Despite a bout of temporary insanity last summer working for the presidential campaign of Fred Thompson for two weeks, three days, four hours and 17 minutes, I am actually a textbook independent who enjoys swimming in the non-ideological, contrarian end of the pool.

Take my presidential votes, for example.

In my lifetime I have voted for Ronald Reagan (needed leadership), Ross Perot (entertainment value), Bill Clinton (my 401(k), and besides, I really liked his mom), and never for a Bush (neither 41 nor 43) or a Gore (frat guys all).

Since neither Bush nor Gore earned my vote in the 2000 debacle, I confess I did vote for Ralph Nader in a rebellious, nonsensical show of solidarity for third parties everywhere. Like I said, it makes sense from the inside looking out — most of the time.

A qualifier about the “never for a Bush” comment: I was actually headed to vote for Bush 41 in 1988 when I first arrived in town, but I think I got lost trying to find my polling place, which tells you a lot about my level of passion for that year’s candidates.

That confession out of the way, and with my signed doctor’s note about last summer, I think my independent credentials are pretty much intact. All that to say: My presidential vote is always up for grabs, and this year is no exception.

Like it or not, and despite all the infuriating, contrarian zigzagging, I am actually the kind of voter whom both Barack Obama and John McCain need if they want presidential gold hanging around their necks this November.

McCain: I am totally in awe of his life story and feel as if the presidency is a small token of appreciation the American people could bestow on him in exchange for five and half years in the hellholes of Hanoi.

Once, while filming a documentary in Vietnam, after my TV crew had moved along, I was able to spend some time alone in one of the prison cells where McCain spent years of his young life. I just sat there alone for a few minutes, crouched down, listening to the street sounds outside the prison walls, just trying to imagine five and a half years in that place. Like I said, the presidency would be a small token.

Obama: Other than the right-wing radio yakkers who are getting rich trashing him 24/7, who cannot be impressed with this young man with the audacity and the hope? He is simply one of the best and brightest this nation has to offer. Someone who embodies all that is good and right about this country, its hopes and its dreams.

Obama’s own American story, although not tested on the battlefield like McCain’s, is inspiring in its own right. With his own brand of “right stuff,” Obama’s life story should remind us anew that pedigree and privilege are not requirements for leading a nation of, by, and for the people.

So, like many independents, I am a bit conflicted right now. I want to vote for McCain, but he loses me if he doesn’t make a bigger break with the Bush administration on the miscalculations of the Iraq war. If McCain promises me nothing more than a Bush 44 presidency, fuhgedaboutit!

And, tactically, if McCain continues the silly stuff — like touting how many days it has been since Obama has been to Iraq or how fearful I should be about Obama’s “lack of experience” — I will know he has no real confidence in his own vision for the future of my country. I am not doing fear this year.

The role of the independent vote this time around should be underscored for another reason. Most polls suggest that a good chunk of Hillary Clinton’s supporters might stay home with Obama on the ballot.

McCain has his own “might stay home” problem with the conservative Republican base. Conventional thinking has been that although McCain might not be their cup of tea, they would get up out of their chairs to vote against Clinton. So, without Hillary at the top of the ticket, McCain might lose some of the ABC (Anybody But Clinton) shock troops. They might head out the door, but just not get too bent out of shape if they get lost searching for their polling place.

In many respects, for independents anyway, this presidential race is like the Academy Awards. John McCain should be recognized for a lifetime of achievement, but in their hearts they know that Barack Obama has given the best performance of the year.  

And the award goes to …

You can reach Jim Mills at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it