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Stat of the Week

What's in a name? One name would seem contain nothing but superpowered poltiical mojo.

According to the invaluable www.electoral-vote.com, CNN ran two polls on the 2008 presidential election this weekend (no, I don't know why political journalists do useless crap like that either). One showed Sen. John McCain leading Sen. Hillary Clinton 48% to 47%.

The other poll was very slightly different. Sen. Hillary RODHAM Clinton leads Sen. John McCain 51% to 44%. Including her middle name made Clinton a clear favorite with the electorate.

The scientifically-minded chaps at electoral-vote.com said this was proof of how the wording of questions is the most important element of any poll. I saw it in simpler terms. For one in every twenty-five American voters, the most important qualification for our next president is whether he or she has Rodham somewhere in their name. Presumably, this desire extends beyond politics to all aspects of American life. We want Rodhams as our doctors, lawyers, firefighters and reality-show winners.

Using three names in a newspaper byline is considered the height of pretentiousness in the journalists' trade. Some of us, however, can't be choosy. Come 9 a.m. Monday morning, I'll be at the Concord branch of Middlesex District Court, finding out how to legally chance my handle to Michael Rodham Gee.

posted by Michael Gee @ 9:03 AM