As a writer for The Red & Black’s sports section, I work with Michael Fitzpatrick. He does a great job and seems to be a very intelligent individual, which is why I was so surprised to see his opinion piece Tuesday suggesting this year’s Election Day could be a “day of doom.”

I understand he’s borrowing the phrase, but I’m baffled by the assertion neither of the major candidates are viable choices for the U.S. presidency.

Barack Obama supporters will vote for a man who has lived a unique but relevant version of the American dream.

Obama graduated from Columbia University and obtained a law degree from Harvard University. There, he was elected president of the Law Review. His peers called him a great mind and a person who understands compromise.

Fitzpatrick also says running mate Joe Biden has “very little to show” for his time in Congress, having “never held a leadership position.” Apparently, he ignored Biden’s current position as chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. Surely his expertise can help a young Obama work through inexperience in dealing overseas.

You could argue, also, that even without Biden, Obama’s calm and thoughtful demeanor would increase our credibility in the international community.

Obama’s plan for a timetable withdrawal from Iraq attracted huge criticism, but the Maliki government in Iraq has praised the plan, and now even the Bush administration discusses timetable options (is this a sign of Obama’s international relations savvy?).

What about John McCain? Surely McCain uses his experience as a POW to endear voters. Even if this is a political ploy at some level, he still rotted in North Vietnamese prisons for years without giving any information to his captors.

It’s completely valid for a voter to look at McCain and say, “He clearly loves America, and I trust he will do anything he can as president to look after the good of the country.” His combat experience and plan for Iraq attracts voters who believe it isn’t time to withdraw. Being a fiscal conservative also adds up to votes.

I wouldn’t agree with Fitzpatrick’s words claiming the Sarah Palin selection brings a “magical charisma” to the race, but I’m sure there are those who see it this way. I also don’t understand how her having a disabled child would be a “concern.”

However, one would be justified arguing Palin is the most qualified for this kind of position because structurally, the governorship is more similar to the presidency than a congressional seat is. Some also may appreciate she brings a woman’s opinion to valuable debates, such as abortion.

So what’s the point? One of these two candidates will become our next president.

It’s easy to call both inadequate and decide to have a little fun on Election Day by writing in your own name on the ballot, but this would be an injustice to the myriad of qualifications and upsides both our current major candidates possess.

It’s simple laziness to dismiss our choices as too young, too old, too black or too female.

We live in a time invaded by media outlets spewing negative allegations toward candidates, and this has affected our attitudes and, in some cases, made us terrible cynics.

I believe that, far from being a “day of doom,” Election Day will provide a uniquely qualified president confident and hopeful that his leadership will increase prosperity both in America and abroad.

- Hayter Whitman is a sportswriter for The Red & Black.