posted July 4, 2008 at 13:33 in Other Articles

BetUS online sportsbook visitors who like entertainment betting, props betting or like to bet on politics are counting down the days until the presidential election, and can bet on other propositions related to politics in the "Futures" section of the sportsbook itself. Our focus today is to look at some of the factors that might not sway your vote, but might influence your wager one way or another.

First, let's take a look at the latest odds as they are posted at BetUS Sportsbook:

BetUS 2008 Election Political Odds

To Win 2008 Presidential Election

BARACK OBAMA -225

JOHN McCAIN +175

So what has happened recently that may have an effect on this election?

Well, according to a poll released late last week by the Wall Street Journal and WashingtonPost.com, Obama is way ahead in four states that are considered to be part of the "battleground." In Michigan, Obama has a 48%-42% lead; in Colorado, he's head 49%-44%. In two states where Obama was expected to do well but McCain was hoping for some insurgency, the Illinois senator is up 52%-39% in Wisconsin and 54%-37% in Minnesota.

All of this is disconcerting for the Republicans, who have simply seen a lifeless McCain campaign, while Obama, who was endorsed by Hillary Clinton, is looking more and more like the younger, fresher, more vibrant alternative, and sees his free ride from the vast majority of the "objective" press continuing. The latest trick is enabling Michelle Obama to campaign in subtle and not-to-subtle ways for her husband while being shielded from having very much accountability.

It's kind of like playing for one NBA team against another, where you have referee Tim Donaghy in your pocket. No wonder the odds are listed so much in Obama's favor. I'm not sure that makes much of a case for value in the Democratic side, but because McCain seems to be stuck in neutral, I find it hard to believe Obama wouldn't have a substantial edge right now, which would be a shift from what I was thinking a month and a half ago.

The results from the aforementioned poll, which was conducted by Quinnipiac University, may in fact influence McCain's choice of a running mate. If Minnesota looks too far gone, one would have to wonder how much utility a relative unknown like Tim Pawlenty (the state's governor and a +500 shot in the BetUS odds) is going to have in the second spot. If Michigan is winnable, Mitt Romney (+450 at BetUS) may be the more practical choice, even if McCain can't stand him. Certainly Romney has some bona fides when it comes to financial issues, and with the announcement that jobs have been lost for the sixth straight month, Romney could become an important player in McCain's economic platform.

McCain may need all the help he can get in Michigan, and in every state where union influence is high. The Service Employees International Union has announced that it will budget up to $85 million for the presidential race and some of the congressional races, and they are pointing their support squarely at Obama.

Finally, in the "Barbecue Ballot," a somewhat tongue-in-cheek, somewhat serious survey taken by the Associated Press and Yahoo, which measures who Americans would rather barbecue with, Obama wins it with 52%, to 45% for McCain (I hope the other 3% voted for me, because I'm pretty good at that). The survey was taken among 1759 adults, and actually shouldn't be discounted.

Numbers like that are putting McCain on a skewer.

Bet politics and the 2008 elections now at BetUS Sportsbook. Get odds on the political races, and profit for a change when someone goes to the White House! Come to BetUS for a variety of propositions and futures on anything and everything - don't let your knowledge go to waste! BetUS is the most complete sportsbook on earth!

(Charles Jay is the 2008 presidential nominee of both the Boston Tea Party and the Personal Choice Party. He says he will place odds on himself at the appropriate time. He is currently a contributor to the BetUS Locker Room)