BIG WEEK FOR SOMEBODY! I’m writing this column on Election Day from a hotel room in Washington, D.C., where I’ve spent three days on some business with Congress and the USDA. I usually vote at the polls; have never voted absentee and haven’t missed an election in years. So I walked into the Stanislaus County Clerk’s office on Friday, and 10 minutes later was finished voting. What a week.

Today we know the outcome, and as I write this it looks like both Mitt Romney and Barack Obama had some surges late in the campaign and Tuesday’s results were uncertain. It was still likely that John McCain was going to win big in many states and remain ahead of Romney, while the Democratic race appeared to be a toss-up. But we know what happened in New Hampshire when all pollsters had picked Obama to win big; then Clinton won a relatively big victory there. California is a big state for both Democrats and Republicans, although whomever wins the popular vote may not have the most delegates. It’s an interesting state, and we’ve seen more candidates (and their hacks) than ever here to encourage support.

As I write this column, one thing is pretty certain. Two candidates from both parties should emerge. There is a chance that the Republican race could be almost wrapped up, but that isn’t even certain yet.

Wow, this is exciting...we may not know the outcome of at least one of these primaries until the convention later in the year...stay tuned!!!

ELECTION MILESTONE. The failed campaign of Rudolph W. Giuliani (I actually wanted this guy to win) can claim one distinction: The worst bang for the buck of any delegate winner in presidential politics history.

The former New York mayor, who dropped his Republican bid for the presidency two weeks ago, disclosed last week in a filing with the Federal Election Commission that he raised $58.5 million and spent $48.8 million in 2007.

With his donors’ money, Giuliani captured a single national delegate, in Nevada. At that rate, it would have taken close to $60 billion in spending to capture the 1,191 delegates needed to win the nomination.

He should have started campaigning in Iowa instead off waiting until Florida when our minds were made up already...

MAKE ROOM FOR GIVING. As we contemplate the wild economy in 2008, please remember to give to two organizations in Newman and Gustine, TOSCA and GUSTO, the scholarship associations that give thousands of dollars to students each year from both the Newman and Gustine school districts. These are two of the most outstanding organizations in our communities, and they are doing a great job in encouraging students to attend and excel in college.

SUPER BOWL.  Last weekend’s game was so eventful that is wasn’t necessary to write and/or talk a lot about the Super Bowl ads this year. Many of them, however, were ridiculous, but what do I know. I judge a successful ad by what I remember the next day. Some ads were so cute that I couldn’t remember what was advertised....E-trade wins for me. That baby burping up onto the keyboard was a delight; reminded me of my new grandson, so I was biased; but man those ads were cool!

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