After more than eleven months of turns and twists in the world’s most elaborate contest, it all comes down to this.

Over a dozen people have fought for the heart of America’s people in grueling match after match, slowly being pared down to just two who will fight to take home the crown of SaiAmerica 2008 … er … president.

You may not think they are the best choices, but in the end a choice still has to be made, and this time it’s between:

John McCain
R Bracket Champion
(def. Huckabee and Romney 1575-278-271)

-VS-

Barack Obama
D Bracket Champion
(def. Clinton and Edwards 2201-1896-6)

Perhaps not as close a final as ones we’ve seen in recent memory, but it’s easily one that could flip either way depending on how the crowd votes.

Obama has arguably been the stronger contender over the last few matches, rallying huge fan support to defeat Clinton in a high-stakes, huge-vote-total match. By comparison, McCain has had a relatively quiet time, which could work for or against him.

The McCain fanbase is relatively unified, as the appeal of ‘old white guy’ has been strong as it typically is every SaiAmerica, but it’s quickly being sapped by Obama’s character point of ‘change’, which many detractors are quickly labeling as false and pandering.

Nevertheless, the fanbase is eating up ‘change’ and it has proven to be one of the powerhouses of this tournament, dominating other traits such as ‘mavericky’ or ‘woman’.

However, this popularity comes at a price, though, and Obama has certainly earned many enemies. Aside from the trolls who are quick to call him ‘pandering’ or ‘black’, his stunningly close victory over Clinton in the semi-finals is likely to earn him some hate votes in the finals from the crowd who banked on ‘feminist’ appeal.

Still, the raw numbers are looking good in favor of Obama, whose more mainstream appeal should indicate a victory. However, the strategic and hate votes here will probably come into play quite strongly and leave McCain the door for an upset.

In addition, there are likely to be many votes of no confidence as well, cast for characters not in the running per se, as a sign of disgust with the final two contenders; whether the amount of these will become greater than the difference, anyone can guess.

We’ve seen many upsets so far, for example the SaiAmerica twice removed, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see another one in a tournament like this with such a wide, varied fanbase participating.

In any case, I can only hope the vote totals will be higher than that of previous matches, so please, take some time out and vote. It’s a simple process, and while you do have to wait a bit to cast your vote and the process is mildly inconvenient, it’s a very important match.

After all, it’s not a simple matter of moe or death, as my parody-esque coverage may hint. If you live in America, this is one of the most important decisions you’ll make this year, and even the reality-detached (occasionally) otakusphere knows it.

This isn’t a popularity tournament. This is the leader of a powerhouse of the real world (for better or worse, so don’t accuse me of bias, please). So please, vote. I don’t mind if you use your vote for McCain, or Obama, or some third party candidate – all that matters is that you use it. It’s your right – exercise it. Express yourself.

And also, on a sidenote, please, be respectful. Obama and McCain are both people. They are not trying to destroy the world as we know it. Stop arguing like they are such. We’re trying to find the best choice, not the less-worse one.

Also, Kagami won SaiMoe 2008. Not who I would have chosen, but I’m not the mainstream otaku in SaiMoe. Ah well.

-CCY

(Well, at least there’s no fake votes in the real world…)