Predicting an Obama win

Finally... November 4, 2008... Election Day in the United States of America.

With early voting in place, Nov. 4 is actually the last day for voting and the day votes cast will be counted. I expect Obama to win with 325 Electoral Votes against McCain's 213.

. (Interactive electoral map from ABC News)

Based on tactics and strategy, there are several reasons why I think Obama will win.
1. His campaign is very disciplined and calculated, which I think reflects on his character. He is in control of the situation because he placed the right people at the right position.
 
2. As a former community organizer, Obama knows his ground game. How to encourage people to vote and how to encourage people to encourage more people to vote.
 
3. The campaign was able to harness the full power of the techno-savvy youth and electorate.
He was able to solicit campaign funds from people ten dollar at a time through text.
 
4. His eloquence helps a lot, but the research behind his speeches and interviews are remarkable. He is thoroughly briefed on the background and personal circumstances of the reporters and interviewers (not surprising why the media is biased in favor of him).
 
5. They were able to take advantage of the situation by focusing on the issues. When he started his campaign, the economic crisis is the yet this bad. By luck or prophecy, a campaign based on hope and change sounds better when you are in crisis (as against McCain's campaign of experience and maverick-ness).

Final note... in almost all of McCain's rallies, you'll see his wife, Cindy, behind him. It is very seldom that you'll find Michelle Obama campaigning with Barack. It is because Michelle often campaigns on her own and draws her own crowd. The same thing with vice-presidential pick Joe Biden. With Barack, Michelle and Joe campaigning separately, with the help of Hillary and Bill Clinton at times, they were able to cover more ground.

On the other hand, McCain and Palin campaigned together for one month after the Republican convention. When they campaigned separately, Palin has bigger crowds than McCain.

Once the US election is over...  I hope I'll have the same enthusiasm over the 2010 Philippine Presidential Elections.