Living in one of the nation’s premier “swing states” certainly has some drawbacks.  Our airwaves are so saturated with campaign ads that you can’t watch a baseball game for three seconds without being reminded that Barack Osama plays poker with pedophile terrorists and John McCain feasts on the flesh of the living. I can’t take more than a few steps outside of my apartment without being mobbed by a group of well meaning volunteers reminding me to vote (and could you maybe stop by the field office and do some data entry for a few hours?).  I can’t even read a national newspaper without seeing every tiny corner of my state overanalyzed into oblivion (Hank Smith, 51, of Van Wert, Ohio is hinting that he might vote for Obama. McCain camp in tailspin. Film at 11).

But it’s not all bad. Sometimes important people come to your town! Last cycle, I couldn’t drive to my neighborhood IGA without running over John Kerry (George Bush hung out here a lot too, but you couldn’t get in to see him without signing a loyalty oath to the GOP….so I didn’t go). This year, I’ve already been able to hear Obama, Biden, and every significant Democratic politician from Ohio (including my idol, John Glenn). But Monday, somebody came rolling into town far bigger than any of those names.

Yes. I’m talking about Bruce Springsteen. The Boss himself (sadly, sans his E St Band) was coming to the Oval at THE Ohio State University (a mere few blocks from my apartment) to give a free concert. Take THAT New York. Important people only show up there when they want money!

Me and my buddy Blake hurried to the concert spot early, as to avoid the throng that would surely come later. I had enough time to pick up a T-Shirt that had Obama and Springsteen on it…thus validating my brilliant idea a few posts ago (that Obama and Springsteen ought to run together). You think this is a blowout now, but with The Boss instead of Biden, we’re winning everything except Utah County.

But before Bruce could step out in front of the adoring masses and play Thunder Road, we had to listen to the lukewarm opening act of all celebrity-driven political rallies…the democratic under card. While I understand the political necessity of having various house and local candidates speak (No offense to David Robinson and Mary Jo Kilroy, who I’m sure are fine candidates…but they aren’t drawing 5,000+ on a Sunday), its still somewhat of an emotional buzzkill….watching obviously uncomfortable professionals stumble through jokes, talking points, and Springsteen related puns. I’d like to put out a standing offer to all my friends running for office…I will be happy to write jokes for you, free of charge. Don’t use your own material.

Personally, if I was running the whole show, I think I would have tried to grab an all-star OSU band or something, to warm up the crowd. Something with a name like John McCain and the Keating Five or maybe Charles Barkley and the Real Mavericks. Don’t even tell me that isn’t an awesome name for a band.

Finally, after introductions from everybody from the mayor of Columbus to candidates for Ohio State University Undergraduate Senate, the man, the myth, the legend, Bruce Springsteen, took the stage. And to think, not 24 hours ago, I was aimlessly tossing around a football at the very spot. If presidential elections inspire my musical idols to swing by my hometown, I wish we had presidential elections every year. It’s a risk I’m willing to take.

Bruce didn’t play a very long set…maybe just 6 songs, along with some talking after every number. I didn’t care, because I would have happily stood outside all day just to hear The Rising live (which he played) and Thunder Road (aka the finest song ever written). I was more than happy to listen to the Boss politely exhort us all to do a little more to help Obama get elected.

And then I felt a twinge of guilt. Outside of voting, and perhaps writing a pro-Obama facebook note every now and again, I really haven’t done a whole lot. I could certainly credibly claim a lack of time. I’m working two jobs, taking a full course load, and balancing a church calling, work with my fraternity, and basic hygienic functions. Obama campaign workers seem to want you to devote more than just a little bit of time, and I’m not sure I can give it, no matter how much I support the cause.

I also admit, I hate canvassing and cold callings. I did it once for a school levy, and I did it again as an LDS Missionary. I think only God could get me to knock doors again, and he would have to ask really nicely.

But there’s really another, bigger reason that I’ve somewhat kept my distance. Perhaps the biggest draw to Obama for anybody is his appeal to our sense of hope…he represents the idea of turning away from the negative attitudes we might have picked up over the last 8 years, or from politics as usual, and that craven cynicism that clouds over everybody who has ever watched more than 15 min of CSPAN.

I worry that if I got myself too deep into the nitty gritty of this race, I might lose some of that. I don’t want to say I’d lose my objectivity, because I never claimed to really be objective in the first place. I don’t write for the AP wire, or the BBC. I’ve picked a side, and I’ve been honest and upfront about that. Perhaps I’m worried about losing my independence. I guess if I get too deep into the logistics of the campaign, I’d lose my ability to criticize something I didn’t like. Not working for anybody gives me a lot more freedom. heck, if I wanted to, I could go off the reservation and endorse Chuck Baldwin, even though I’m pretty sure he’s issued a Fatwa against both Mormons and Latinos. Besides, if I started getting training for things like message control, I’m sure I’d lose my grip on this whole hope and change business.

But it’s difficult to explain any of that to the woman who’s working the Obama booth on 15^th and High, or at least not without getting a terrible case of Liberal Guilt (how can you make snarky comments when kids can’t read in Chicago???? You’re so selfish…you might as well be a…a….Republican!!!).

Oh well, I bet Bruce would understand. The Boss wouldn’t be the Boss if he was say, the Communications Director in the Obama White House. I know how it is…you can’t fence people like us in. Tramps like us….we’re born to run (sorry).