This presidential election, it seems like people care more about the outcome in November than ever before. It is nearly impossible not to hear about it. The Internet is flooded with new information of the Democratic and Republican campaigns updated by the hour and major news networks consistently have election updates to keep us informed. It comes up in every day conversations and in classroom settings. And with the race so close between Barack Obama and John McCain, it only makes sense for us to realize the importance of the running mates each of them have chosen to be a potential Vice President of the United States.

Obama’s choice of Sen. Joe Biden was smart because Biden balances out Obama’s lack of experience in Washington. He was a long time member of the Senate’s Judiciary Committee and Foreign Relations Committee. McCain’s choice of Alaskan Gov. Sarah Palin was also an educated choice because not only does she close the gender gap, but she brings the sense of youth that McCain lacks. Each of the Democratic and Republican tickets are now balanced, each with a younger politician with minimal experience complemented by an older, more experienced candidate.

Both Palin and Biden are changing the dynamics of the presidential campaigns because the nation is divided in opinion of which candidate should triumph over the other in victory. These viable vice presidential candidates are going to be huge deciding factors in helping America chose who will be the next President of the United States.

Also, while we follow this election with its huge potential for changing our nation in the next four years, we should not allow ourselves to get caught up in the petty matters and gossip that comes with the politics of an election. The issues and what each candidate brings to the table are the most important aspects in deciding for whom to vote.

It should not matter what has happened in their personal lives, but what each candidate plans on doing in the future. In Palin’s case of having a pregnant teenage daughter, she said, “Our family has the same ups and downs as any other.” If anything, family matters and personal pasts make each candidate more personable, but it should not overshadow the issues each politician stands for.

Politicians are human, just like the rest of us. In his acceptance speech, Biden said, “I believe the measure of a man is not the road he travels but the choices he makes along that road.” People make mistakes, but it is how those mistakes are handled that matters most, as it may reflect how they will carry out policies in what they believe.

Make an educated vote this November. Not only know the views of Obama and McCain, but also know Palin and Biden’s stances on important issues. They are each a valuable aspect in this ever-so-close election who cannot be overlooked or ignored.