It is bordering on cliché to say this year's American Presidential election is the "most important in a generation". The first of the "key battlegrounds" invariably are Iraq and national security. Problem is it isn't true.

These issues deal mostly with the past. There is a broad but not universal consensus on the way forward in Iraq - if anything the Republicans are in a greater hurry to get out of there than their Democratic rivals. The idea of passing over sovereignty to some kind of democratically elected government as soon as practical is commonly accepted. Whether the current Administration bungled the post-war reconstruction is a separate argument and not very relevant, unless the US plans another adventure in nation building on this scale anytime soon. Otherwise leave it for the policy wonks and academics to ponder and let the rest of the world get on with things. The rights and wrongs of the war itself are good for whipping up passions but do little to influence people who matter - swinging voters. Iraq is such a hot-button issue that people made their minds up long ago. I am sure it has vitalised the bases of both the Republican and Democratic parties but it is not an issue that is making many swinging voters change their mind. Neither is September 11. By the time the election comes around 9//11 will have been 3 years past. It is still fresh enough to be in people's minds but since then there is again a broad consensus on the increased need for homeland security in the USA. There has thankfully not been another attack on US soil and with luck and vigilance there will be no more. Again the way forward is clear - continued improvements in homeland security and greater vigilance. But once the attacks shook America awake to the dangers in the world there was going to be no other way. These are not issues that will swing votes because these are backward looking issues - they are debates about the past. It is an issue that galvanises the activists in each party, and they are the ones making plenty of noise. But that isn't where elections are lost and won, especially when both sides get equally worked up.

As always what influences those votes that matter is things closer to home. Jobs, the economy, schools, crime, the budget, health. Forward looking issues. Closer to home issues. Day to day issues. Outsourcing is going to influence more minds than Osama. It's a lesson learnt in 1992, when Bill Clinton taught George Bush Snr. the basics of politics - it's all local and it's the economy. Which is one reason why George W. is only level pegging with John Kerry. Admittedly Kerry is enjoying a honeymoon period as a the new candidate but the US economy is where it's at.

As reader Ken pointed out, it's between George "CEO" W. Bush and John "Flip flop" Kerry. Either way it's not a great choice. George W. spends like a Democrat and John Kerry just can't make his mind up. Shame these two are running for President of the most powerful nation on Earth.