Sep. 7--I was standing in line at Wal-Mart the other day when I saw an old friend I hadn't seen since high school.

We chatted for a while, catching up on all the formalities -- family, work, school, jobs.

As our conversation turned to politics, something strange happened: He leaned forward, glanced to his left and right and then, almost in a whisper, said, "I tell ya ... I may end up voting for Obama when this is all said and done. I've about had it with the Republican Party; and I really like what Obama stands for, what he has to say."

I looked around, eyes wide and said: "Why are we whispering?"

Of course, it was a rhetorical question. I realize you won't win many friends by saying you're voting for Obama in the Deep South -- heck, even considering it will get you some cold stares at times. Keep in mind the South is the only region of the country where the Illinois Senator is not beating Sen. John McCain, according to the latest Gallup Poll.

And while some staunch conservatives may not get the Obama mania, I can assure them it has to do with more than the fact that he's a "good speaker." While I realize that presidential races are, in large part, a popularity contest, I believe Obama's appeal is more than just his words. What he has to say, however, does resonate with a lot of us.

National polls suggest that many of the people in my generation are more apt to vote for Obama. My theory: his popularity is not just about him.

There are a lot of people, particularly young people, who are disenfranchised with both political machines -- or parties, whatever you prefer to call them.

The funny thing: the same quality that draws many of my peers to Obama is one that also draws us to Sen. John McCain. That quality is the ability to view things, even hot-button political issues, through a common sense lens, not a political lens.

You see, this race will go down in history as one of the most significant for multiple reasons. But to me, it will also go down as one of the most exciting because I may not decide who I'm going to vote for until the day of the election. I'm really excited about the prospects of both tickets. And I don't think I'm alone.

There are many of us who consider ourselves moderate. We're independent thinkers. You see, it's hard to put us in a box. We may be conservative on some issues and liberal on others. Some view moderates as indecisive. I think that's hogwash. I'm sorry, but I fail to see how not having a uniform thought on all party stances can be termed indecisive.

We don't like how some issues are based purely on assumptions.