As I have opined earlier in this very blog, I would be happy to have either Obama or McCain in the White House for different reasons. This afternoon, I went to the polls to make my final choice.

I had been on the fence for a long time, but was finally swayed to vote for Obama by a fusillade of endorsements from people whose opinion I respect, like Colin Powell and Fareed Zakaria.

In the voting booth, however, I felt my pen twist toward McCain’s box almost of its own will. I’ve been enthusiastic about McCain for a long time, and believe he would have been the president this country needed in 2000 and even in 2004. I wanted to vote for him.

So I would reach for Obama, and my pen would twitch back to McCain. What could I bring to mind that would let my fingers do my bidding?

I thought of Palin, my pen gave up, and I voted for Obama.