If you thought the primary season this spring and summer was confusing, exhausting and never ending, just watch now as the campaigning really begins! The Democrats met in Denver to crown their candidates and after a week’s break, the Republicans will do the same in Minnesota.
Now this is all well and good, but here is what I want to know from the men and women who are trying to win my vote. I am glad that your wife loves you, that your children are adorable, that your mother, father, grandmother, grandchildren are very proud of you and think you are good looking, smart, funny, and completely warm and fuzzy and therefore I should vote for you.
However meaningful all those attributes are, they will not cause me to pull the lever for you in November.
Here is what will win my favor and my vote:

• Be honest about who you are. Don’t try to paint a “poor me” picture if you are very wealthy or have two degrees from Ivy League schools. There is no shame in success.

• Know what you believe, why you believe that and be able to express yourself about your beliefs in a manner that is articulate. Don’t be afraid to say ‘I have matured/gained more information and no longer believe the same thing about an issue that I did 10-15-25 years ago.

• Be the same person, no matter where you are and no matter whom you are speaking to. I don’t want a chameleon for President.

• Don’t pretend to know everything about every issue. It never hurts to say, “I’ll have to think about that” or “I need to research that before I give an answer.”

• On core issues, stand firm. I do not respect someone who tried to shade his answers on nonnegotiables such as abortion (you are either for it or against it), the war (leave now or stay), and energy (explore our own resources or don’t.)

I am not a cynic about our political system and still believe that many politicians genuinely love our country and only want to be good leaders. It is that belief that keeps me hopeful as I examine the candidates and look for the one who can fulfill my five requirements.

ART HALL, publisher