Leaky Faucets

To me, electoral politics—especial the Presidential variety—is like the ultimate spectator sport, and I take losing or the fear of losing just as hard as I do when my favorite team is on the ropes. Although in sports, there is always next year. In American politics, its four years, and four years is an awful long time. When my candidate was down in the polls for a brief time recently, the fear seized me just look it would if my team, once favored to win, was suddenly in danger of missing the postseason.

Of course, just like in sports where the season is long, there is a scoreboard where you can monitor how your team or candidate is doing on a daily basis. Just like I obsessively check the box scores and divisional standings during a long baseball or basketball season, so I check the polls and electoral vote projections.

 In this context, today’s debate was like an exhibition match—pre-season football or spring training baseball. It was dull, neither player hit his stride and in the end it won’t mean much in the course of the season.