IT’S HARDLY A MANDATE—

I am quite tired of hearing the national media slobbering such phrases as “...a mandate” when fawning over Sen. Barack Obama’s recent victory in the US presidential election.

Years ago, when I was director of elections in Richland County, it was a truism that elections were commonly won or lost by margins of 5 percent of the total votes cast.

I suspect that remains true to this day.

In this case Obama prevailed by a margin of just 6.5 percent.

Forty six point one percent of the voters preferred his opponent.

While Obama garnered some 65,400,000 votes nation-wide, 57,400,000 people voted against him.

Yes, it was an historic election and Sen. Obama clearly won.

The nation should be hopeful for an improvement in the quality of life for all Americans.

It should be hopeful we regain our status as a trusted member of the world’s community of nations.

I hope the president-elect does not confuse his inauguration with a coronation, and he proceeds with measured caution knowing nearly half of the voters were against him.