Obama and McCain - your thoughts/opinions on the American presidential candidates

[Earlybird]

Is Obama all charisma and no substance? Or is he a breath of fresh air politically speaking - offering hope for real change? Is he politically experienced enough to be president, or is he largely the X-Factor presidential candidate (huge momentum created by media adoration/hype but at some point the bubble will burst revealing a manufactured candidate?)

Is McCain too old, too conservative and/or too dull? All substance and no charisma - so doomed to fail with the media/public due to importance of image/soundbites? Or a man of experience and integrity who will guide the country with a steady and experienced hand?

As a Mumsnet member based in America, am curious to hear how the candidates appear to those who don't get their news through the US media. Am particularly interested atm as Obama is in the midst of his International tour.

don't you think many prefer her to man who name sound a bit that Osama? SImple as that

thoughts and opinions about Palin

Squeakypop - CNN commentating panel praised her speech, and mentioned the writer's name several times. One then said (paraphrasing here) - 'why are we mentioning who wrote the speech? None of these people write their own speeches, and we have never talked about or credited the writers in anyone else's speech at the Democrat or Republican convention so far - so why are we doing it now?'

I thought he had a good point - and the rest of the panel simply nodded and didn't disagree.

Obama and McCain are now level in the polls. The Obama side should be very worried as the polls are thought to overestimate Obama's support as many do not express their reluctance to support "black" (should be mixed race) president in the polls. And Republicans are meant to be at their weakest post Bush.

Obama side can hope that Palin blows up but not sure that they can rely on that.