We are down to the proverbial lick log and headed into the homestretch in the 2008 Presidential contest. The protracted race, which began in earnest in the snows of Iowa and New Hampshire two years ago, has four weeks left to go.

It is a historic contest. The Democrats have fielded the first African American in history to head a major party ticket. Freshman Illinois Senator Barack Obama will face the stereotypical Presidential candidate in Republican Senator John McCain. McCain is a 72 year old white male who has been a Congressman and Senator from Arizona for three decades.

Even though the two candidates are vastly different in looks and experience, they have some interesting similarities. It is historically unusual for a sitting U.S. Senator to move to the White House, but this trend will end as both McCain and Obama are U.S. Senators. Only two U.S. Senators have gone directly from the Senate to the Presidency, John Kennedy and Warren Harding, and no incumbent member of Congress has been elected President since John Kennedy in 1960.

Whichever Senator is elected to be the next President will also be left handed. In races for the White House lefties have the upper hand. In 1992 all three contenders, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Ross Perot, were all southpaws. In fact, six of the twelve Presidents since WWII have been left handed, Harry Truman, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, Bush Sr., Clinton, and either Obama or McCain. That is an amazing phenomenon given the fact that only one in every ten people is left handed.

Usually the Vice Presidential candidate does not affect the outcome of the Presidential race. However, there are signs that this year may be different. McCain’s choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin appears to be a plus for him. Palin, the unknown Governor of the obscure Wilderness State of Alaska, with only three electoral votes, was a surprise choice. It befuddled the national news media. However, their assumptions that the McCain campaign had not fully investigated or vetted their choice were not accurate.

The GOP had the inherent advantage of having their convention last. Thus, the GOP had the benefit of knowing that Obama had spurned Hillary Clinton as his running mate, even though she was the first choice of the majority of Democrats for President. The choice of Palin was no accident or seat of the pants decision. This day and time with the advances made in computerized polling and use of focus groups you can be sure that all research pointed to Palin, who has turned out to be even better than the computers expected. A lot of swing voters can relate to her. She also energizes and galvanizes the religious right. Palin was a smart choice.

Joe Biden was also a good choice for Obama. He helps shore up Obama’s lack of experience, especially in the area of foreign policy. Politically, Biden helps with blue collar Catholic voters. These important swing voters voted overwhelmingly for Hillary Clinton in the primaries. Additionally, Biden’s roots are in Scranton, Pennsylvania. This fact was not overlooked by the Obama team. If Biden only helps the ticket by carrying Pennsylvania, then his selection was a positive. The Keystone state is a key to the election.

This brings us to an important point to remember when watching the final weeks of the campaign. Remember we do not elect our President by direct popular vote. We have an Electoral College. Therefore, for all practical purposes, your vote as an Alabamian is irrelevant because Alabama is a hardcore red Republican state. Under the Electoral College process it does not matter if McCain beats Obama in Alabama by 300,000 votes or only 300 votes, McCain will still receive the same 9 electoral votes.

By the same token the national horserace polling figures are worthless and irrelevant. The polls that matter are in the ten key pivotal swing states. If you watch the itineraries and appearances of the candidates in this final month they will always be in one of these ten battleground states. The states that will decide the presidency are Ohio, Pennsylvania and Michigan in the Industrial Midwest, and the western states of Colorado, New Mexico and Nevada. The new swing states are Virginia and New Hampshire. Missouri is always an important swing state but it is trending Republican. Florida is the ultimate all important swing state. The Sunshine State is the grand prize with its 27 electoral votes. However, Florida, like Missouri, is trending toward McCain.

The election, with all its differences, talk of new trends, and change in the electoral map, could very well boil down to exactly the same scenario as four years ago. It may all revolve around Ohio. We will see in about four weeks. It should be interesting.