Americans take their respect for the office of the President seriously. That respect influences how they vote.

From WSJ:

Yet her excitement will not necessarily translate into a vote for the Republican ticket. Ms. Kidder, who also calls herself independent, is also leaning toward Sen. Obama because of his economic promises and his call to end the war in Iraq -- here her oldest son is now serving in the military. "It's a great choice for McCain," she said, "but I have never been a single-issue voter."

That reaction may be typical among women voters, said Kellyanne Conway, a Republican pollster.

In fact, what we know is that the VP choices are not driving the process. Tody's morning Rasmussen tracker has it Obama 50, McCain 45%

With the two conventions back-to-back, the two Vice-Presidential picks so close together, and Hurricane Gustav in the middle, it’s difficult to put the convention bounces in context. Both Obama and McCain lost a little ground in the polls after announcing their Vice President running mate. Obama lost three points after the Joe B