Name: Raj Shankar (Image is of Apu from "The Simpsons")
Occupation: 7-11 manager/owner in Kirkland, Wash.
Income: $55,000/year
Age: 59
Politics: Independent, leans Democrat
Voting for: Barack Obama
Suburbs, like Alexandria, Va., Cary, NC, Henderson, Nev., and Gary, Ind. ( a Chicago 'burb) will matter in this election, and that was evident yesterday as John McCain stumped in the DC-suburb of Arlington, Va., where his campaign is also headquatered.
But, Kirkland, Wash., does not figure to be a swing 'burb as it leans to the left politically, as does much of the Seattle area. As NPR's John Moe, who is from Seattle, said the area is perhaps second only to Berkeley, Calif., as being the most liberal in the nation.
Kirkland has a population of 45,740 and the city's mayor is Jim Lauinger. The city is noted for its downtown with various cafes and galleries. Google, Microsoft and Amazon each have offices in Kirkland.
The city also saw it's little league team win The Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa., in 1982, when I was still old enough to play little league ball (but, I played soccer instead).
"Washington Post" columnist Chris Cillizza, who is known for his stern objectivity, siad that a Barack Obama landslide is a remote possibility though he predicts that the Illinois senator will now get 311 electoral votes, which would give him a comfortable victory.
In fact, I will go out on a limb and say that's time for the Obama campaign to send someone to The White House to start measuring the drapes.
Apu from "The Simpsons" has been criticized by some in the Indian community for being too stereotypical, but the propeitor of the Kwick-E Mart is a popular character on the show.
His catch phrase is: "Thank you, come again." And, when the store was robbed, he actually said: "Thank you, steal again."
Managing convience stores is a dangerous job though as Danville, Va., a city of 60,000 on the North Carolina border had some 70 armed robberies in 2007.
SIDEBAR: PBS continues its special "American Experience" presentations of past presidents with Richard Nixon, a fascinating and disturbing figure, who still remains profilic in our pop culture, whether it be books, plays or films.
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