While election day is still a few days away, Americans are watching the candidates carefully, making their final gauges of each before they step into the voting booth.  Pressing on many people’s minds is which candidate will be more apt to persue legalizing gambling in all forms – online and live – in the United States.  So far, it looks like McCain is the one, even though both men have admitted to enjoying a friendly game or two of something every now and then.

No matter what the opponent’s political camp says about John McCain, when it comes to the rights of gamblers all over the country, McCain has turned out be a fairly staunch ally in favor of legalized gambling.  Recently the state of Ohio placed on its ballot a provision for the establishment of a licensed casino in Clinton County.  The casino could provide the state with up to 5,000 jobs as well as millions in revenue.  The Republican Party in Ohio wanted to circulate fliers urging its citizens to vote for McCain and vote against the casino.  McCain’s people told the state of Ohio no, and requested that they remove the plea.

You see, John McCain is a supporter of legalized gambling.  He just hasn’t loudly broadcast that fact because many of his own party are vehemently against gambling of any kind.

This wasn’t the reason why the Senator told Ohio no.  He did feel it was right to support one state on their gambling issues while rejecting them in others.  He simply decided to avoid the matter all together.  He was one of the original supporters of the west’s tribal casinos and as such, he has watched as the institutions have helped lift most of the Native American population in the United States out of poverty.

What is very interesting to note here is that Senator Barack Obama has not exactly stated his own gambling position during his entire campaign.  Yes, the Obama campaign has been appealing to anti-gambling votings while running ads that criticize McCain for his position.  He has agreed that further study for gambling legislation and regulation is needed, but that is all.  That doesn’t mean he’s against it, however.  It simply means that his campaign is not the time or place for the discussion.

Senator McCain wants to keep sports gambling from the college level upwards illegal for obvious reasons, but other online gambling activities he sees no issue with.  While both men enjoy gambling, John McCain may be the better candidate to persue the legalizing of it.  Then again, Senator Obama may do it too.  It’s still too early to tell.