or will be, thank you for reading. ... and, Nashville-area folks, Davis-Kidd is offering a 10% discount on in-store sales to customers who show up on 2/5 with an "I Voted" sticker. (I don't see this advertised on their website, but an e-mail about the promotion arrived in my in-box as I was typing this.)