Putting my money where my mouth is...

$5 to the person that gets closer to the result than this prediction....

Please put your best guess into this calculator and then send me yours.

Almost there

Here's the latest "uplifting" video from Obama...

Scott's campaign ads

He's putting the whole ball game on this last ad, it will be fascinating to see if he can make it through to the finishing line and win...


And just for good measure - here's the last time he and Judy met. Makes you wonder who's the better candidate?



...and there's more

The United Center, home of the Chicago Blackhawks

A fight breaking out at the ice hockey match

GDF's group on the campaign trail with Scott

Scott addresses the troops in his campaign office

Everyone outside the IBEW HQs

Finn and George ready for 'party time' with Kazoos

Ambassador Carol Moseley-Braun with the group after the rally

Campaigning

We've been out on the road in the leafy suburbs meeting a lot of the citizenry of Naperville. It's 17 days to go and there is a smell of change in the air. One of ythe things that has been really noticeable has been the open explicit support for Barack Obama, even in some households with Lawn signs for republican state candidates the support for him is strong.
We've seen a lot of little plastic bags advertising Judy Biggert - they have the whole slate in a single mailer neatly packaged which is good. We've found a very positive feeling for Scott's campaign.
We were at the main train stations today talking to commuters, a very different approach to the UK where we'd probably get a gruff mumble, here people were taking our flyers with pleasure and walking off reading them. I didn't see too many binned and we found about 3 or four people (out of 1,000 we met) who were openly PRO republican.
We've just seen the new ad, it's really distinctive and a neat twist at the end - it makes Scott look modern, sophisticated and different - a CHANGE. The more I think about it the better it looked.... we will try and get it up here soon.
We had lunch with Scott in Schmaltz's diner - an excellent New York deli transported to Naperville... Brooklyn Beef was excellent. Amazing for Scott to take so much time with the students, and there is a general feeling of optimism around the whole camp.
It's now teeming with rain so we're working the phones - well we almost all are. No-one has seen Peter's group for a bit - they are due back in 20 mins.
Peter has just arrived back. Apparently they drive on the right here.......
Off to central Chicago in a minute or two.....

Our Introduction to American Culture

Tonight we attended an NHL game and it served as an excellent introduction into American sporting culture. I personally found it far more engaging then any sporting event I have ever attended in the UK. There was far more audience participation, with calls of 'Let's go Hawks' resounding throughout the match in time with the music. Particularly amusing episodes included two fights which were accompanied by the Village People's classic hit 'Kung Fu Fighting'. Indeed, big checks and fights seemed to be the most exciting parts of the match. A constant use of music clips proved an effective way of rousing the crowd while the big screen while Rob, Alex and Joe made their TV debut on the big screen.

The action proved fast paced and intense, with the puck moving from end to end. Punctuated by constant commercials (adverts seem a completely pervasive part of American culture), they provided a source of light entertainment for most of us. Indeed, the incredibly hyperbolic videos shown included some rather bizarre usage of english. Never quite seeming to differentiate between nouns and adjectives, this endless stream of words was somewhat odd, if not confusing.

All in all, it was a highly charged experience for all involved. The violence of the sport lends itself extraordinarily well to viewing and I certainly hope to watch another NHL game live soon.

Made it

We've made it to the suburbs of Chicago and trod the sidewalks of Naperville...... knocked on 100 doors per group and learned how the database system works.
We had a rally this morning for all the candidates, met the two Lindas and a wide range of dem activists - very very different to the English version!
Going well so far.... amazing jet lag thanks to BAs inability to leave on time.
L

batman the dark knight

A good mashup here of the scenes shot in Chicago

Comments on the VP debate

Letterman shows Palin's true colours....


And SNL show what really happened?

Good Op-Eds on Sarah Palin

Frank Rich: "Pitbull Palin Mauls McCain"

On how the race has turned from McCain v. Obama to Palin v. Obama.

and Maureen Dowd: "Sarah's Pompom Palaver"

On the folksly language of Sarah Palin and questioning when and why America decided that being elite was a bad thing for politicians.

VP debate

You can see the highlights, as judged by the BBC, here....