Real issues need to take center stage

Barack Obama vs. John McCain in November. One will be our new president in January 2009.

Who will win? I have a feeling Obama is riding a wave that will be hard to stop, but that's a discussion for another day.

I want to express my ideas for what the campaign issues should be over the next five months.

I don't want to hear about Rev. Wright. I don't care about McCain's age. I want a campaign that will deal with real issues concerning real people.

It's unfortunate, but Obama and McCain will never really know what it's like to suffer from high gas prices, medical insurance that's not affordable, or not being able to own your own home because you don't make enough money. They probably have no idea that we're paying $30 to $50 more every couple of weeks for groceries.

And what about the war in Iraq? Will it ever end? If it does, will we be safe from terrorist attacks?

The new president will have a lot on his plate from the get-go. That's why Americans must demand that Obama and McCain fully explain what they're going to do, how they're going to pay for it, and when they will accomplish what they say they're going to do.

The United States is at a cross-roads. If prices continue to go up, and what we earn remains the same or inches up only slightly, we're all in trouble.

The United States used to be a world leader. Is that still true? Other countries looked at us as an example of what's good. Is that still true?

We deserve a leader who will deliver results.