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That the choice we were offered this year were not ^{did not appear to be} universally popular or inspiring is not surprising. Yesterday's scandals have reinforced an old American suspicion of political figures. The contradictory rhetoric one heard from the candidates added to the inescapable conclusion that in order to bei all things to everyone they were willing ^{at times,} to be nothing at all. The federal election law guaranteed a monopoly [illegible] and public subsidies for only two political parties, and a complicated series of state election laws insured that lesser candidates ^{and smaller parties} would never really have a chance to place their option before the public.

In the end, for most voters, the choice was between the accidental president, ^{slow minded and toungue-twisted,} elevated to office _only because two other men committed crimes which threw them out, and the arrogant, self-assured Georgian, riding a crest of regional pride and the outsider's image past all comers to his party's nomination.