With Sarah Palin aboard, John McCain gets official nod of major evangelical leader Dobson

Amid a blizzard of disheartening polls a month out from the general election, the John McCain-Sarah Palin Republican ticket got some great news this afternoon:

A clear go-ahead signal to millions of evangelicals across the country from Dr. James Dobson, founder and chairman of Focus on the Family, to vote for the GOP ticket. It couldn't have come at a better time given more polls showing a Democratic lead on the eve of the next presidential debate, tomorrow night in Nashville.

On his radio broadcast today to hundreds of stations Dobson said, "America's future seems to hang in the balance."

Reading from his October newsletter, Dobson said he would not endorse a candidate for president. He then proceeded to endorse a candidate for president.

"It’s probably obvious which of the two major candidates’ views are most palatable to those of us who embrace a pro-life, pro-family worldview," Dobson said.

"While I will not endorse either candidate this year, (in fact, I’ve only endorsed one presidential nominee in my life) I can say that I am now supportive of Senator John McCain and his bid for the presidency."

A distinction without a difference for a Republican ticket that desperately needs an energized family values base determined to vote despite what seem increasing odds.

In recent months Dobson had spent more time announcing....

...whom he was not going to endorse -- Rudy Giuliani and McCain, among others -- giving rise to fears that battalions of evangelicals who played such a key role in the 2000 and 2004 GOP election wins would simply stay home in 2008 and let the family values ship sink for one or two terms.

McCain had earned Dobson's previous enmity by restrictions on political speech put upon non-profits under the McCain-Feingold law.

But McCain's selection as his VP running mate of Palin, the governor of Alaska and a mother of five who walked the pro-life walk with her recent Downs baby as well as talked it, seems to have sealed the Dobson nod for the GOP ticket.

"My concern is for the biblical and moral issues that I and millions of Americans hold dear," Dobson added.

"I will gladly support politicians of any stripe who are willing to defend the sanctity of human life, support the institution of traditional marriage, protect the country from terrorism and advance the cause of religious liberty.

"While certainly not perfect, the 2008 Republican Platform comes closest to embracing those ideals by a wide margin."

Without mentioning Democrat Barack Obama and Joe Biden by name, Dobson urged his listeners to pray for the country's future.

Then, he added that the Nov. 4 balloting "will also go a long way toward determining the culture your children and grandchildren will come to realize. I hope you will vote with your children and your children's children in mind.

"That certainly puts the election in a different light, doesn't it?"

--Andrew Malcolm

Speaking of the Nov. 4 voting, if you register here at Twitter, you can get free instant alerts on all Ticket items like this flashed directly to your cellphone so you won't fall behind.

Photo credit: FocusontheFamily.com (top); Getty Images (bottom)

Comments

[Edward Shuherk,MD]

I am a Democrat and a Christian. I voted already and I voted for Senator Obama. Republicans do NOT have a monopoly on Christians, though their party is going to take a huge hit this election.

[Steve Rhodes]

There also was McCain's strong criticism of the religious right.

But he umm sold his soul to get the nomination.

And today Pat Robertson launched 30 days of prayer which will end on election day.

From the prayer message for day one:

Pray for God to protect our nation. Pray for repentance in America and ask God to supply all our needs — as individuals, as families, and as a nation.

Crisis comes in many forms. Currently we are experiencing an economic crisis and many feel the frustration and fear of the uncertainty ahead. During these times it is important to remember that only God is our source. It is easy to fall into anxiety as we see the volatility of world economic markets. But Jesus told us not to worry, but instead to trust in Him...

[Ann]

As a Christian I am appalled by Palin's latest lies and attacks against Obama. For a so called "Evangelical Christian",she has no problem speaking untruths and exaggerations while smiling and winking at her audience. She is such a phony, and she knows nothing about what matters to the voters. And who cares what Dobson thinks. He is another self-righteous right wing nut.

[Who Cares]

James Dobson thinks John McCain represents Christian values.....
I agree with Frank Schaeffer another famous Evangelical leader quote

"Turns out the Evangelicals would rather vote for a pagan reprobate compulsive gambler windbag philanderer of mediocre intellectual capability than for a well qualified fellow Christian (both in word and deed) because the reprobate windbag is white and their fellow Christian is black."

Check out his post and learn more about the Evangelical history.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/frank-schaeffer/evangelicalrepublican-rac_b_130200.html

[bruce]

I agree with Dobson's choice. Palin is certainly the best of the four candidates to preach to us about family values, especially abstinence among our teenagers.

Additionally, her idea of marriage is especially poignant -- regardless of whether two people truly are in love or committed to one another, be sure to get married if you get pregnant in order to avoid harm to your mother's political career.

[Pam]

Thank-you. I only hope you are not to late. I've been worried about my children and grandchild. I have worried so much that I'm now depressed. The thought of anyone other than McCain/Palin will be like handing over my family to lucifer.

[Rev. Fred Washngton]

This is not a religious decision. Pro Life does not stop at Birth...To advance a "conception" issue, without looking at the body of work from beyond the womb is a personal decision...not biblical...so that the record is clear...to infer otherwise is disingenuous.

[Brett Page]

It's all well and good to talk about the sanctity of human life, traditional marriage and religious liberty, Mr Dobson. But I never hear you talking about the other issues Jesus spoke about. Looking out for the poor, disadvantaged and marginalised. Helping those at the bottom of the pile. In a country where 50,000,000 have no health cover, let's hear you talk about what you think the politicians should do to solve that national disgrace. Then you can talk all you like about sexual morality.

[Fran]

When's the wedding? Isn't that part of the biblical family or do we get to have pro-choice, and do without, which is okay, too, but it's not biblical.

[Scy]

Well of course. one psychotic will always endorse another.

[Richard]

Dr. Dobson's endorsement of Gov. Palin is another reason for me not to vote for McCain, not that I needed another one. I dismiss the views of Evangelicals who violate the principles of the bible at every turn. This group has been anti-rational, anti-reason, anti-intellectual for over a hundred years. They have done more damage to the American psyche than any other group in history. To show how far behind the times they are, just think about their past support in the rise of the Ku Klux Klan, their instigation of the Scopes trial, Prohibition and the anti-Catholic tirade in the 1928 election involving Al Smith. And they are still at it.

[Jim]

Since Osama came out to endorse abortion,partial birth abortion,and gay rights, right then and there I knew he was falsely categorizing himself as a christain. A true christain does not deviate from the teachings of the bible. There are many biblical passages against abortion and homosexuals. Thus as Satan also believed in the word and in christ jesus, so does Hussien Osama, but neither are true followers of Christ our Lord.
osmama will decieve you at all
costs, even claim that he's the MESSIAH in flesh, just to
obtain the presidency so that
he could start dismanteling this great nation.
To alot of you, it's like playing Russian roulet. A high
gamble to lose.
Once that bullet is in the chambers and you pull the trigger (in this the lever) that's it, you have blown away
any chances to reject osamas
wicked plans for the USA.
Slogans of "change and hope"
are meaningles for ask yourself this: how could a man
with no economic background, who never ran a business nor
ever met a payroll could suddenly be Americas Economic
Savior. What does it profit
america an economic plan if we
have no energy security? Or why boast of prosperity if we are threaten by another terrorist attack or an attack
itself?
Fools you are...for without the peace and strength of a nation nothing else we do would amount to any good. If we are attacked, there goes our stocks and jobs just as it
did on 9-11.
Without crude oil, our cars and trucks would be useless,
you can't earn a living if you don't show up for work. Businesses can't ship there goods anywhere thus resulting
in layoffs. No airlines will be able to serve their customers. Put it this way,
without the wise plans of McCain/Palin to drill, drill,
drill, our nation would become
a land of nothingness. Nothing
moves, no food, no heating, no
nothing.
Osama would gladly punish all of us with a scenario as spoken of.
Think and think hard before
voting, but if you can't make
up your mind go ahead and
vote for McCain/Palin. You'll
be glad you did.

[Elvi Benitez-Mackintosh]

If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:26-27

[Lawrewnce Coleman]

I lived in California once. in San Francisco -- Oak st, on the Pandle.
Now I'm a sixty one year old white wine drinking, frommage eating, elitist. I like American leaders that know how to speak the English language. The more eloquent the better. I read The New York Times every day and have a B.F.A. from a prestigious art school in Manhattan , and to tell the truth I want the former president of the Harvard Law Review, who,on occasion, listens to classical music, and takes pride that he listens to be our next president. Lawrence Arver Coleman III East Village Artist
Aussi, je parle Francais.
Also, I speak French!

[AZChristian]

As a Christian, I am appauled by any minister who would endorse John McCain. He is a man who has lied about cheating on his wife, referred to his current wife as a c@#%t, launched a campaign that is based upon lies and deception, and had a major role in stealing millions of dollars from the elderly due to his connections with the Keating 5. Palin has been his tool of deception. I realize that Barack is "Black." However, he has never performed any abortion, never openly referred to his wife in any derogatory terms, and is a devout Christian who never stole anything from any elderly person. So much for preaching the gospel.

[Amy]

I agree with the idea that helping people climb out of poverty is necessary, but I think that is the duty of the church and social organizations, not the government. I was a Hillary supporter, and though I think Obama is charismatic, energetic and nice to watch, I could never vote for a man that espouses socialistic ideology. A Marxist America is not what I planned on when I gave birth to my child. Radical views plus ultimate power is a dangerous thing. More dangerous is that Obama's brilliance blinds the average person from seeing the real agenda. It is time for the church to wake up and do its part in making a positive impact, rather than just preaching about it.

[Thomas M.]

The time has come to forget the "so-called Christian right" as their views are clearly racial. They would endorse John McCain, a man who left his first wife for selfish reasons. The seantor then selects a running mate after a one hour conversation and one meeting. It now turns out she is not prepared to assume any office in the capitol. It clear now that Mr. Dobson can make excuses for almost any behavior for someone whose skin color is the same as his---White, in order to reject a qualified African American candidate. While all the while stating he care about the future of our nation. As an African American christian I no longer respect Dr. Dobson, its clear these evangelical would not support Jesus because of the color of His skin! Please don't tell them that Jesus was not White!

[FairQuestion]

It really seems like a fair question.

When does a child get human rights?

Mr. Obama? When did your children get human rights?

A leader should know the answer to that.

Or at least have an answer and act like you believe it.

But to punt on such an important question.

Slimy politician.

[hermano]

these republicans make atheists look like real christians.

[Peter]

Why can't preachers shut their fat traps when it comes to public policy? Stay inside the church and pray quietly so as not to stir the emotions of the ill-informed.
Mathew: 17-6

[kenC]

The sanctity of life, does it extend to not getting into needless wars and getting soldiers and innocent people killed? Or is that fair game. Does it include basic life quality for everyone, or that doesn't count either? Why do people invent so many hoops for themselves to jump through, just come out and say it.. it's a us against them mentality. How are these people fit to give real life guidance, not to mention spiritual guidance.

[PJC27]

Palin=Satan

[Steve]

What a crock, isn't Focus on the Family, which Dobson runs, non profit and under IRS regualtions and not to be political. When the hell does the IRS shut down this freak or does knowing Bush keep the IRS away. In addition, when does it soak in that Palin does not focus on her family, yet focuses on her ego and career. This hag has 5 kids, one pregnant teen and a disabled child, hag it is time to dedicate some time to your family rather then the campaign trail. I really think Dobson would not apporve

[Dubya]

Does it really make any difference what flavor of extreme fundamentalist religious bigot you are? Dr. Dobson and his ilk are really no different than Osama bin Laden and his ilk. Both espouse intolerance for those who do not believe what they believe. Both call upon their god (historically the same god) to destroy the other. Both hate anyone or any idea that does not line up with their own particular brand of extreme ideology. Both are ideological idiots, hell-bent on the destruction of anyone who doesn't look like them or think like them. Advance the cause of religious liberty? Puh-leeze.

[Karen]

This election is about the future of this country. NOT religion or church. Issues of concern to your brethren and kin should consist of character, honesty, transparency, experience, personal will to fulfill promises made, responsibility to cause of reforming the corruption in our government, ensuring that middle class america does not disappear, protection of our foreign policy interests and security of our nation and allies, and last but most important, that we are not TAXED into joblessness, with NO available health care within our purchase power. Study these issues by the validated ACTIONS of the candidates, NOT their words. Look at the evidence of their past Senate voting record on all these issues. Stop making the media responsible to choose a candidate for you. Be Responsible for your own vote! Pray for wisdom to make the best choice for all of our futures as American citizens.

[Doug in Toronto]

I seem to recall reading something once about the "separation of church and state".

[George]

You people scare me!!!

[david]

These fanatic so-called evangelical christians would rather have an anti-abortion dictator than a democratically elected president. These fanatics want to compel a woman whose fetus has been diagnosed with a major or serious fetal abnormality to bring it to term. However, they want the general taxpayer and not their own organizations to fund its care through Medicaid and through faith-based government programs. Oh they'll hang their sign on the door as if it's a private program but it will be your tax dollars that will fund the operations. Ask to see the financial statements of these programs and then tell these evangelicals to put their own money where their mouths are.

[Kim]

I often hear pro-abortion people dismiss pro-lifers with the simplistic statement that pro-lifers only care for the unborn and don't care for the poor and needy after they're born. That's so broad a statement that it should be obviously flawed to anyone with a mind open to investigate the truth.

I know pro-lifers who run homes to help unwed teenage mothers rejected by their families. I know many pro-lifers who have adopted into their own families orphaned and abandoned children, both internationally and domestically. (This includes James Dobson himself, by the way, who devotes much broadcast time each year to the causes of adoption and orphan care, as well as putting action to one's faith.)

I am a conservatvie Christian who gives 10% of my income to international poverty relief and other charities, who plans to spend several years serving the poorest of the world in international missions, and eho plans to adopt orphans from other countries as soon as I hit age 30 (a requirement for many countries).

Only the narrow-minded paint all pro-life, conservative voters with the brush of uncaring and unintelligent. I'm voting McCain this year, not because I don't care about the less fortunate, but because I do.

[Mel]

What kind of a man can be a SERIAL cheater, with dozens of women, cherry picked for their beauty and financial portfolios, not for anything resembling true love or pure intentions? Serial cheating requires real forethought, arranging plane tickets and secret rendezvous, keeping all the lies straight for years. Good practice if you want to learn to be a "straight shooter" when what you're shooting is total BS.

Carol McCain was a swimwear model when she met John McCain. Not surprisingly, she made a wonderful trophy wife for that reason. Unfortunately her 5'9" willowy frame had shrunk to 5'4" by the time John returned from Vietnam. While he was imprisoned in a POW camp, Carol decided not to bother him with news of her debilitating car crash that required several months of surgeries and years of rehab to recover from (she never completely recovered).

Disappointed that his once hot wife's physical beauty had faded through the hardship of her injuries, McCain began to cheat - multiple times. With multiple partners. For years. HUNDREDS of times, McCain's penis would slip and accidentally fall into yet another woman's vagina. While he continued to live with Carol McCain, with no separation, legal or otherwise.

He then met Cindy, whose modeling career and financial status made her the best choice for a golddigging power hungry psychopath (a person who doesn't care about the pain that he causes others he's close to in pursuing his own selfish needs). He conducted the affair while still keeping Carol in the dark about it, and AFTER Cindy agreed to marry the still very much married John, he finally decided to drop it all in Carol's lap, devastating her and their children.

I love how this is "ancient history", despite the fact that it clearly shows the character, not a one time mistake the but the long-term character, of this man. Despite the fact that if the Dems do something unsavory, it's time for the lynch mob. But if the Repubs do something over a VERY LONG TERM like multiple affairs that take place over many years in duration, it's a "mistake" that should be forgiven and forgotten.

The best part is that despite Barack having what appears to be a genuine, loving relationship with his wife (his equal, not his trophy), a Google search still yields countless Christian and conservative websites calling serial cheater McCain the "family values" candidate.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1024927/The-wife-John-McCain-callously-left-behind.html

[Pann]

What is wrong with McCain-Palin? It is apparent they have neither heard of or listened to Dr. Dobson - family?
Well McCain wansts war and so does Palin - who needs to be home taking care of her family. They both lie and pander- is that what Dr. Dobson and churches promotes? They are not interested in the common man - Jesus was and I thought Dr. Dobson was a Christain who feels the common man needs to be cared for.
Do you have and use your Bibles? Where does any Bible say you are better than any other Christian? Where do you think these Christian teaching should be used? In politics or in the church where I believe we separated from when setting up America. I am sick to death of hearing McCain and Palin and their totally out of touch un-Christian values. McCain is not an American hero he is an American embarrassment who lies and wants more for himself and other high powered republicans. He lives in the past and his past is not so perfect. Palin is just his
big distraction - the American public is so much smarter than you give them credit.

[Brian]

A vote for Obama = a vote for socialism/marxism.

A vote for Obama by a true Christian (aka Follower/Disciple of Christ) is a vote for everything we stand against: Abortion, gay marriage, bigger government, higher taxes, less religeous liberty.

I choose NOT to vote for a party but for my country. I am an American. Obama represents everything that will destroy our country.

We deserve judgement from God. We deserve a president who will appoint judges that will uphold Roe v. Wade. We deserve a president who will help make gay marriage legal. We deserve a president who IS a muslim (leading a Christian nation). We deserve a president who will take our corporate tax rates from 2nd highest in the world to the highest. We deserve to be taxed to death as people. We deserve Obama.

God please have mercy on us. Please do not give us what we deserve.

I urge every American to turn off their stupid TVs and stop delivery of your newspapers and news magazines! The media is sold out to Obama. A majority of those in Hollywood are sold out to Obama. Don't talk about either candidate spewing lies. Let's talk about the media spewing lies. How do you ever expect to get the facts with this totally one sided view of the political world? Cut the poison off at the source. USE YOUR BRAIN.

"Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what can you do for your country." It's this gimme gimme gimme, you owe me, I am entitled to it mentality that makes people like Obama so popular. The ONLY reason people should vote for Obama is so that THEY (the voter) can get something in return. Oh, you'll get it alright. You'll get higher taxes and fewer freedoms. But people who vote for Obama will NOT take responsibility. If Obama is elected and there remains a Dem majority in the house and senate and 4 years elapsed time, you will all be blaming Bush still or someone else. None of you who voted for him will be able to look in the mirror and ask "what have I done?"

Take your vote seriously. But WRITE IT DOWN. YOU ARE MAKING A CHOICE. You MUST take responsibility for that choice. If Obama wins and your taxes go up. You only have yourself and the other snowed Americans to blame. Not Bush. Not anyone else. It will be your fault. Own up to it and change it when you can. A mature adult can admit when they make a mistake. A child cannot.

God in Heaven please have mercy on us. We are a land of people who have thrown you to the wayside. We have taken and are continuing to take you out of our personal and public lives. We have taken you out of our schools and courts. We kill those who haven't even seen the light of day but are still your children. We are taking for granted the riches and blessings you have given us. The strength you gave our people to fight evil and oppression all over the world is now in jeopardy of being handed away willingly. Our will to fight the evil that so recently came against our great country on Sept 11th, 2001 now threatens to gain a foothold in our Presidency. When we shed the light of your truths we are branded as bigots and hate mongers and intolerant. Lord, you gave us this great FREE nation so that we could worship you in spirit and in truth. Many many men have died to give us this freedom. Yet, now we are at the precipice of electing someone whose values you do not share, God. We stand ready to elect someone who does not believe in your Son, Jesus Christ, but a man-made religion that persecutes your people worldwide. Please have mercy on us. For we deserve to lose it all. We have squandered our financial and our spiritual wealth. Please have mercy on us, oh God!

[Larry linn]

Dobson is just another sophist. Like George Carlin said,
"Think about it. Religion has actually convinced people that there’s an invisible man living in the sky who watches everything you do, every minute of every day. And the invisible man has a special list of ten things he does not want you to do. And if you do any of these ten things, he has a special place, full of fire and smoke and burning and torture and anguish, where he will send you to live and suffer and burn and choke and scream and cry forever and ever ’til the end of time! But He loves you. He loves you, and He needs money! He always needs money! He’s all-powerful, all-perfect, all-knowing, and all-wise, somehow just can’t handle money! Religion takes in billions of dollars, they pay no taxes, and they always need a little more. Now, you talk about a good bullshit story. Holy Shit!”is another evangelical sophist. Like george said, "

[Harold]

Follow the the words of the Bible carefully, as for the Baptist Foundation of Arizona duped many and i mean many elderly people were duped, lied too, cheated and scammed by those in North Phoenix Baptist Church as now several are in prison, what concerns me most is how it was promoted and sold as a sound and good investment and promoted by several well known members of church including John McCain and his wife who told many of us it was a good safe and we would all make money. It was a lie and con and so many lost entire savings and all while those good church people assured us it was safe when it was not and McCain supported our investments into this fraud.

[Brian]

What is this separation of church and state question again? For those who don't seem to understand history or what the founding fathers intended it is NO GOVERNMENT FORCED religion. In other words, the government cannot say that the official religion of the USA is "XYZ." It does NOT mean nor was ever intended to mean that you cannot bring your religion into politics. You are constitutionally ALLOWED and it is your constitutionally protected RIGHT to allow those values to be present in every area of your life. If you happen to be a politician then that means your faith is allowed to help govern your decision making processes.

I gaurantee that if politicians had a real and close personal relationship with Jesus Christ, they wouldn't lie. They wouldn't cheat. They would make good, honorable, and moral decisions. But that is the problem with ALL of America. We have turned our backs on God and have turned to our own ways. That is a path that leads to destruction. If you don't believe me, just look around. Look at where our country is headed. Look at the lies we believe from ALL our politicians. We are forced to decide among the lessor of the evils.

I would conclude with the FACT that God will one day hold us ALL accountable for our actions, good and bad. He will be the judge, the perfect judge. Not some human who has sinned himself. What would God have you do? Would God in Heaven want you to vote for a muslim who has no regard for a baby's life or the sanctity of marriage. Christians aren't perfect. We struggle everyday too. Sometimes we mess up. But at least we are trying to live morally and right before God. He loves us all and wants what's best for us. And like the loving Father he is, sometimes we deserve to be punished when we do wrong. God promises us to forgive us of our sins if we confess them. He does not promise that we still won't suffer the consequences. You don't think we don't deserve to be punished for killing 48 million babies? You don't think we don't deserve to be punished for all the porn and perversion that we wallow in as a nation? You don't think we don't deserve to be punished for throwing Him to the side while we live our gluttonous selfish self centered self destroying lives?

Dear God please have mercy!

[Hab223]

I am having a definite issue with evangelicals stating that because you do not vote for McCain, you are somehow unsaved. I have even heard people say that if you are not for McCain, you are going to hell. I happen to be a born again Christian who attends what many would call a mega church (we just call it home). My congregation is probably different from many because we have a college in which we are taught the Word in addition to teachings on Sunday. My pastor stresses holy living - living a life that is pleasing to the Lord. "No nonsense...no excuses" is one of our slogans.

With that being said, I also will tell you that I am a supporter of the Obama/Biden ticket.

I am a conservative, and I did intend to vote for McCain at first. I have voted republican in the last 2 elections. There are some things that are important to me and I believed that the republicans represented my belief system. But then I started looking deeper.

My major issue with the McCain/Palin ticket is the fact that they seem to be playing a political game without taking into consideration the truth. I am not seeing the integrity and the compassion that should be evident in this election. There are too many issues that need to be addressed. The country is definitely in need of healing.

All I am seeing from the McCain/Palin campaign are lies, misrepresentation of information, abaseless attacks, thievery of the campaign slogans and ideas of the Obama campaign and the deceiving of those who are vulnerable to misinformation by fearmongering. That is not of God. I invite anyone who is truly seeking the truth of the things that McCain and Palin are saying about Obama to research the information for themselves. Sometimes the messenger is just as important as the message.

I am realizing in this election that the lies prevail because people would rather believe them than the truth. Why, you ask? If you are believing the lie when there is so much proof to the contrary then you will have to answer that question yourself.

I am a Christian that is pro-life and I do not believe in same sex marriage. But I know that God can change the heart of those with the prayers of the people. Remember, under which administration were the guidelines issues concerning religious rights in the Federal workplace? The Democrats.

Truly, even though many don’t believe this, God is in control of this election and whichever candidate wins will fit into the plan of God. God know the beginning and the end and His Purposes will prevail. My charge to you is look past party, past race, past gender and definitely past rhetoric and chose at the candidate that inspires to take action in a way that will not only benefit you but everyone, not just one class of person. Support the candidate that wants to make this country strong again by doing something out of the ordinary and who actually has a plan and wants to implement it.

And we need to PRAY because this country is going to need the hand of God on it. No matter who wins, it’s going to be an interesting next 8 years!!!