Barack Obama Stefan Abrams Managing Partner, Bryden-Abrams Investment Management Obama will be the next President. The conventions did nothing to change my mind. They are nothing more than pep rallies for the party faithful. The fact is that the U.S. economy is in recession and the party in power will pay the price.
	John McCain Joe Battipaglia Market Strategist, Stifel Nicolaus I think he’s striking the right message between experience and the need to change. And his decision to take on a woman as the vice presidential nominee is suggestive of that.
	Barack Obama Jared Bernstein Senior Economist, Economic Policy Institute The Palin choice won’t be a game changer, and McCain can run from Bush but he can’t hide.  So the question remains: whose agenda will best reconnect “the greatest story never told” to the living standards of middle-class families.   For the majority of the electorate, the  answer will be Obama.
	John McCain Jerry Bowyer Chief Economist, Benchmark Financial Network By a nose. Obama broke his promise on public financing, so he’s forced onto himself a merciless schedule of round the clock fundraising. This means more gaffes for him and his partner in political tourette’s, Joe Biden. In the room, talking up the big money base, no press, they drop their guard, and forget about the ubiquitous recording cell phones. That’s where we got the bitter, God and guns quote. Remember the exhaustion factor - begging is hard work! Furthermore Obama has a glass jaw; narcissist’s usually can’t handle criticism. You can already see the McMentum building. The fight over drilling beings at the end of this month, and America’s on Sarah’s side. Bullish.
	John McCain Vince Farrell Soleil Securities Chief Investment Officer John McCain will be the winner. Palin looks to be an inspired choice for VP and a forceful fresh face will be welcomed. The GOP campaign has a new look after McCain’s speech. If the economy shows positive GDP for the third quarter a Republican victory will be by a decent margin. If the economy falls badly, a Republican victory will depend on McCain's being able to distance himself from Bush. The reality of McCain and Palin will make the rhetoric of Obama seem lacking.
	John McCain Jim LaCamp Portfolio Manager, Portfolio Focus, RBC Wealth Management Co-Host, Opening Bell Radio Show, Biz Radio Network Intrade numbers are improving rapidly and Palin’s speech put her and the ticket on the map in a positive way. Her speech also had much more depth than Obama's, highlighting the fact that...as we say here in Texas....he is "all hat and no cattle."
	John McCain Art Laffer Fmr. Reagan Economic Advisor Chief Investment Officer, Laffer Investments In my view, the race will come down to the finish line and be decided on economics pure and simple. And, as it looks to me right now, McCain has the decided edge on economics.
	John McCain Donald L. Luskin Chief Investment Officer, Trend Macrolytics LLC A week ago I said it was a toss-up and abstained from answering this question. But Sarah Palin is a game changer. Her charisma is the perfect response from McCain to Obama's cult of personality. The more the media attack her, the more of a celebrity she becomes. By picking her, McCain emerges as a visionary, and a man of courage willing to hire as a subordinate someone who in many ways is his superior. Obama, on the other hand, looks fearful and not a little narcissistic for having picked tired old warhorse Joe Biden (Obama must be kicking himself now for not picking Hillary). Remember, A-players pick A-players, and B-players pick C-players. This move makes McCain an A-player. So I move my vote from abstain to McCain. Hey -- that rhymes!
	John McCain Steve Moore Sr. Economics Writer, The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board McCain by a nose. Voters ultimately reject the Obama/Biden far left liberalism.
	Barack Obama James Pethokoukis Sr. Writer, U.S. News & World Report (Money & Business) I don’t think McCain is yet where he needs to be on the economy. I think he solidified his "maverick" brand, but the economy is still a question mark. He should talk nonstop about energy, taxes and spending. Every ad, every speech.
	Barack Obama Robert Reich Former Labor Secretary Professor of Public Policy, UC Berkeley McCain calls for change but he's been in Washington for 26 years. He wants to distance himself from George W. Bush but has voted for him 90 percent of the time. And McCain's policy proposals would mean more of Bush's failed ones -- more tax breaks for the wealthy, more belligerence in foreign policy. Obama's proposed tax cuts, by contrast, would go to the middle class, and his proposals for health care, energy, and jobs have a far better chance of succeeding, in my humble view.
	John McCain Gary Shilling A. Gary Shilling & Co. President His choice of Sarah Palin revived his maverick image which separates him from the Bush administration and caters to a nation that wants change in view of tough times.