But How Will it Play in Peoria?

Univ. of Chicago Law Professor (and former Obama colleague) Daniel Fischel is quoted in The New Republic that he might, for the first time in his life, vote for a Democrat for president.

[H]e does really attempt to understand the points of view of other people who look at the world or a particular issue differently than he does. He's much more intellectual, much more thoughtful, much more interested in discussion, debate, and dialogue than the typical politician. And that gives me some confidence about him, even though from my perspective he's much too liberal. I've never voted for a Democrat in my entire life. He's the first one I might vote for.

Of course an academic is going to be drawn to an intellectual politician. But, as we've seen over the past two elections, average voters want to feel like they can sit down and drink a beer with their president. Or so the Republicans have said. This is how they'll frame this election again, with McCain being the affable straight shooter (albeit one with a hair-trigger temper and a tendency toward spousal abuse). Democrats need to shoot back just as straight: "We live in complicated times. After eight years of failed foreign and domestic policies created by simple thinkers, it's time that had a president who can think circles around most of us. We want and need a person like that to lead the free world."