Ignore electoral count and go to the polls

Political pundits constantly massage the statistics on the presidential election to show who is winning at a particular point in time. Scenarios are explained, many which show how a candidate could lose the popular vote and win in the Electoral College. George W. Bush did just that in his first term. He began his presidency, having “won” the presidency because of Supreme Court action in Florida. Bush lost the popular vote, but Florida’s Electoral College votes put him over the top. The result was a weakened presidency for Bush. He did not gain momentum until the events of 9/11 thrust him onto the world stage and gave his policies validation and momentum.

The winner of the 2012 presidential election will be similarly weakened if he doesn’t win the popular vote as well as the Electoral College vote. Every American should vote, even those who live in a state whose Electoral College votes are already almost sure to be awarded to a particular candidate. With the challenges of the economy, health care, climate and foreign policy, the winner on Nov. 6 will need all the momentum and credibility he can muster. Every citizen must give America’s future president the power of a decisive election by voting for his or her true choice, no matter what the polls say for their particular state. Karen Wagner Rolling Meadows