Barack Obama for President

I was asked by the campaign to write why I support Barack Obama...words that they'd then forward on to those privileged "superdelegates" to try and sway them to do the same. Here are my words:

Having grown up in San Diego (and Orange County) in a conservative home, I registered at 18 as a Republican. I have voted, sometimes reluctantly, but always faithfully along party lines.

Until now.

This year, I changed my party affiliation and registered as a Democrat. Why? Barack Obama. How is it that for the first 17 years of my voting life, I wasn't convinced or inspired by anyone in particular enough to stand up for change? And why, now at the age of 35, do I feel passionately enough to do so? Barack Obama.

People may say he lacks experience. They may claim he has no substance. But, I'm not enough of a risk taker or a fool to simply blindly follow someone I couldn't stand behind. I believe in his policies. I believe in his methods. I believe in his platform. I believe that he is the only one capable of uniting the American people into a new direction.

Look what he's been able to do already.

He has influenced a population of young people - written off as lazy, unmotivated, and incapable - to believe that they can make a difference and has rallied them to get out and vote. And they support him passionately.

He has influenced a population of apathetic people - certain that their ONE vote could not possibly effect change - to believe that they can make a difference and they've shown up in record numbers at the polls to vote.

He unites. He rallies. He inspires. He leads. I've heard these same things about the very best American Presidents of the past, but I never believed I'd hear it or see it a President in my day.

Until now.

That's why my very powerful one vote is pledged to Barack Obama for President of the United States.