Proponents of the First Amendment and freedom of the press might want to think twice the next time they're considering popping into their corner United Dairy Farmers store for a gallon of milk or a loaf of bread.  

With just a few hours to go before last week’s final presidential debate, Sen. Barack Obama’s supporters at Smokey Bones BBQ & Grill in West Chester were furiously busy. These Democratic volunteers, seated at tables and booths in a set-aside area with their cell phones out, were calling Butler County voters classified from previous research as “undecided” or “persuadable.” They were making calls as quickly and politely as possible before the debate began.   

As Republicans become increasingly desperate about John McCain's prospects on Election Day, reasonable people are asking whether Joe Deters' position as McCain's Southwest Ohio campaign chairman is influencing his actions in his day job as Hamilton County prosecutor.  

Hamilton County voters go to the polls Nov. 4 and cast their ballots in the two county commission races, they will have their choice of candidates in each contest - despite the best efforts of local Democratic and Republican party leaders to prevent it.  

Election Day approaches, and Tristate residents once again have multi-page ballots to consider. Who has time to fully research every issue and candidate, especially when ballots are getting longer, not shorter? A lot of nonprofit organizations do.  

Most individual MySpace profiles include such necessary personal information as TV and movie interests, religion, sexual orientation and links to "MySpace friends," other users linked together through an extensive web of faux social interaction. It's become a popular tool for grassroots organizations and independent musicians, who use the site for cheap and convenient networking. This year some city council candidates are using it as a campaign tool, but few are all that popular in Interland.   

Nov. 4 can't get here soon enough. I'm writing this column before the second McCain-Obama presidential debate, exactly four weeks until Election Day. I can't wait for it all to be over and for Barack Obama officially to be president-elect.  

Thanks for Tom Hayden's "Dreams of Obama" essay (issue of Aug. 20). I'd like to add something for people who either don't intend to vote or are thinking of voting for John McCain. The  

All you need to know about what’s wrong with Cincinnati City Council elections is that every two years candidates try to finish ninth. If you can finish ninth in a citywide election here, you’re in charge.