Or, it’s all up to the dogs.

I saw an interesting headline today.

Poll: Pet Owners Prefer McCain Over Obama

My first thought was, “Heck, most Democrats actually prefer McCain over Obama, so what’s the big surprise?”

The presidential pets are generally a big deal. They get news coverage and photo ops and actually have a lot of do with the overall likability of a U.S. President.

By the way, did you know that George Washington’s foxhound was named Drunkard? I have a new appreciation for the humor of our first President. On a tangent – Washington grew up on a Virginia plantation on the Rappahannock River called Ferry Farm, which was actually owned at the time by one of my direct ancestors. It was later sold to Washington’s father.

Anyway, back to the dogs.

It seems Barack Obama is not a pet owner. Pet owners in American have noted that fact. A joint AP-Yahoo News poll shows pet owners like McCain over Obama 42 percent to 37 percent, with dog owners quite solidly in favor of McCain.

Comments associated with the poll said a lot about how people view those who own pets. They said that a pet owner is a more “caring, giving, trustworthy” person and shows that they are “ responsible”.

Unlike Obama, McCain owns pets – a LOT of pets an English Springer spaniel called Sam, a mutt named Coco, turtles Cuff and Link, Oreo the cat, a ferret, three parakeets and many saltwater fish.

Even though the poll showed that people who are NOT pet owners like Obama over McCain 48 percent to 34 percent, you have to backtrack and note that approximately 63 percent of American homes include a pet.

Sounds to me like Obama better take his daughter’s puppy shopping sooner than later.