"A snapshot of voters in a New Hampshire town"

Denver Post Opinion - David Broder
Originally published in the Washington Post

Broder shares the results of his interviews with people in tiny Lyndeborough, New Hampshire.

Reviewing my notes, I found that Obama had more committed supporters than did McCain — but also more questions to answer.

To paraphrase a cliche, Obama's support is a mile wide but only an inch deep. McCain's support is not as wide, but deeper.

Broder quoted one wise one young man:

The unity among Republicans I talked to was marred by the two voters who backed libertarian Ron Paul when he was running. Brian George, a young laborer, liked what Paul was saying but finds no real appeal in either McCain or Obama. "They're pretty much the same as far as I can see," he said.

Brian George is correct.

"But how is that possible?" you may ask. "Obama is a liberal and McCain is, well, not quite as liberal. They differ on how the government should dictate policy to make the world a better place."

All true my friend. They differ on what the government should do to make the world a better place. The fundamental similarity between them, and why libertarians do not support either, is that they both look to government to make the world a better place.