For what seems like the last eleven years, the public has been immersed in the 2008 Presidential election fray.  In the beginning, there were more candidates in both parties than there were mics in the early debates.  Now we're down to the top three – just like on American Idol… but I'll save that analogy for another time. 

We've heard all three Presidential hopefuls speak on numerous occasions about numerous issues.  We've seen them on our TV drinking with the working class, bowling, shaking lots of hands, and dodging lots of bullets.  But just exactly where do the candidates stand on smooth Jazz?  Sparing absolutely no expenses, with iPod in hand (or in ear), SmoothViews hit the campaign trail to find out.

My first encounter was with Hillary Clinton.  I caught up with the Senator somewhere between Pennsylvania and West Virginia (if you've ever driven around there, you'll understand what I mean by that).  I introduced myself as the editor of the cutting-edge online magazine, SmoothViews, and immediately, Clinton's staff granted my interview request.

SmoothViews (SV): Sen. Clinton, there are many really important issues in this year's Presidential race.  You've addressed many of them, but what our readers want to know is, where do you stand on smooth Jazz?
Sen. Hillary Clinton (HRC):  Well, as you probably know, Bill plays the saxophone, and invited ten saxophonists to perform at his inauguration – including Dave Koz and Gerald Albright.  I think we can all agree that makes me immensely qualified on this issue.
SV: Well, ok… but where do you stand, personally?  Do you like smooth jazz?
HRC: Oh, yes!  I love smooth jazz.  I'm convinced that I can carry the smooth jazz vote in the fall.  I don't think my opponents can say that.  Obama is obviously out of touch with smooth jazz fans.  Realistically, this race can't be won by anyone who can't carry the smooth jazz vote.

SV: I see.  What do you think about the current radio crisis – so many smooth jazz stations are flipping formats…?
HRC: As I'm sure you know, I never voted for any station flipping, and would not.  We need consistent leadership, and I can provide that leadership… what?  (speaking to her advisor)  You'll have to excuse me.  I have an interview with Rolling Stone now.

SV:  Thank you for your time, Senator Clinton.

Next on my quest to get answers to the really tough questions, I traveled to Michigan to find Sen. Barack Obama.  I was able to push my way past throngs of youthful, enthusiastic Obama supporters by shouting, "I have a stack of elevator music, and I know how to use it."  Once in the Obama campaign nerve center, I again introduced myself and was granted an interview.

SV: Sen. Obama, where do you stand on smooth jazz?
Barack Obama (BO): I just want to say that I love all jazz.  We need to understand that music of all kinds has the power to unify this country.  And that's what I'm all about.

SV: What do you think about the current radio crisis – so many smooth jazz stations are flipping formats and there are fewer and fewer stations every month…?
BO: Earlier today, I listened to folks tell me about how hard it is to get by in this economy.  Since the beginning of this year, thousands of music industry workers have lost their jobs.  That's thousands of workers who will no longer be able to count on a paycheck to pay the rising costs of health care and college; gas and groceries.  And those who are lucky enough to avoid getting laid off are still feeling the pressures of restructuring.

Their struggle is part of a larger struggle that's being waged not just in the music industry, but all across the country.  It's a struggle to ensure that American music lovers of all kinds can raise a family, have health care when they need it, put their children through college, and retire with dignity and security.  They're common hopes, modest dreams, but they're slipping out of reach for too many families.

It's time to recapture the spirit of innovation that has always fueled America's musical success.  It's time we had an economy that was driven not just by foreign debt, but by the power of America's imagination.  It's time to tap the ingenuity of musicians and entrepreneurs, policy experts and working folks to meet the challenges of our time.

That's what this election is all about.  So while this is a moment of challenge, it's also a moment of opportunity.  And the question you'll face in November is which candidate can lead America to seize it.

SV:  Thank you Sen. Obama
BO: Thank you.  Just remember, it's all about hope and change you can believe in.

Next, I caught up with Senator John McCain.  After a brief conversation with Sen. McCain's campaign staff, I found myself face to face with this venerable statesman, excited to find out what a man with such vast experiences had to say.

SV: Sen. McCain, our readers want to know what you think about smooth jazz:
John McCain (JM): You know, I played with jacks a lot as a child.  We didn't have smooth ones back then.  They were rough.  It wasn't uncommon to get hurt playing with them.

SV: Uh, no, Senator.  I meant JAZZ, not JACKS… what do you think about smooth JAZZ?
JM: Oh.  Well, back when I was a young man, there was no such thing as smooth jazz.  We had jazz… not the smooth kind.  But I am an idealist, and I believe it is possible in our time to make the world we live in a better, more peaceful place.

SV:  Mr. McCain, are you aware of the current crisis in the radio industry and its effects on smooth jazz?
JM: Yes I am.  It's very distressing, but I am, from hard experience and the judgment it informs, a realistic idealist.  I know we must work very hard and very creatively to build new foundations for a stable and enduring radio presence.  We cannot wish the world to be a better place than it is.  We have enemies for whom no attack is too cruel, and no innocent format safe.  This is the central threat of our time, and we must understand the implications of our decisions on all manner of regional and global challenges could have for our success in saving it.

SV: Thank you for your time, Sen. McCain.
JM:  Time?  Oh, let's see here, it's 4:37.